Before the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, Second Temple Judea was perceived as a monolithic society, but these works allude to a number of different Jewish sects, such as the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes. The Scrolls clarify our understanding of the fundamental differences between these sects and show just how contrasting their various worldviews and practices actually were. All of the ancient Jewish groups seem to have agreed about the centrality and importance of the Bible, although their conceptions of sacred literature may have diverted. They further our knowledge of ancient biblical interpretation and the effect of historical events on religious life and ideas. The texts shed light on philosophical disputes about issues such
