I dont' give a flying leap about the Essenes. They were a heretical sects that is now completely gone.
The Essenes are NOT completely gone. They are a Jewish-christian sect of Judaism stretching from the 7th century BC as the royal cult of Judaism to today as christianity. Messianic Judaism evolved into christianity and Joshua is King of Kings.
This is where you plug your ears and go, “But animal sacrifice, but temple rituals, but killing gay people, I want to do these things because I am commanded to do them.”
The problem is that you stopped thinking for yourself. And you need some mythical story to tell you how to think and live. (Yes, the Exodus story is a mythical story written for instruction, not to be literally believed.)
Again, do you think you have the right to pick and choose which commands from God are to be obeyed?
I not only have the right but responsibility and freedom in Christ to live a holy life WITHOUT sacrificing animals, killing gays, sabbath observance, temple rituals, as your god commands.
Why?
Because outward rituals or works of the flesh have zero efficacy for righteousness. Their ONLY purpose was symbolic instruction of higher, celestial, events. And so were your god’s commands, both good and bad commands, for instruction, to reveal celestial events, just as the Essenes taught.
This is where you plug your ears again and start chanting, Torah!, …Torah! …Torah!