Secret Groups in Ancient Judaism investigates the existence of secret societies in Ancient Judaism that cultivated and transmitted esoteric knowledge. Michael Stone sheds new light on these groups' purpose and function, and illuminates their structure and self-consciousness.

Preface Chapter 1. Secret Societies in Ancient Judaism Chapter 2. "Esoteric," Mysteries, and Secrecy 2.1 Esoteric 2.2 Secrecy 2.3 Religious Experience and the Claim of Authority Chapter 3. Esoteric as a Social Category 3.1 Knowledge and Control of Knowledge 3.2. Oral or Written Chapter 4. The Social Organization of Secrecy 4.1 Mysteries and Secrecy in Hellenistic-Roman Society 4.2 Secret Societies and Ancient Judaism 4.3 Essenes and Therapeutae in Secret Groups Chapter 5. Initiation and Graded Revelation 5.1 Initiation 5.2 Hierarchical Structure Chapter 6. Other Secret Jewish Groups and Traditions 6.1 Indications of Other Secret Groups 6.2. Status and the Pseudo-Esoteric Chapter 7. The Social Setting of Esoteric Tradition 7.1 Socio-Religious Groups 7.2 Teachings known to have existed that may have been secret 7.3 Narrative Frameworks and Secret Transmission "Circles Behind" and Final Thoughts Bibliography

Stone's study provides a different model through which to conceptualize the various groups of ancient Judaism:social organizations concerned with the preservation of important teachings. Scholars will find the book insightful, for it presents an opportunity to reconsider the structure and role of ancient Jewish groups.

"Stone's study provides a different model through which to conceptualize the various groups of ancient Judaism:social organizations concerned with the preservation of important teachings. Scholars will find the book insightful, for it presents an opportunity to reconsider the structure and role of ancient Jewish groups." -- Jason Maston, Houston Baptist University, Religious Studies Review "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, Montréal "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

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).