to one who is not suitable for her for 13that is two kinds (like plowing with) an ox and a donkey, and to wear wool and linen together. No one shall bring 14[a woman into the cove]nant of holiness who has had sexual encounters 15[(while she was living) in the house of] her father, or a widow who has had sexual relations since she has been widowed, or any (woman) 16[who] had a bad reputation in her youth in her father\u2019s house\u2014no one shall take any of these unless 17on examination by trustworthy women who are knowledgeable and chosen at the word of the Examiner who is over 18[the cam]p. And afterward he may take her, and when he takes her he shall act according to the l[a]w [and not] report on her.<\/p>\n
CD 15:1\u201315<\/p>\n
1He shall (not) swear, not even with (the divine names) Aleph and Lamedh, nor Aleph and Daleth, except for the oath of those who enter 2by the curses of the covenant. And the Torah of Moses he shall not mention for \u2026 3If he does swear and transgresses, he profanes the name. Should the judges adjure him by the curses of the covenant, 4if he has transgressed, he is guilty. He must make confession and return (what he took) so as not to bear sin 5and die.
\nAnd those who enter the covenant for all of Israel as an eternal statute shall have their sons, who have reached (the age) 6for passing among those that are mustered, take the oath of the covenant. Similar (is) 7the precept during the entire time of evil for everyone who repents from his corrupt way. On the day that he speaks 8with the Examiner for the Many, they shall muster him with the oath of the covenant which Moses made 9with Israel, the cove[na]nt to re[turn t]o the Torah of Moses with all (his) heart [and with all] 10(his) soul, to that which is found to be done during the en[tire tim]e of [evi]l. Let no one make 11the precepts known to him until he stands before the Examiner \u2026 m, (lest) he prove to be a fool when he questions him. 12But when he takes upon himself to return to the Torah of Moses with all (his) heart and all (his) soul, 13they are free of his blame if he should transgress. Should he err in any matter of the Torah revealed to the multitude of 14the camp, the Examiner shall ma[ke it known] to him and enjoin it upon him, and te[ac]h (him) 15for (a minimum of) one complete year. According to his knowledge<\/p>\n
4QDa 8 i 6\u20139 (+ CD 15:15\u201317)<\/p>\n
6let him be brought near. And no light-minded 7[f]ool shall come (into the congregation). Neither shall any simpleminded or errant man, nor one with dimmed eyes who cannot see, 8nor a limping or lame or deaf person, nor a young boy, none 9of these shall [come] into the congregation, for the hol[y] angels [are in their midst]<\/p>\n
CD 16<\/p>\n
1with you a covenant and with all Israel. Therefore, a man shall take upon himself (an oath) to return to 2the Torah of Moses, for in it everything is specified. And the explication of their times, when 3Israel was blind to all these; behold, it is specified in the Book of the Divisions of the Times 4in their Jubilees and in their Weeks. And on the day when a man takes upon himself (an oath) to return 5to the Torah of Moses, the angel Mastema shall turn aside from after him, if he fulfills his words. 6Therefore, Abraham was circumcised on the day of his knowing.
\nAnd concerning what he said, \u201cThe utterance of your lips 7take heed to fulfill.\u201d Any binding oath by which a man takes upon himself 8to do a thing (sanctioned) by the Torah, even unto the price of death, let him not redeem it. (But) anything by which 9a man [tak]es upon himself to [de]part [from the To]rah, even to the price of death, let him not fulfill it. 10[Conce]rning the oath of a woman of which he sai[d that] her [husband] may annul her oath: Let no 11man annul an oath of which he does not [k]now if it should be fulfilled or annulled. 12If (the oath) is to transgress the covenant, let him annul it and not allow it to stand. And this is likewise the precept for her father. 13Concerning the precept of donations: Let no one vow to the altar anything violently acquired, nor shall 14[the pr]iests take it from an Israelite. [Let no] one sanctify the food of 15[his] mou[th] \u2026 l for this is what he said, \u201cEach one t[ra]ps his neighbor (with) a ban.\u201d And 16one shall not sanctify any \u2026 his possession 17he shall sanctify l \u2026 b h \u2026 be punished 18the one who vows \u2026 19for the judge[s] \u2026 20if \u2026<\/p>\n
CD 9<\/p>\n
1Any man who destroys a man among men by the statutes of the Gentiles is to be put to death.
\n2And as to that which he said, \u201cYou shall not take vengeance nor keep a grudge against the sons of your people,\u201d anyone of those who enter 3the covenant who brings a charge against his neighbor without reproof before witnesses, 4but brings it in his burning wrath or tells it to his elders to put him to shame, is taking vengeance and bearing a grudge. 5It is written only, \u201cHe takes vengeance against his adversaries and keeps a grudge against his enemies.\u201d 6If he was silent from day to day and in his burning wrath charged him with a capital offense, 7his iniquity is upon him, for he did not fulfill the ordinance of God that says to him, \u201cYou shall surely 8reprove your neighbor so that you do not bear sin because of him.\u201d
\nConcerning oaths: as to that which 9he said, \u201cLet not your hand help you,\u201d one who causes (another) to swear in the open field 10that is not in the presence of the judges or by their bidding has let his hand help him.
\nAnd anything lost, 11and it is not known who stole it from the possession of the camp in which it was stolen, its owner shall cause to be pronounced 12an oath curse. And he who hears it, if he knows and does not tell, shall bear guilt. 13Any guilt restitution when there are no owners, the one making restitution shall confess to the priest 14and it shall belong to him, besides the ram (brought as) a guilt offering. Likewise, any lost article that is found, but there are no 15owners, shall belong to the priests. For the one who found it does not know its judgment. 16If the owners are not found, they shall retain it.
\nAny trespass committed by 17a man against the Torah, which is witnessed by his neighbor\u2014he being but one\u2014if it is a capital matter, he shall report it 18before his eyes with reproof to the Examiner. And the Examiner shall write it down with his hand until he does it 19again before one who again reports it to the Examiner. If he is again caught in the presence of 20one, his judgment is complete. And if they are two and they testify about 21one case, the man shall only be separated from the purity, provided they are 22reliable. And on the day when a man sees it, he shall make it known to the Examiner. And concerning property they shall receive two 23reliable witnesses, while one is sufficient to separate (him from) the purity. No witness shall be<\/p>\n
CD 10<\/p>\n
1received by the judges to put someone to death upon the basis of his testimony unless he has reached the age to pass 2among those that are mustered (and) is God-fearing. No man shall be believed against his neighbor 3as a witness who transgresses the ordinance deliberately until he is cleansed by repentance.
\n4And this is the rule for the judges of the congregation: A quorum of ten men chosen 5from the congregation according to the time, four from the tribe of Levi and Aaron and from Israel 6six, versed in the book of Hagi and the foundations of the covenant, between 725 and 60 years old. And no longer shall anyone stand from 860 years and upward to judge the congregation. For through human failing 9his day(s) have become few, and through the burning wrath of God against the inhabitants of the land he has decreed that 10their knowledge should depart before they complete their days.
