 priests went out these priestly families started well they they seem to have been involved with a group called the Essenes it's all kind of foggy history but they didn't participate in the life of the temple for instance they didn't have lamb at their at their Passover suppers because there was no temple as far as they were concerned in which a lamb could be sacrificed so they they took their ball and went home and waited for the Messiah who would reform the priesthood