Beal JEDSS 1988

This book is a study that seeks to comment on Josephus' description of the Essenes by making reference to relevant Dead Sea Scrolls material; something which at it's time had not been previously done. The desired result of the author being that his readers will thereby obtain a better understanding of the Essenes themselves. This book has some relevance to our present study of early Judaism and Christianity, because the Essenes lived, worked, and wrote during the same period as the birth of Christianity and the rebirth of Judaism. The Essenes experiences can hopefully better illuminate the religious, political, social, and physical circumstances that were present in 1st century Palestine.