\nConcerning one who purifies himself in water: Let no 11man bathe in water that is dirty or insufficient to cover a man; 12neither let him purify a vessel in it. And any pool in a rock insufficient 13to cover (a man), which is touched by an unclean person, its water becomes unclean, like the water of a vessel.
\n14Concerning the Sa[bba]th to guard it according to its precept: Let no one do work on the 15sixth day from the time when the sphere of the sun is 16distant from the gate by its fullness; for that is what he said: \u201cGuard 17the Sabbath day to make it holy.\u201d And on the Sabbath day one shall not talk 18disgraceful and empty talk. He shall not lend his neighbor anything. He shall not make judgments concerning wealth and gain. 19He shall not talk about the work and the task to be done the next morning. 20Let no one walk in the field to do his workday business 21(on) the Sabbath. Let him not walk outside his town more than 1,000 cubits. 22Let no one eat anything on the Sabbath day except that which is prepared. And of that which is lost 23in the field one shall neither eat nor drink unless it was in the camp (before the Sabbath).<\/p>\n
CD 11<\/p>\n
1On the way, when he goes down to bathe, he may drink while he stands, but not draw (water) into 2any vessel. He shall not send a foreigner to do his business on the Sabbath day. 3Let no one put on soiled clothes or those brought with lint(?) unless 4they were washed with water or rubbed with frankincense. Let no one intermingle (purities with others) voluntarily 5on the Sabbath. Let no one walk after an animal to graze it outside his town more 6than 2,000 cubits. Let him not raise his hand to strike it with (his) fist. If 7it is wayward, let him not bring it out of his house. Let no one carry (things) from the house 8outside and from outside into the house; and if he be in a booth, let him not carry (things) out of it 9nor bring into it. Let (him) not open a sealed vessel on the Sabbath. Let no one carry 10spices on his person to go out or come in on the Sabbath. Let him not move within a dwelling house 11rock or soil. Let a nurse not carry an infant to go out or come in on the Sabbath. 12Let no one urge on his slave, his maidservant, or his hired man on the Sabbath. 13Let no one deliver (the young of) an animal on the Sabbath day. And if it falls into a pit 14or a ditch, let him not raise it on the Sabbath. Let no one rest in a place near 15Gentiles on the Sabbath. Let no one desecrate the Sabbath for the sake of wealth and profit on the Sabbath. 16And any human who falls into a place of water or into a place of \u2026, 17let no one bring him up with a ladder, a rope, or a utensil. Let no one bring on the altar on the Sabbath (any offering) 18except the burnt offering of the Sabbath, for thus it is written, \u201cApart from your Sabbaths.\u201d
\nLet no one send 19to the altar a burnt offering, a meal offering, frankincense, or wood through a man who is defiled with one 20of the impurities, thereby giving him license to defile the altar; for it is written, \u201cThe sacrifice of 21the wicked ones (is) an abomination, but the prayer of the righteous ones (is) like an agreeable meal offering.\u201d And whoever comes to 22the house of prostration, let him not come (when he is still) unclean after washing; and when the trumpets of the assembly sound, 23let him come before or later, but let them not interrupt the entire service \u2026 wt.<\/p>\n
CD 12<\/p>\n
1it is holy. Let no man lie with a woman in the city of the sanctuary to defile 2the city of the sanctuary with their pollution. Each man who is ruled by the spirits of Belial 3and speaks apostasy, in accordance with the judgment of (one who communicates with) a ghost or a familiar spirit shall he be judged. But each man who errs and 4profanes the Sabbath or the holy days shall not be put to death, for he is to be 5guarded by the sons of man, and if he is healed of it, he shall be guarded for seven years; then 6he may enter the assembly.
\nLet no one stretch forth his hand to shed the blood of a man from the Gentiles 7for the sake of wealth and profit. Also, let him not carry off any of their wealth so that they will not 8blaspheme, except by the counsel of (the) association of Israel. Let no one sell clean animals or 9birds to Gentiles in order that they may not sacrifice them. And from his granary 10and his vat he shall not sell to them from whatever he possesses; and his slave and his maidservant he shall not sell 11to them, because they entered with him into the covenant of Abraham.
\nLet no one pollute his soul 12with any living and swarming creatures by eating of them, whether it be the larvae of bees or any 13living thing which swarms in the water. And they should not eat fish unless they were torn 14alive and their blood sh[e]d. And all species of locusts shall be put into fire or water 15while still alive, for this is the precept of their creation. And all wood, stones, 16and dust which are defiled by human impurity while having oil stains on them, according to their 17impurity shall he who t[o]uches them become impure. And any vessel, nail, or peg in a wall 18which are with a corpse in a house shall become impure with the same impurity as the working implement. 19(So much for) the rule of the settlement of the towns in Israel in accordance with these precepts, to separate between 20the impure and the pure and to make known (the distinction) between the holy and the profane.
\nAnd these are the statutes 21for the Master to walk in with all the living, according to the precept for each time. And according to 22this precept shall the seed of Israel walk, so that they may not be cursed.
\nAnd this (is) the rule for the settlers of 23[the] c[amps] who walk in accordance with these (rules) during the time of wickedness until the arising of the messiah of Aaron.<\/p>\n
CD 13<\/p>\n
1and Israel: From a minimum of ten men, by thousands, hundreds, fifties, 2and tens. And where there are ten, let there not be absent a priest versed in the book of Hagi; by 3his word shall they all be ruled. But if he is not experienced in all these (matters), while one of the Levites is experienced 4in these (matters), then the lot shall be for all those who belong to the camp to conduct themselves by his word. And if 5a man has a judgment involving the Torah of skin disease, then the priest shall come and stand in the camp. And 6the Examiner shall explain to him the interpretation of the Torah; even if he is ignorant, he shall cause him to be confined, for they (the priests) have 7the judgment.
\nAnd this is the rule for the Examiner of the camp: Let him instruct the Many about the works of 8God, and allow them to discern the wonder of his mighty deeds, and relate to them the happenings of eternity together with their interpretations. 9Let him pity them as a father does his children and watch over them in all their distress as a shepherd for his flock. 10Let him loosen all chains that bind them so that there shall be none deprived and crushed in his congregation. 11And whoever joins his congregation, let him examine him with regard to his works and his intelligence, his strength and might, and his wealth. 12Let them inscribe him in his place according to his inheritance in the lot of lig[ht]. Let no one of 13the sons of the camp dare to bring a man into the congregation except by the word of the Examiner of the camp. 14None of those who have entered the covenant of God shall buy from or sel[l] to the Sons of Dawn; rather, (let them give) 15from hand to hand. Let no one do anything involving buying and selling without informing 16the Examiner in the camp. He shall do (it) \u2026 h and not \u2026 17 \u2026 and so for one divorcing and he yys \u2026 18 \u2026 humility and with loving mercy. Let him not keep a grudge against them \u2026 19 \u2026 their [si]ns and that which is not tied \u2026 20 \u2026 And this is the settlement of the camps in the whole \u2026 21 \u2026 1h not succeed to dwell in the land \u2026 22 \u2026 [and th]ese are the p[recept]s for the Master \u2026<\/p>\n
CD 14<\/p>\n
1such as have not come from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah. But for all who walk in these (precepts) 2the covenant of God (is) trustworthy to save them from all the snares of the pit, though fools are punished.
