"... Many scholars have observed striking similarities between the descriptions of the Essenes and the sectarian documents found among the Dead Sea Scrolls as described by Philo and Josephus. These parallels have led to the prevailing belief that the scrolls offer valuable insights into the beliefs and practices of the Essenes. The scrolls, at the very least, reflect a Jewish sectarian group that emphasized communal living and shared possessions. The Community Rule (1QS) outlines the admission process, which involved a year of study and probation during which candidates were prohibited from participating in certain communal activities. Upon acceptance, their property and earnings would be entrusted to the Bursar of the Congregation and recorded in their account, with expenditures strictly regulated. Only after a second year of probation would their personal belongings become merged with the community's resources. Interestingly, Iamblichus notes a similar probationary period in Pythagoras' group, with rejected candidates receiving double their property back. The Dead Sea sect, however, was not uniform in its practices, as indicated by variations in rules regarding marriage and communal possessions found in the Damascus Document (CD) and mentioned by Josephus ..."