Insights into the Dead Sea Scrolls : Society and Religion During the Second Temple Period

This book provides a comprehensive insight into the history of the scrolls and an understanding of the different sects within Judaism at the time they were written. The reader is taken through most of the important scrolls and will gain a greater awareness of the "original" biblical text that led to the final establishment of today's Hebrew Bible.
The history of both the First and Second Temples is clearly laid outand the possible influence of some of the scrolls on the text of the Christian Bible is described. Also covered are which scripture and texts were used during the development of Jewish Law, messianic concepts, and importantly the background of the Essenes to whom many of the works found in the caves are attributed. The book requires minimal prior knowledge of Judaism as the reader is progressively introduced to the new world of biblical archeology and the scrolls.