Talk:Herodians

"The sect was called by the Rabbis Boethusians as being friendly to the family of Boethus, whose daughter Mariamne was one of Herod the Great's wives."

This should not be stated as a fact, there is no proof of it, and I find unlikely as the Boethusians where a Sadducees offshoot and would not align themselves with the Pharasies. The Essenes however often did, Menahem the Essene was a close friend and ally of Hillel the Elder. Matthew 22 seems to present the Herodians as the Third major sect with the Pharisees and the Sadducees, exactly how Josephus presents the Essenes.

As for those that thing seeing the Essenes as a Pro-Herodian sect as absurd, they need to stop letting assumptions about the DSS blind them. Josephus about Menahem "When Herod became king, he asked Menahem how long his reign would be. Initially, Menahem didn't reply, and Herod urged him "Would my reign last ten years?". Menahem replied that Herod would reign at least 30 years, but did not specify the exact number. Herod was pleased with Menahem's answer and dismissed him with a clasp of the hand and thenceforth bestowed special honors upon the Essenes." — Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.25.176.92 (talk) 10:17, 19 April 2014 (UTC)