\n3The rule for the settlement of all the camps: They shall all be mustered by their names; the priests first, 4the Levites second, the sons of Israel third, and the proselyte(s) fourth. And they shall be inscribed by their names, 5one after the other, the priests first, the Levites second, the sons of Israel 6third, and the proselyte(s) fourth. Thus shall they sit and thus shall they inquire about any (matter). And the priest who is appointed to preside over 7the Many shall be from 30 to 60 years old, versed in the Book 8of Hagi and in all the precepts of the Torah, to declare them according to their judgment. And the Examiner 9for all the camps shall be from 30 t[o] 50 years old, mastering every 10principle of men and every language of their cla[n]s. By his word shall all the members of the congregation enter 11each in his turn. And any matter about which a person may wish to speak, let him address the Examiner, 12whether concerning a dispute or a judgment. And [this (is)] the rule (for) the Many to prepare for all their needs: (The) wage of at least 13two days per month are to be given to the Examiner and the judges. 14From it they shall give for their [s]ick, and from it they shall support the poor and the destitute, the old man who is 15[bowe]d down, the man who is affli[ct]ed, the one who may be captured by a foreign people, the virgin who 16has no re[deemer], the you[th w]ho has no one to look after him, (and) all the services of the association, so as not to 17 \u2026 m. And this is the explanation of the settlement h \u2026 18 \u2026 [as]sembly.
\nAnd this is the explanation of the precepts which \u2026 19 \u2026 [the Messia]h of Aaron and Israel. And their iniquity will be atoned \u2026 20 \u2026 w[h]o lies in a matter and he knows w \u2026 21 \u2026 [and be p]unished six days. And who shall spea[k] \u2026 22[and who keeps a grudge against his neighbor that (is) not a precept [and he shall be punish]ed h \u2026 23 \u2026 l?\u2026<\/p>\n
CD 14:18\u201322; 4QDa 10 i 11\u2013ii 15; 4QDb 9 vi 1\u20135; 4QDd 11 i 1\u20138; ii 1\u20132; 4QDe 7 i 1\u201315<\/p>\n
1And this is the exact statement of the judgments by which they shall be [ju]dged until the messiah of Aaron and Israel arises, 2and their sin will be atoned. G[i]ft offering and guilt offering [ ]. 3Who [ev]er lies knowingly in matters of money they shall ex[clu]de him from purity 4[for one year, and he shall be pu] nished for 60 days. And whoever spea[ks to his neighbor with insolence] \u2026 52[0]0 days, and he shall be punished for 100 days. But if it is a capital case, and he bears a grudge he shall not [re]turn 6[again. And anyone wh]o [ins]ults his neighbor without conferring [he shall be ex]cluded for one year and punish[ed] 7for s[i]x m[on]ths. And anyone who speaks foolishly shall be punished for 20 8[da]ys [and excluded] for three month[s]. And [anyone who i]nterrupts [his neighbor\u2019s] speec[h and] lacks restraint 9[shall be punished for] t[en] days. [And anyone who lies do]wn [and] falls asleep during [a mee]t[ing of the Many] 10[shall be excluded] for 30 days [and] punished for ten days. [And likewise the one who lea]ves 11[with]out the consent of the Ma[n]y and [with]out [cause] up to three tim[es during] a single [meeting] 12sha[ll be punished] for ten days. And if [they are standing], and he leaves [during the meeting he shall be punished for 30] 13da[ys]. And anyone who walks [nak]ed in front of [his] neigh[bor] in the house, or in the field walking na[ked] [in front of] 14the [cr]eatures, shall be excluded for six [months and punished for 30 days(?). And anyone who] 15[ta]kes out his hand from underneath his garment and, i[t becomes disarranged so his nakedness can be seen shall be excluded for 3]0 16day[s] and punished for ten. And the one who emits vulgar laughter to make [his voice] heard [shall be excluded] 17[for 3]0 (days) and punished for 1[5] days. [And the one who takes out] his left hand 18to gesticulate with it shall be punished [for ten days. And the one] who goes about [slandering] 19[his neigh]bor, [they shall exclude] him from the purity for [one] yea[r and he shall be punished for six months. And he who goes about slandering] 20[the Many shall be sent away and not] return a[gain. And if he murmurs against his neighbor in a manner which is not according to the Law] 21[he shall be punished for six months. And h]e whose [spirit] deviates [ ] 22he shall be ex[cluded for two years and pu]nished for 60 [days. And after the two years] 23[the Many shall be consulted] concerning [his] ca[se and if he is to rejoin] they shall wri[te him down in his place and afterward he shall be asked about the Law]. 24[And] the one who despises the judgment of the Many shall leave and [not re]turn again. [And the one who takes] 25his food in a manner that is against the Law shall return it to the person from whom it was taken. And the one who approaches 26his wife for fornication which is not according to the Law shall leave and not return again. [And he who murmu]rs against the fathers 27[shall be sent away] from the congregation and not return. [And if] it is against the mothers he shall be punished for te[n] days for the m[o]thers have no authoritative status in the midst of 28[the congregation]. [These are the or]dinances by wh[ich] all those who are disciplined shall [be judged].<\/p>\n
4QDa 11 1\u201321; 4QDe 7 i\u2013ii<\/p>\n
0Anyone who [is ] shall come and make it known to the priest [app]ointed 1over the Many and let him accept his judgment willingly, as he said through 2Moses concerning the soul that sins unwittingly, that they shall bring 3his sin offering [and] his guilt offering. And concerning Israel it is written, \u201cI will get me 4to the ends of heaven and will not smell the savor of your sweet odors.\u201d And elsewhere 5it is written, \u201cTo return to God with weeping and fasting.\u201d And in another place it is written, \u201cRend your hearts, not your garments.\u201d And anyone who rejects 6these regulations, (which are) in accordance with all the statutes found in the Law of Moses, shall not be reckoned 7among all the sons of his truth; for his soul has despised righteous instruction. Being in rebellion let him be expelled from the presence of 8the Many. The priest appointed [ov]er the Many shall declare, 9saying: \u201cBlessed are you, Almighty God, in your hand is everything, and who makes everything. You established 10[pe]oples in accordance with their families and tongues for their nations, but led them astray in a 11chaos without a way. But our ancestors you did choose and to their descendants you gave your truthful statutes 12and your holy laws, which if a man does them, he shall live. You have set boundaries 13for us and cursed those who transgress them, for we are the people of your redemption and the sheep of your pasture. 14You cursed their transgressors but preserved us.\u201d (Thereupon) the one being expelled shall depart. Anyone 15who eats from that which belongs to him, or who inquires about his welfare, or derives benefit from him, 16shall have his action inscribed by the Examiner permanently, and his judgment will be complete. 17All [the inhabitants of] the camps shall congregate in the third month and curse those who turn right 18 [or left from the] Law. This is the elaboration of the laws to be followed during the entire period 19[of visitation], that which [will be vi]sited upon them during all the periods of wrath and their journeys, for all 20who dwell in their [c]amps and all who [dwell in] their [towns]. Behold, it is all in accordance with the 21final interpretation of the Law.<\/p>\n
Temple Scroll<\/p>\n
Lawrence H. Schiffman<\/p>\n
The Temple Scroll (11Q19; also known as 11QTa), which presents itself as a rewritten Torah, begins with the renewal of the Sinaitic covenant of Exod. 34 and then turns to the building of the Temple in Exod. 35. From this point, the scroll follows the order of the canonical Torah. The author begins by explaining the structure, furnishings, and equipment of the Temple, then digresses to the offerings that used these structures or equipment, only to return to the scriptural order. In the process, he treats the architecture of the Temple and its precincts, and many other matters: laws of sacrifice, priestly dues and tithes, ritual calendar, festival offerings, ritual purity and impurity, sanctity of the Temple, laws of the king and the army, prophecy, foreign worship, witnesses, laws of war, and various marriage and sex laws. While the author\/redactor drew on the canonical Torah, the textual substratum for the scroll was not in all respects identical to that of the Masoretic Text (MT) but contained innumerable minor variants.
