Perfection. The Essenes would settle for nothing less. See what role this disciplined and secluded sect of Judaism played in the New Testament world. The Essenes may have been formed as a group at about the same time as the Sadducees. Instead of trying to influence the priesthood… Read More

The Hasmoneans began a revolt that changed the shape of Palestine between the New and Old Testaments. Read more about this influential family. “Maccabees,” the family nickname of the Jewish dynasty that ruled Judea from the time of the Maccabean Revolt (167 B.C.) until the Roman conquest of Palestine… Read More