Folia Theologica 18. (2007)
László Boda: Whether John the Baptist Could Have Been Educated at Qumran? - Johs and Bannus
JOHN AND BANNUS 55 cording to the synoptic gospel, John took up his duties in the "wilderness" (see Mt 3, 1). Failing any other definition of the place, the "desert" or "wilderness" (in the Greek: ereemos) means the fortified monastery of Qumran together with its close surroundings and cases as also described by Plinius. If this word represents some place other than the surroundings of Qumran, the evangelist indicates the environment (e.g. in the vicinity of Bethsaida, Lucas: section 9). Well, John the Apostle describes John the Baptist in Bethany over the Jordan, while living his appearance in the "wilderness" unsaid. In fact, with high probability, John the Apostle could meet with John the Baptist just in the "wilderness of Judea" and had become his pupil before he has joined the disciples of Jesus. Why is it just he who fails to mention this directly? He keeps away from referring to Qumran as also does Josephus Flavius. In their works, both of them give us the inclining of secrecy in respect of the indication of place. In fact, this secrecy was also implanted very heavily in those who attended the school of Essenians. If the date of birth of Jesus is assumed to be around 4 B.C. - counted back from his age of about 30 - and the data of the Gospel is accepted, John the Baptist must have been born about half a year prior to Jesus. This is supported by the fact that their appearance as "teachers" is adapted to this date (27 - 28 A.D.). If John's "old" parents were between 50 and 60 when he was born, the orphanage of John "in early youth" fits into this view very well which is indicated in the Christian tradition. However, Elisabeth the mother - being the younger among the parents - is presumed to survive her husband Zechariah the priest. This assumption is also supported by the formula of patriarchal marriage in which the wife is in certain cases much more younger then the husband as the case may be. The difference of 10 years can be considered to be an average. On the other hand, the time of life of women is longer as a general rule. Therefore, the orphanage "in early youth" may also represent an age as much as between 12 and 14. As the Essenians financially supported, adopted and educated the children of churchmen's families orphaned, or even, they ensured part of their clerical replacement, it fits into the scene very well that John joined them as early as in his youth. Qumran became a fortified monastery built in its entirety as soon as in 6 A.D. - at the end of reign of Herds Archelaos. This is an