\nThe author gathered together all material on each subject from the Five Books of Moses and merged it into a unified text. Whenever the various Pentateuchal texts presented apparent contradictions, the author harmonized these in accordance with his own brand of halakhic interpretation, in some ways similar to the midrash of the later Rabbis. The author uses the first person to represent his text as the word of God.
\nThe author tells us explicitly that the scroll describes the Temple in which Israel worshiped before the end of days (11QT 29:2\u201310), but the Temple it presents is an ideal one, built upon the principles of the author (or authors; it is uncertain whether there is one author or several), that would be replaced in the end of days with a divinely created sanctuary.<\/p>\n
Authorship and History<\/p>\n
The existence of the Temple Scroll was announced in the aftermath of the Six-Day War in 1967. Khalil Iskandar, known as Kando, a Christian antiquities dealer in Bethlehem, had kept the scroll under the floor of his home in a shoebox, with other fragments in a cigar box, and some hidden elsewhere. Yigal Yadin located Kando after the war, and eventually purchased the scroll for the Israel Museum\u2019s Shrine of the Book exhibit, in Jerusalem for $105,000.
\nAs a consequence of its storage, the scroll is damaged, having lost the top third of its text as well as some columns at the beginning. What is preserved is 8 meters long (26 feet) with 65 columns of writing on 19 sheets of leather sewn together. Had it been complete, the entire scroll would have been approximately 8.75 meters long. It is written in two hands, one scribe writing columns 1\u20135 and another the remainder of the scroll (with some text duplicated in both hands). Yadin suggests that the first scribe made repairs by rewriting the first part of the scroll, which had become worn through use. The scribal techniques and script are typical of the other Qumran manuscripts, and the scroll\u2019s language has affinities both to Rabbinic texts and to the Qumran dialect.
\nYadin was the first to publish the Temple Scroll in a Hebrew edition (1977) and a revised English edition (1983). The editing of 11QTa posed particular problems. Because the scroll had been tightly rolled, the writing had left impressions on the back of adjacent columns, even at points where that text was not preserved on the front. Yadin produced mirror photos of this writing to supplement the text. Further identification of letters that Yadin was unable to read was later suggested by Elisha Qimron. Bruce and Kenneth Zuckerman rephotographed the scroll in color with high resolution and special lighting techniques, thereby providing some additional readings.
\nA second manuscript of the Temple Scroll from cave 11 is designated 11QT. Both 11QT and 11QT were written during the Herodian period, and 11QT was carbon dated to 97 BCE\u20131 CE. Passages from the Temple Scroll are overlapped in part by 4Q365, one of the fragments of the reworked Pentateuch, and some cave 4 fragments overlap sufficiently to indicate the existence of either sources for our document or closely related texts. 4Q524, the oldest text of the Temple Scroll, has been dated to the second half of the 2nd century BCE.
\nThe key to dating the Temple Scroll as a whole is the passage called the Law of the King (11QT 56:12\u201359:21), the most sustained example of original composition in the entire document; it was previously composed as a unit and then transferred into the Temple Scroll. Yadin argues that the Law of the King and the laws of conscription (11QT 56\u201359) were likely composed during the reign of John Hyrcanus (134\u2013104 BCE), against whose practices the scroll polemicizes. The Law of the King emphasizes the separation of the roles of High Priest and king and the need to constitute the gerousia, the \u201ccouncil of elders.\u201d It argues against the hiring of mercenaries, which were used extensively by John Hyrcanus. The Temple Scroll requires that the king have a special palace guard to protect him against kidnapping (an allusion to the kidnapping and murder of Jonathan the Hasmonean in 143 BCE [1 Macc. 13:24]). The text further polemicizes against campaigns such as those of John Hyrcanus and Alexander Jannaeus when it prohibits wars with Egypt for the sake of accumulating wealth. Since the text reflects the historical experience of the Hasmoneans, Jonathan (160\u2013143 BCE), and John Hyrcanus, we must place the composition of the Law of the King, and hence of the scroll as a whole, no earlier than the second half of John Hyrcanus\u2019s reign.<\/p>\n
Significance<\/p>\n
Many unique features distinguish the Temple Scroll from other biblical and Second Temple literature. The architecture of the Temple proposed here differs from biblical accounts and from descriptions of the Second Temple in Josephus\u2019s writing and the Mishnah. Most interesting is the extension of the temenos (the \u201ctemple city,\u201d or the City of the Sanctuary) by the addition of a third courtyard, so large that it would have encompassed most of what was then Jerusalem. The courtyards and their gates reflected the Israelite encampment in the wilderness, and the entire temple plan was intended to recreate the experience of the desert period in which sanctity was understood to radiate to all Israel from the epicenter of the sanctuary.
\nThe text\u2019s sacrificial festival calendar includes a number of festivals not part of the biblical or Rabbinic cycle. A second new year festival is celebrated on the first of Nisan, in the spring, followed by an annual celebration of the eight days of priestly ordination. Besides the Omer festival for the barley harvest (the second day of Passover) and the celebration of the firstfruits of wheat, the scroll adds two more firstfruits festivals, each at 50-day intervals, for oil and for wine. The wood offering is an annual festival in the summer. Extensive laws deal with the sacrificial procedure and ritual purity and impurity. These festivals suggest a general tendency to provide additional ways to protect the sanctuary from impurity.
