[PatrickHenry]

... the Essenes at Qumran were evidently piously anti-Hellenistic, which is to say they strongly resisted the influence of Greece – so much so they went into the wilderness. The other two main sects of Jews after they returned from Babylon were Pharisees and Sadducees. So, in terms of influence on the 1 Enoch book of astronomy – if it were a fabrication – the possible influences would include Babylonia and to a lesser extent Greece.

It may be possible that although the Essenes resisted Hellenistic culture in general, which was far too worldly for many pious people, they may nevertheless have accepted Hellenistic science, including astronomy, geometry, etc. These would be unlikely to conflict with their scriptures or their way of life. So the Enoch text might have been no problem for them, even if Enoch actually did get his astronomy from the Greeks.

[editor-surveyor]

"even if Enoch actually did get his astronomy from the Greeks."

You do realize that Enoch lived 2000 years before there were any Greeks?

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on how Greek astronomy might have influenced the Essenes! It might be complicated however by the fact that the book of astronomy is recalling what the angels were describing to Enoch in his heavenly travels - thus it is a mixture of theology and astronomy in the text.

[restornu]

Essenes resisted Hellenistic

In those days and we can see it today are those who dismis the body of he church and only have a veneer relationship.

The Essenes were dedicated to their faith, Hellenist were most likely like today's Rino!:)