Jews, ascetics, who greatly surpass Pharisees and scribes in their mode of life;[1] progeny of Jonadab, [who was the] son of Rechab the righteous. They are fond of one another and more pious than others: they turn away from pleasure as from an evil, but they regard moderation and self-control and the capacity not to succumb to passions as virtue[s]. And marriage is despised among them, but taking to themselves other people's children while they are still young and teaching them, they consider them as kin, and stamp them with their own customs. And they reject all baseness and practice every other virtue. They cultivate moral speech, and are generally assiduous in contemplation. And hence they are called Essaioi, with the name signifying this, that is, [they are] contemplators.[2]
Essaioi very much excel and are very much superior to the Pharisees in their mode of life.[3]