\nEven in its present form, it is not difficult to discern that the Temple Scroll has been redacted from a number of sources by an author\/redactor who is himself the creator of the Deuteronomic paraphrase at the end of the scroll (11QT 51:11\u201356:21; 60:1\u201366:17). His sources most certainly included the sacrificial festival calendar (13:9\u201329:1) and the Law of the King and army (56:12\u201359:21). It has been suggested as well that the description of the temple precincts and furnishings (2:1\u201347:18) and the laws of purity (48:1\u201351:10) also constituted separate sources.
\nIn view of the parallels between the Temple Scroll and Some Precepts of the Torah (4QMMT) on the one hand and descriptions of the Sadducees in tannaitic literature on the other, it is most likely that the sources we are discussing here stem from the Sadducean heritage of the sect\u2019s founders. In these sources, therefore, we may begin to discover the nature of the Sadducean approach to biblical exegesis.
\nIn his initial study of the Temple Scroll, Yadin assumed that it was part of the Qumran sectarian corpus and that it was written by the Essenes. Other scholars have pointed to the absence in these texts of the polemical language, distinctive terminology, and other linguistic features characteristic of Qumran. Further, this text has a different view of the origins, authority, and derivation of Jewish law. Some recent scholarship has seen the Temple Scroll as emerging from a related group that was either contemporary with or earlier than the Qumran sect.
\nYet this view certainly must be modified in light of the even closer link between the Temple Scroll and Some Precepts of the Torah. This \u201cHalakhic Letter,\u201d which most likely dates to the origin of the Qumran community, describes a series of some 20 laws about which the authors disagreed with the established authorities of the Jerusalem priesthood and as a result left Jerusalem and its Temple. In general, Some Precepts of the Torah takes positions equivalent to those of the Sadducees in Rabbinic literature and ascribes to the Jerusalem priests views identified as Pharisaic in that literature, and in many cases its rulings agree with those of the Temple Scroll. This new evidence suggests that the sources of the Temple Scroll may be forerunners of the Qumran sect who shared Sadducean rulings on many matters.
\nThis scroll is the longest of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and for this reason alone it vastly enriches the textual heritage of Second Temple Judaism. Further, it demonstrates that the scriptural exegesis concerning the origins of Jewish law, the activity that the later Rabbis called midrash, was already a central part of the Judaism of some groups in the Hasmonean period. This exegesis underlays highly developed legal teachings serving as evidence that among some groups of Second Temple Jews strict adherence to a living and developing tradition of Jewish law was the norm. Further, some of these Jews objected strenuously to the Hasmoneans\u2019 conduct in the religious, political, and military spheres. These opponents of the Jerusalem priests who were at the forefront of the movement represented by the Qumran sect brought with them to Qumran, along with other texts, the sources of the Temple Scroll.
\nSince these sources likely reflected Sadducean views and exegesis, the Temple Scroll should be able to increase substantially our knowledge of this hitherto elusive group that played so important a role in Second Temple Judaism. Further, it may allow us to reconstruct as well a variety of Pharisaic teachings from that time, thereby enriching many aspects of our knowledge of Second Temple Judaism.<\/p>\n
GUIDE TO READING<\/p>\n
For the most part, the translation of the Temple Scroll below is based on the manuscript 11QT. This manuscript represents a virtually continuous text, with lost text at the beginning and at the end and most columns only partially preserved. The largest amount of deterioration comes at the beginning of the scroll, because the outside was exposed to air; and the top lines of virtually all of the columns are missing, due to the way in which the scroll was placed in the cave. For this reason, much of the scroll has been restored with the help of either parallel manuscripts or parallels from the biblical text. In our translation, all such restorations are indicated with square brackets.
\nSome columns of the scroll have been restored with the help of additional manuscripts preserved in fragmentary condition or with the help of related texts. In these cases, after the column number in our main manuscript our translation indicates the use of other texts. A good example, because of its complexity, is column 23. At the beginning of the column I have inserted into the translation the following: Column 23 (+ 11QTb col. 6 and 4Q365 22, italics indicate overlap of 11QT and 4Q365). This indicates that the text is drawn from column 23 of the manuscript designated as 11QT (cave 11, Qumran, Temple Scroll, manuscript \u201ca\u201d). Text that has been taken from 11QT (manuscript \u201cb\u201d) column 6 (according to the length of that manuscript) is signified with a single underline. Material taken from 4Q365 (cave 4, Qumran, manuscript number 356) frag. 22 is indicated with a double underline (the double underline therefore appears under the manuscript number 4Q365 22). Here there was a need to indicate the overlap of manuscript \u201cb\u201d with the cave 4 manuscript, 4Q365. In the cases where 11QTb overlaps with 4Q365, italics are used to distinguish that section of the text. When readers encounter text within square brackets it means that an alternative manuscript supports the restoration and renders it virtually definite. Angle brackets indicate a correction by the original scribe who wrote omitted letters above the line.
\nWhile this explanation may seem complex, it is an opportunity to expose the reader to the difficulty that scholars face in creating composite, often restored, texts from the fragmentary manuscripts of the Dead Sea Scrolls. In Dead Sea Scrolls research, reconstruction and restoration is an integral part of the interpretation of the text. We always need to remember that whatever is within square brackets and is not based on alternative manuscript readings must be regarded as tentative, no matter how compelling the restored text may appear.<\/p>\n
SUGGESTED READING<\/p>\n
Brooke, G. J., ed. Temple Scroll Studies. JSPSup 7. Sheffield: JSOT, 1989.
\nCharlesworth, J. H., ed. The Dead Sea Scrolls: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek Texts with English Translations. Vol. 7, Temple Scroll and Related Documents, edited by Lawrence H. Schiffman, with A. D. Gross and M. C. Rand, et al. T\u00fcbingen: Mohr Siebeck; Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2011.
\nSchiffman, Lawrence H. The Courtyards of the House of the Lord: Studies on the Temple Scroll, edited by Florentino Garc\u00eda Mart\u00ednez. STDJ 75. Leiden: Brill, 2008.
\nSwanson, D. D. The Temple Scroll and the Bible: The Methodology of 11QT. STDJ 14. Leiden: Brill, 1995.
\nWacholder, B. Z. The Dawn of Qumran: The Sectarian Torah and the Teacher of Righteousness. Cincinnati OH: Hebrew Union College Press, 1983.
\nWhite Crawford, S. A. The Temple Scroll and Related Texts. CQS 2. Sheffield: Continuum, 2000.
\nWise, M.O. A Critical Study of the Temple Scroll from Qumran Cave 11. SAOC 49. Chicago: Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, 1990.
\nYadin, Y. The Temple Scroll: The Hidden Law of the Dead Sea Sect. New York: Random House, 1985.
