Was John An Essene?

A visit to Qumran inevitably raises the question: was John the Baptist an Essene? The video produced for this site strongly suggests that John considered membership in this wilderness community. But after a time here, he went on his way.

The scriptures perhaps support this notion: "The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel (Luke 1:80)." It is known that the Essenes adopted children on occasion. With elderly parents, was John brought here at their deaths?

Also, John seems to have embraced the same job description as the Essenes: "A voice cries out in the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God (Isaiah 40:3)." The major part of John's ministry did take place in the Jericho area just north of Qumran.

While we will never know if John came this way, it is interesting to ponder. In the end, we can say that the Essenes painstakingly copied the Word of God. We do have the Dead Sea Scrolls. But John, more importantly and humbly, ushered in the day when the Word became flesh. For that mission alone was he called by God and sent forth.