The famed Dead Sea Scrolls found in the caves at Qumran address regulating sexuality as a means for maintaining social order. In a volume focusing on Jewish and early Christian attitudes toward sexuality in the Hellenistic Greco-Roman era, Loader (Murdoch U., Perth, Australia) presents an exegetical analysis of the religious laws regarding intermarriage, purity, adultery, homosexuality, incest, and related matters. He reads the Temple Scroll, 4QMMT, Damascus document, and the Wisdom texts--legal, liturgical, and biblical exposition texts not studied in his previous volume, Enoch, Levi, and Jubilees on Sexuality (Eerdmans, 2007). The author also discusses the views of the presumably celibate Essenes on sexuality. Annotation 2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
