They were indeed fanatic in their drive to be separate from Gentiles, but they also saw their fraternity as separate from — and superior to — the common Jewish people, who were ignorant of the complexities of the oral law.
Nad olid tõesti fanaatilised oma püüdlustes eralduda mittejuutidest, kuid samuti pidasid nad oma vennaskonda eraldunuks — ja seejuures paremaks — tavalisest juudi rahvast, kes ei tundnud suulise seaduse keerdkäike.