Therefore those friends must be of the male sex.

Here too were difficulties, as at that time, of the lads adopted by this particular community which they were destined to join in after days, there was but one of equal birth with Miriam.

Now so far as concerned their own order the Essenes thought little of social distinctions, or even of the differences of blood and race.

But Miriam was not of their order; she was their guest, no more, to whom they stood in the place of parents, and who would go from them out into the great world.

Therefore, notwithstanding their childlike simplicity, being, many of them, men experienced in life, they did not think it right that she should mix with those of lower breeding.
This one lad, Caleb by name, was born in the same year as Miriam, when Cuspius Fadus became governor on the death of Agrippa.