Requirements: 12 pages including titled reference page
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. This phenomenon explains why they colluded with the Pharisees to condemn Jesus to death. Essenes were another key religious group during Jesus’s lifetime. Like the Sadducees, the Essenes have little material denoting their traditions and way of life. Despite this, Elwell and Yarbrough (2013) argue that they were very disciplined, strict, and lived in communal settings. In addition, they adhered to the strict ascetic principles and thus, rejected luxurious items and embraced celibacy. Essenes were also devoted to studying the Bible, praying, and ritual washing. Besides these major religious groups, other minor groups also existed in Palestine. One such group is the Herodians, whose existence is alluded to 3 times in the Gospels. According to Elwell and Yarbrough (2013), Herodians were predominantly