\n\u2014\u2014\u2014. The Temple Scroll. 3 vols. Jerusalem: The Israel Exploration Society and the Shrine of the Book, 1983.<\/p>\n
TRANSLATION<\/p>\n
Renewal of the Covenant at Sinai<\/p>\n
Col. 2 (1) [for that which I] am do[ing with you is awe-inspiring [blank]]. (2) [I am about to drive out from before you] the A[morites, the Canaanites,] (3) [the Hittites, the Girgash]ites, the Pe[rizzites, the Hivites, and] (4) [the Jebusites. Take c]are of yourself, lest you enter into a cove[nant with the inhabitants of the land] (5) to whom [you are] going, lest they become a sn[are among you.] (6) [Indeed], you must tear down their [altar]s, [smash their] pillars, (7) cut down their [Asherim]; and the graven images of [their] god[s] (8) [you must burn with fire.] You must [n]ot covet the silver or gold tha[t is on them]. (9) You shall [not] take [anything] from them, so that you do not bri[ng (this) abomination into] (10) [your house and become] accursed like it. (Rather,) you shall utterly dete[st it and utterly] (11) [abhor it, for] it is an accursed thing. And you may not bow down to [any other] god [for] (12) [your God] is a zealous God. Take care lest you enter into [a covenant with the inhabitants] (13) [of the land, and when they go astray] after [their] god[s and] sacrifice to [them, they invite you] (14) [and you eat of their sacrifices. Then you will ta]ke [from their daughters for your sons] (15) [and their daughters will go astray after their gods] and they will [le]ad astray your sons after] (16) [their gods. You may not make for yourself gods of molten metal \u2026]<\/p>\n
The Temple and Its Furnishings: Specification of Materials<\/p>\n
Col. 3 (+ 11QT frag. 1)<\/p>\n
(1) [\u2026] which is in [\u2026] (2) [\u2026] blue and purple [and crimson yarns, \u2026] (3) [\u2026 al]l your enemies all [around \u2026] (4) [\u2026 Hou]se to place My name upon it, f[or ever] (5) [\u2026] in it silver and gold from any.[\u2026] (6) [\u2026] and you may not pollute it. Rather, from the [terumah take:] (7) [gold, silver, bro]nze, iron, and dressed stones for the H[ouse and for everything that is in] (8) [the House \u2026]<\/p>\n
MATERIAL FOR VESSELS<\/p>\n
And all its vessels shall be made from pu[re] gold[\u2026] (9) [\u2026 the] cover (kapporet) which is on it of pure gold [\u2026] (10) [\u2026 the altar] of fragrant incense and the tabl[e shall be made of gold] (that is) (11) [pure \u2026] shall not leave the Temple, [its] dish[es and ladles] (12) [\u2026] and its bowls shall be of pure gold, and the censer[s and ladles] (13) [and the offering bowls] with which [to b]ring the fire inside (the Temple). And the lampstand and a[ll its vessels] (14) [of pure gold]. [blank] And the entire altar of the burnt offerin[g and all its vessels] (15) [must be of] pure [bro]nze. And the grating th[at] is above i[t, and the laver] (16) [and its stand shall be ma]de of b[urnished] bronze [like the mirrors], in order to see [their] f[aces in My Temple] (17) [upon the alta]r (which is) [polished] bro[nze, overlaid with silv]er and a [copper] fra[me]. (18) [All the vessels of the sacrificial altar, to sacr]ifice the d[aily offering from the children] Col. 4 (+ 4Q365a frag. 3 and 11QT) (01) [of Israel every day \u2026 [blank](?)<\/p>\n
Construction of the Temple Building: Introduction<\/p>\n
You must make the House that] (02) [you will build for Me in the place I will cause My name to dwell upon.\u2026] (03) [\u2026 upon the foundation recessed three cubits from the walls] (04) [\u2026 [blank] (?)<\/p>\n
EXTERIOR OF THE TEMPLE BUILDING<\/p>\n
You must make] (1) [the wall seven cubits, protruding east twenty-]ei[ght, protruding] (2) [south fourteen, west twenty-eight,] protruding to [the north] (3) [fourteen cubits surrounding the walls (?) of the] House, fo[ur cubits] wide, (4) [for all who enter the covenant from among the nation]s, and a pavement between the [first] (5) [\u2026] the sixth, a terrace [\u2026] (6) [\u2026] [blank]<\/p>\n
INTERIOR OF THE TEMPLE BUILDING<\/p>\n
[\u2026 and you shall build] (7) [the Temple sixty long and twenty cubit]s wide. And the height of the sa[nctuary \u2026] (8) [\u2026 cu]bits. And you shall build the portico [a length of \u2026] (9) [\u2026 cubits, a widt]h of ten cubits, and [its] walls [\u2026] (10) [\u2026] and (its) height, sixty cubi[ts \u2026] (11) [\u2026 t]welve cubits, and (its) h[eight \u2026] (12) [\u2026]twenty-one cubits [\u2026] (13) [\u2026] twenty cubits square [\u2026] (14) [ over] laid [with gol]d [blank] [\u2026] (15) [\u2026] half of it [\u2026] (16\u201317) [\u2026]
\nColumn 5 (+ Column 6) (1) [\u2026] joints [\u2026] (2) [\u2026] cubits.[\u2026] (3) [\u2026] thickness (of) three [\u2026] (4) [\u2026 above \u2026] \u2026 of the (same) size as [\u2026] (5) [twenty-eight cubit]s by twenty-eig[ht cubits] (6) [and a height of forty cubit]s and its ceiling, also [\u2026] (7) [\u2026 ten ]cubits the entire height [of the entablature and the windows] (8) [\u2026 in] it and four gates [for the upper chamber for its four] (9) [directions. And the width of] the gate (will be) twelve [cubits, and its height] (10) [twenty-one] cubits. And the entire entablatu[re and its windows \u2026] (11) [\u2026 the low]er. And the entirety (will be) overlaid [with gold \u2026] (12) [\u2026] [blank] [\u2026]
\n(13) [\u2026]. And you will make a stoa [of standing pillars] (14) [\u2026] in all [\u2026]
\nColumn 7 (1) [\u2026] the board [\u2026] (2) [\u2026] \u2026 board. [\u2026] (3) [\u2026] wo[oden] boards [\u2026] (4) [\u2026]. one hundred and ten [\u2026] (5) [\u2026] eighty board[s \u2026] (6) [\u2026 ab]ove, above all the [\u2026] (7) [\u2026 and there shall not be there] any impurity.<\/p>\n
Vessels of the Temple: Ark<\/p>\n
[And] [you must] m[ake] (8) [an ark \u2026] altogether five cubit[s and X] (9) cubits [its width, and a cub]it, its height. And the cover (kapporet) that is abo[ve (it is) two] (10) [cu]bits[\u2026] its width. And two cherubim [\u2026] (11) [\u2026] at the other end, spreading (their) wings [\u2026] (12) [\u2026] above the ark, with their faces one [to the] (13) [other]. [blank]<\/p>\n
CURTAIN<\/p>\n
And you must m[ake] a curtain of gold [\u2026] (14) [\u2026 s]killfully work[ed \u2026] the curtai[n] [s]hall be [\u2026] (15) [\u2026] Column 8 (1) [\u2026] (2) [\u2026] opposite (the) ark [\u2026] (3) [\u2026] loops seven [\u2026] (4) [\u2026 that are]stand[ing].<\/p>\n
