The Dead Sea Scrolls reflect the belief and experience of generations of Jews, spanning a period of almost three centuries, from the Maccabean Revolt to the destruction of Jerusalem. Steven A. Fisdel seeks to open a window onto this critical period of time, so pivotal in the development of Judaism and in the emergence of Christianity. By presenting the historical backdrop and letting the scroll literature speak for itself, this work gives the reader a better understanding of the state and content of Jewish belief during the height of the Greco-Roman Era; an age of broad diversity in religious thought and of great spiritual richness.