Why did the Essenes observe such strict ritual cleanliness practices in Qumran?

Question

My wife remembers learning something about this at the Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibit. We both remember their reasons being for something other than spiritual cleanliness.

Answer 1

I think it was because they were a Monastic order (a Jewish Monastic order). It is not unusual for monastic orders to have very strict, disciplined lives. It is a safeguard against sin, and regulates the community.

On top of that, the Essenes had taken upon themselves the job of copying and preserving the Torah. This was very meticulous work. Every scroll, every jot, every tittle, every line, every letter, was counted. They could tell you exactly what word could be found where on any given page.

Discipline of this type doesn't happen by accident. It has to be a lifestyle choice. Hence it carried over into their personal lives in the monastary/commune.

Answer 2

A lot of it had to do with the political nature of the time. With constant wars and large amounts of human suffering the Essenes went into the desert to find peace and the ability to freely study.

Being a community that lived in such harsh conditions it could not accept any refugee that wanted to come. That might be part of the reason for such strict ritual practices in general, including the Tumah (spiritual cleanliness) aspect. It keeps members small and devoted while making them rely on each other as a whole.

Answer 3

Two very good answers above, another thing is that they followed the levitical laws. For an article on this see http://www.growingchristians.org/dfgc/clean.htm