TABLE AND BREAD<\/p>\n
(5) [You will make a table of acacia wood, two cubits] its length, a cubit [its width] (6) [and a cubit and a half its height. You will cover it in] pure [gold], and you will mak[e] [for it a molding] (7) [(of) gold surrounding (it). [blank] (?) ] (8) [You must take choice flour and bake of it twelve loave]s, two (9) [tenths of a measure shall each loaf be. And you shall place] upon the two rows (of bread) (10) [pure frankincense. [blank] (?) T]his frankincense [will be] for the bread as a memorial portion, (11) [as an offering by fire to the LORD, on the Sabbath day, o]n the incense altar. When yo[u] remove (12) [the bread and when you arrange] the bread, you must place upon it frankincense. Do not (13) [omit frankincense (for it is) an ete]rnal [statute], throughout their generations. And this bread shall be (14) [for the priests \u2026] they shall bring i[t \u2026 princ]es of,<\/p>\n
GOLDEN LAMPSTAND<\/p>\n
Column 9 (1) [\u2026 You must make a lampstand of pure gold. (Of) hammered (metal)] (2) [you shall make the lampstand; its base and its shaft, its cups, its calyx]es, and [its] petals (3) [must be made from it. [blank](?) Six branches coming forth] from its two sides, (4) [\u2026 three from one side and three from] the other. Three (5) [cups in the shapes of almonds \u2026 like its calyxes] and its petals (6) [\u2026] two (7) [cups in the shapes of almonds and a calyx under two of the branches, and a cup under four] (8) [of the branches. And thus for all six branches that come forth from it], three [calyxes] (9) [\u2026] (the) entire branch (10) [\u2026 from this side three], and from this side three. (11) [You will make the lampstand and its lamps and] its [fire pans] and its tongs, all of it (shall weigh) two talents (12) [(of) pure gold. (Regarding) its seven lamps, [in the evening all of its lamps m]ust burn. And you shall place (13) [the lampstand in front of the devir opposite the tab]le. And the priests, the sons of [Aaron], shall set out (14) [the lamps before the LORD alwa]ys, (for it is) an etern[al] statute, [throughout] their [generation] s.<\/p>\n
COLUMN AND VEIL FOR VESTIBULE<\/p>\n
Column 10 (1) [\u2026] (2) [\u2026] (3) [\u2026]. (4) [\u2026] column (5) [\u2026] as a remembrance (6\u20137) [\u2026] (8) [\u2026 the] gate, there will be (9) [\u2026 And] you [must make] above the gate (10) [a screen \u2026] above, a protruding board, (of) scarlet (11) [\u2026] and above it, columns (12) standing [\u2026] (of) red purple. And the tops of (13) [\u2026 a winding st]aircase, marble.[\u2026] (14) [\u2026 p]urple and scarle[t ] upon (15) [\u2026] (16) and above the [\u2026] (17) [\u2026] stone, inside the [\u2026] Column 11 1\u20137 [\u2026] (8) [\u2026] \u2026<\/p>\n
Obligation to Offer Sacrifices on the Festivals<\/p>\n
(9) [And you will offer upon the altar of the burnt offering on all of the set times of the LORD,] on the Sabbaths, and on New (10) [Moons, on the first of the fir]st [month], and during the feast of unleavened bread, and on the day of the waving of the sheaf, (11) [and on the Second Passover (?), and on the festival of weeks\u2014which is the festival] of firstfruits for the wheat offering\u2014(12) [and on the appointed time of wine for (the) libation of the new wine (?),] and on the appointed time of oil, and on the six days of (13) [the] wood [offering], and on [the day of remembrance, and on the Day of Atonement, and on the festiv]al of booths, and on the convocation. (14) [\u2026] the [I]nner Court [.](15) [\u2026] \u2026 [\u2026] Column 12 (01) [\u2026] they came?<\/p>\n
ALTAR OF THE BURNT OFFERING AND RELATED STRUCTURE<\/p>\n
(1) [\u2026]gold (2) [\u2026]. (3) [\u2026] (4) [\u2026] (5) [\u2026] right, and one from (6) [left \u2026].\u2026 (7) [\u2026]. and four.[\u2026] (8) [\u2026]. its measurements shall be (9) [\u2026 and twen]ty [cubits from cor] ner[to]corner, and a cubit (10) [\u2026 you shall make the altar of stone]s, built entirely (11) (of) [whole s]ton[es (?).\u2026 And thus you shall] make all the (12) walls (of) [the] altar [\u2026] and [\u2026] (13) and its horns and [its] corner[s shall be] from [it (whole stone).] [You must m]ake a bronze [al]tar for me (14) from the [\u2026]. [.].\u2026 [its] horns [\u2026] (15) [\u2026]. You shall make four colum[n]s [\u2026] (16) [\u2026]cubits and from [\u2026] alt[ar \u2026] Column 13 (01\u201306) [\u2026] (07) \u2026 [\u2026] (1) in order that [\u2026] (2) [and] ten cu[bits \u2026] (3) you must make [\u2026] (4) and its door [\u2026] (5) one and [\u2026] (6) overlaid [\u2026] (7) for it a gate, like [\u2026] (8) [blank] [.\u2026]<\/p>\n
SACRIFICES: CONTINUAL BURNT OFFERING<\/p>\n
(9) and the wall \u02da [\u2026] (10) the blood for the people [\u2026 lambs one] ye[ar] old (11) that are perfect, t[wo each day. You shall offer one lamb in the morning. And its meal offering shall be one-ten]th (of an ephah of) (12) fine flour, mixed [with a quarter of a hin of oil] for each of the lambs and the go[at, as a pleasing odor, an offering by fire,] (13) to the LORD.[ <12a. And its libation of wine (shall be) a qua[rter of a hin.> \u2026 the] first loaf [\u2026] (14) of the [burnt] offering that is [\u2026] for [the] si[x d]ays. [\u2026] (15) as [the] morning mea[l] offering [\u2026] (16) You shall not [\u2026]<\/p>\n
Sabbath Sacrifice<\/p>\n
(17) And on Sa[bbath] days, you must offer two [one-year-old lambs that are perfect, and two tenth] Column 14 (01) [each tenth (of an ephah) of fine flour (should be offered as) a meal offering, mixed with a fourth of a hin of oil] (02) [for every lamb, and their libations (shall be) a fourth of a hin of wine per lamb, as a burnt offering each Sabbath,] (03) [on every Sabbath, along with the continual burnt offering and its libation. [blank] (?)]<\/p>\n
Sacrifices on the Beginnings of Months<\/p>\n
(04) [And at the beginnings of your months, you must offer as a burnt offering to the LORD two young bulls (1) [and] one [ram,] [(and) seven one-year-old lambs that are perfect, and a goat as an expiation offering,] (2) [and a meal offe]ring of fine flour, mix[ed with oil, three-tenths (of an ephah) of fine flour, mixed] (3) [with ha]lf a hin [of oil, and wine for the libation, half a hin for (each) bull, and two-tenths of (an ephah) of fine flour] (4) [mix]ed with a third [of a hin of oil, and wine for the libation, a third of a hin for each ram; (5) [for the] lamb a tenth (of an ephah of fine flour for the) meal offering, [mixed with a quarter hin of oil, and wine for the libation, a quarter] (6) [of a hi]n for each [of the seven] lambs. [And for the he-goat, it is an offering of fire, a] pleasant (7) [odor] to the LORD, at the begin[nings of your months. This is the burnt offering for each and every month] (8) throughout the months of the year, [an offering by fire] to the LORD. [blank] (?)<\/p>\n
