This study challenges the conventional view of scholars like E.P. Sanders that late Second Temple Judaism was theologically nationalistic, offering in its place a theory which argues that the intertestamental writings do not ancipate the salvation of all Jews but only of a faithful remnant within Israel. Working with the major books of the pseudepirapha and the Dead Sea Scrolls, Mark Adam Elliott shows that the authors of such works anticipated an imminent--and scathing--judgment of Israel that would exclude many, or even most, Israelites from the saved community. This finding not only confronts accepted perspectives on late Second Temple Judaism but also suggests implications for our reading of Paul and the New Testament. --From publisher's description.