The Chitsonim dubbed the Pharisees: “The Seekers Of Smooth Things” in fragments 3 and 4 of the Pesher Nahum (4Q169) of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

The term was an insult of those who had appealed to Demetrius III Eucaerus in opposition to Alexander Jannaeus.

The Pesher Nahum describes The Seekers as an organized violent group responsible for numerous deaths. They are blamed for misleading kings, princes, priests, and the nation in opposition to the divine plan.

More on that tragic tradition… on another day.

Punishment suggested in the Temple Scroll for those who oppose god is to be “hanged on a tree” - crucified - until death.

The Chitsonim were allied with King Jannaeus, a particularly prominent opponent to the Pharisees, who after defeating Demetrius, crucified 800 Pharisaic dissidents and had their families killed while enjoying a feast.

Usury was forbidden throughout all of Ancient Israel.

“If thou lend money to any of My people, even to the poor with thee, thou shalt not be to him as a creditor, neither shall ye lay upon him interest” (Ex. 22:24).

“…if thy brother be waxen poor and his means fail with thee… Take no interest of him or increase; but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee. Thou shalt not give him thy money upon interest, nor give him thy victuals [provisions, living necessities] for increase” (Lev. 25:35–37).

“Thou shalt not lend upon interest to thy brother: interest of money, interest of victuals [provisions, living necessities], interest of anything that is lent upon interest. Unto a foreigner thou mayest lend upon interest; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon interest; that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all that thou puttest thy hand unto…” (Deut. 23:20–21).

“He that augmenteth his substance by interest and increase” is among “evil men” (Prov. 28:8).

“He that putteth not out his money on interest” is upright and righteous (Ps. 15:5).

In the prophecies of Ezekiel usury was mentioned in the context of larceny, adultery, homicide, and other “abominations” that are worthy of death (18:11–13).

The “Mark Of The Beast” was - or is said to be - “666”.This “sign” is prophetically expected to be placed on the forehead and right hand of all people.  The placement of these signs are directly counter to - and blasphemous of - phylactery use.  The Teffilin - discipline symbolized as tiny scrolls representing the Torah within leather boxes attached to leather straps - are bound upon the forehead and the left hand of Jewish men.

The significance of the number “666” is the yearly personal credit of 666 gold talents demanded by King Solomon, who failed to observe the “Ten Commandments” (or the “Laws Of Moses”, “Book Of Moses”, “The Law”, etc.) in his profound gluttony of all things.

In Revelations 6:6, John Of Patmos relates as post-humous testimony from Jesus/YHWH that “…I heard like a voice in midst of the four living creatures, saying ‘A choenix of wheat for a denarius, and three choenixes of barley for a denarius, and the oil and the wine not you should injure.’”

https://biblehub.com/text/revelation/6-6.htm

That is - the price and quality of basic goods necessary for worship must be maintained as both inexpensive and precious.

The Sanhedrin was the bi-cameral (two-chambered) governmental office of the Sadducees and the Pharisees under the authority of the High Priest.  Among the many responsibilities and powers of the Sanhedrin was the imposition of tithes (religious taxes for the Temple of generally 10%), and expenditure of Temple finances. The Sanhedrin was not always equal parts Pharisee to Sadducee, and in the early First Century Sadducean influence had been rendered inconsequential.

The “Fifth Woe” of Jesus referred to laws of tithing in burdensome minuteness, created by the Pharisees as the Sanhedrin. The smallest plants that could be preserved had become associated with a responsibility to tithe 10% of them to the Temple. Not only the seeds, but, even the leaves and stalks of produce became expected to be tithed. These are, in large part, some of the burdens mentioned in Matthew 23:4 “They tie up burdens heavy and hard to bear and lay on the shoulders of men.  Themselves however, with finger of them, not are they willing to move them.”

The descriptive title is an insult - and is really quite witty.

Only people with smooth hands are able to feel smooth things, and only people who do not work have smooth hands.    To the sardonic perspective of the Chitsonim, Sadducees, and other righteous Israelites, the Pharisees must primarily be “Seekers Of Smooth Things”, because they appear to preserve smooth hands at all costs.