It [Qumran] was a writing sect. Because the Pharisees emphasized the oral tradition which interpreted and applied the Law, we have tended to think that the first century Jews did not write down their teaching. This Qumran sect not only copied books of Scripture and other Jewish writings, but also wrote commentaries on books or portions of Scripture, and composed other works to guide their common life and express their faith in hymns. These writings show wide use of Hebrew rather than Aramaic. The early Church soon wrote letters and Gospels, literary forms not used at Qumran.
- from page 128, New Directions in Biblical Archaeology