'הנסתרת לה' אלהינו' (דב' כט, כח), בן סירא והאיסיים

The present study tries to define the esoteric teachings of the Dead Sea Sect with the help of its texts and Josephus' report about the secret teachings of the Essenes. These secret teachings were not restricted to the Essenes' legal system, but also included concrete secret teachings and doctrines ־ not primarily mystic. The hidden teachings of the Essenes were mainly political, i.e. the hatred of the outside world, and eschatological. It is possible that the sectarian commentaries (pesharim) on the Prophets and Psalms were meant only for the inner circle of the sect.