Overview

Were there groups in Ancient Judaism that cultivated esoteric knowledge and transmitted it secretly? With the discovery and burgeoning study of the Dead Sea Scrolls and particularly of the documents legislating the social structure of the Qumran group, the foremost paradigm for analysis of the group's social structure has become the ""sect."" This is still dominant, having replacing the monastic paradigm used by some of the earliest scholars of the Scrolls.But after studying what has been written on secret societies more generally, Michael Stone has concluded that many known ancient Jewish groups-the Qumran covenanters, Josephus's and Philo's Essenes, and Philo's Therapeutae-should be viewed as societies at the heart of whose existence were esoteric knowledge and practice. Guarding and transmitting this esoteric knowledge and practice, Stone argues, provided the dynamic that motivated the social and conceptual structure of these groups. Analyzing them as secret societies, he says, enables us to see previously latent social structural dimensions, and provides many new enriching insights into the groups, including the Dead Sea covenanters. By examining historical and literary sources, Stone uncovers evidence for the existence of other secret groups in ancient Jewish society. This line of study leads Stone not only to consider the ""classical"" Jewish apocalypses as pseudo-esoteric, but also to discern in them the footsteps of hidden, truly esoteric traditions cultivated in the circles that produced the apocalypses. This discovery has significant implications, especially considering the enormous growth of study of the apocalyptic in the Judaism of the Second Temple period and in nascent Christianity over the last seventy years.

Full Product Details

9780190842383

Table of Contents

Reviews

Stone writes concisely and precisely, without methodological fireworks, and the book is therefore a pleasure to read. Bibliographic referencing, coverage, and overall structure are exemplary. Given its approachable style, this book would lend to fruitful debate in classrooms and should not be out of place on advanced student reading lists. -- Lindsey A. Askin, H-Net Stone's book should be a rewarding read for everyone interested in esotericism and sectarianism in Jewish antiquity and the impressions those trends left on the Jewish and Christian intellectual traditions. -- Joshua Ezra Burns, Aries The study is an excellent example that engages the methods of sociological sciences and biblical studies in a constant discourse with ancient sources. Stone's expertise and erudition is on display throughout the study, and the footnotes are packed with excellent corollary discussion topics. -- Jame Tucker , Ancient Jew Review Secret Groups in Ancient Judaism offers considerable food for thought for those interested in ancient Judaism and the Dead Sea Scrolls, as well as early Christianity and Greco-Roman mystery cults. --Jocelyn K. Burney, Reading Religion A good book is the one that it is instantly obvious to its reader should have been written long before, its subject is so transparently interesting and important, but for some reason hasn't been written till now, and here it is, in his hands, in print as it should be, like a wish fulfilled, not a secret and right out in the open. This is such a book. -- James R. Russell, Judaica Petropolitana In this ground-breaking book, Michael E. Stone challenges traditional conceptions of 'esoteric' and 'esotericism,' and compels us to re-examine the way religious groups in ancient Judaism functioned as secret societies. This book is a must-read for every scholar of early Judaism and the Dead Sea Scrolls, as well as all those interested in apocalyptic writings, secret societies, and western esotericism. --Lorenzo DiTommaso, Professor of Religions and Cultures, Concordia University, Montreal Michael Stone, one of the most respected scholars of the period, offers here an insightful reading of esotericism in Jewish circles in the Second Temple period. He situates the phenomenon in the wider context of the Hellenistic world, which knew many groups with strictly controlled admission requirements and rituals that protected the secrecy of their rites and beliefs. Building upon the well-known case of the sectarians of the Dead Sea Scrolls, he argues that practices of secrecy played a role in many more Jewish groups and such practices surface in a wide range of Jewish literature of the period. His reading will enlighten general readers but also provoke specialists to consider the significance of the various forms esotericism more carefully. --Harry Attridge, Sterling Professor of Divinity, Yale Divinity School In this brilliant new study, Michael Stone does what he does best: He has chosen a topic that has already received a fair amount of attention...and gives it a new twist. Instead of going with the familiar labels of 'sectarian' versus 'mainstream/normative,' Stone chooses to focus on 'secrecy' as his operating category. The Yahad Community at Qumran, the Essenes, and Philo's Therapeutae were all secret societies concerned with the cultivation and transmission of esoteric knowledge and practice. With unparalleled erudition, Stone draws on various academic fields of study, with which he remains in constant conversation. The result is another creative, insightful, and beautifully written work from one of the premier scholars alive today. When Stone has introduced new categories and ways of thinking in the past, others have followed suit... Another triumph. --Matthias Henze, Isla Carroll and Perry E. Turner Professor of Hebrew Bible and Early Judaism, Rice University

In this brilliant new study, Michael Stone does what he does best: He has chosen a topic that has already received a fair amount of attention...and gives it a new twist. Instead of going with the familiar labels of 'sectarian' versus 'mainstream/normative,' Stone chooses to focus on 'secrecy' as his operating category. The Yahad Community at Qumran, the Essenes, and Philo's Therapeutae were all secret societies concerned with the cultivation and transmission of esoteric knowledge and practice. With unparalleled erudition, Stone draws on various academic fields of study, with which he remains in constant conversation. The result is another creative, insightful, and beautifully written work from one of the premier scholars alive today. When Stone has introduced new categories and ways of thinking in the past, others have followed suit... Another triumph. * Matthias Henze, Isla Carroll and Perry E. Turner Professor of Hebrew Bible and Early Judaism, Rice University * Michael Stone, one of the most respected scholars of the period, offers here an insightful reading of esotericism in Jewish circles in the Second Temple period. He situates the phenomenon in the wider context of the Hellenistic world, which knew many groups with strictly controlled admission requirements and rituals that protected the secrecy of their rites and beliefs. Building upon the well-known case of the sectarians of the Dead Sea Scrolls, he argues that practices of secrecy played a role in many more Jewish groups and such practices surface in a wide range of Jewish literature of the period. His reading will enlighten general readers but also provoke specialists to consider the significance of the various forms esotericism more carefully. * Harry Attridge, Sterling Professor of Divinity, Yale Divinity School * In this ground-breaking book, Michael E. Stone challenges traditional conceptions of 'esoteric' and 'esotericism,' and compels us to re-examine the way religious groups in ancient Judaism functioned as secret societies. This book is a must-read for every scholar of early Judaism and the Dead Sea Scrolls, as well as all those interested in apocalyptic writings, secret societies, and western esotericism. * Lorenzo DiTommaso, Professor of Religions and Cultures, Concordia University, Montreal *

Author Information

Michael Stone is the Gail Levin de Nur Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies and Professor Emeritus of Armenian Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is the author or editor of nearly 60 books, including Adamgirk`: The Adam book of Arak`el of Siwnik` (Oxford University Press, 2007).

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available