This group came from Zadok, the high priest during the reign of Solomon. They were the aristocratic and political party among the Jews and the rivals of the Pharisees. They were the modernists of the day. They denied the existence of spirits, the resurrection of the just, and the immortality of the soul. They were completely anti-supernatural.
They came into prominence about the same time the Pharisees did. Both parties briefly set aside their differences to accomplish their common goal of getting rid of Jesus. They attempted to ridicule Jesus on the subject of resurrection, but wound up being ridiculed themselves.
Other political groups and community groups that wielded influence about 2000 years ago in the land of Israel included the Galileans, Herodians, Sanhedrin and Scribes.
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