Sacrifice on the First Day of First Month<\/p>\n
(9) And on the first of the [firs]t month, [the beginning of the months, it must be for you the first of the months] (10) of the year. Any laborious w[ork you must not do. Only what each person is to eat,] (11) that alone may be prepared for you. [You shall present a burnt offering to the LORD: one young bull], (12) one ram, seven one-year-old, [perfect] male lambs, and a single [goat] as an expi[at]ion offering, (13) besides the burnt offering of the new month. [blank] (?) [and a meal offering of three tenths (of an ephah) of fine flour m]ixed (14) with half a hin of oil, and wine for a libation, h[alf a hin for each bull; and] t[w]o (15) tenths (of an ephah) of fine flour as a meal offering, mixed with [a third of a hin of oil], and wine for libation (16) a thi[rd] of a hin, for the [o]ne ram. And for the lambs [and the] he-g[oat], [one] tenth (17) [fine fl]our, a meal offering [mi]xed with oil, a quarter hin, [and wine for libation, a quarter] (18) [of a hin for] each of the [se]ven lambs and for the [he]-goa[t] Column 15 (+ 11QT col. 1) (01\u201303) [\u2026] (04) and they shall offer it upon the altar] (1) [on ever]y single day, [one young bull, one ram, sheep] (2) a year old, seven, and a h[e-goat for an expiation offering, and its meal offering and its libation] (3) according to this regulation. [blank]<\/p>\n
Milluim Ceremony: Rams and Baskets<\/p>\n
[And for the (priestly) ordination, one ram for each and every day], <3a. [and] baskets of bread for all the ram[s of ordination, one basket for each]> (4) individual [ram.] And they shall divide a[ll the rams and the baskets for the seven days for each] (5) [and] every day. According to the division[s of the priests they will sacrifice to the LORD:] (6) a burnt offering from the ram, and [the fat that covers the entrails, and the two] (7) kidneys, and [the fat that is on them, and the fat that is on] (8) the loins, and the fat tail [near its spine, and the appendage of the liver,] (9) and its meal offering and libation according to the reg[ulation.<\/p>\n
Waving and Burning the Offerings<\/p>\n
Then they shall take one loaf of unleavened bread from the basket, and] one [loaf] (10) of bread (made) with oil, and [one] waf[er, and they shall put all (of the loaves) on the fats] (11) with the thigh offering which is on the [right. Those who offer the sacrifice shall wave the] (12) rams and the baskets of bread (as) a wave offering [before the LORD.] It is a burnt offering, (13) an offering by fire, a pleasant odor to the LORD. [Then they must burn everything on the altar] along with (14) the burnt offering (in order) to complete their own ordination, (for) sev[e]n [days. [blank] (?)]<\/p>\n
Ordination of a New High Priest and His Bull<\/p>\n
(15) But if a (new) High Priest is about (to begin) [to serve before the LORD, who] has been ordained (16) to w[ea]r the vestments as a replacement for [his] father, [he must sacrifice] [t]wo [bulls:] (17) [one fo]r the entire peo[ple] and one for the priests; [and he shall offer that which is] (18) for the priest]s fir[st]. And the elders of the priest[s] shall lay [their hands upon] Column 16 (+ 11QTb cols. 1\u20132) (01) [its head; and after them, the High [Pr]iest and all the (other) priests. [blank] (?)] (02) [Then they must slaughter the bull. Then the elders of the priests shall take some of the blood of the bull] (03) [and put (some of the blood) upon the corners of the altar with their finger. And the rest of the blood, they shall pour ] [around on the four corners of the ledge of the altar [blank] (?)] (1) [\u2026]<\/p>\n
Blood Rites of the Ram for Ordaining the New High Priest<\/p>\n
(2) [Then they must take some of its blood and p]ut some of the blood [on the right thumb and on] (3) [lobe of the] right [ear]; and then they must sprinkle [some of the blood and some of the oil upon his vestments.] (4) [He shall be holy] unto the LORD all his days. [\u2026] (5) [\u2026] unless he become defiled, for he is hol[y to the LORD his God. [blank] (?)]<\/p>\n
Offering the Bull of the Priest<\/p>\n
(6) [Then] he (the High Priest) [shall put it] on the al[t]ar and burn th[e fat of the first bull,] (7) the fat that is on the entrails, and th[e appendage of the liver, and the two] (8) kidneys and the fat that is on [them, and the fat that is on] (9) the loins, and its meal offering, and its liba[tion according to the regulation. And he shall burn them on the altar.] (10) It is a [burnt] offering, an offering by fire, a pleasant odor to [the LORD. [blank] (?) But the (remainder of the) meat of the bull], (11) and its hide, together with its dung, they shall burn outsi[de the City of the Sanctuary]. (12) In the place set aside for expiation offerings, there [they] shall burn [it, along with its head and its legs,] (13) with all its entrails. And they shall burn all of it there, except for its fat; [it is an] exp[iation offering].<\/p>\n
Offering the Bull of the People<\/p>\n
(14) Then he shall take the second bull, which is for the people, and make atonement with it [on behalf of all the people of] (15) the congregation with its blood and with its fat. Just as he did with the fir[st] bull, [so too shall he do] (16) with the bull of the congregation. He shall put some of its blood with his finger on the corners of the [altar, and] (17) (the remainder of) its blood he shall throw o[n the fo]ur corners of the ledge of the altar. And [its fat, and its] (18) [me]al offering and its li[batio]n he shall (then) bu[r]n (on) the altar; this is the expiation offering of the congregation.<\/p>\n
Celebration of the Eighth Day<\/p>\n
Column 17 (+ 11QT col. 3) (1). [\u2026] the priests, and they shall put crow[ns on their heads \u2026] (2) [\u2026] and they shall rejoice, for atonement was made on their behalf [\u2026] (3) [\u2026 and] this day shall be for them [as a remembrance, an eternal statute] (4) [throughout their generations] in all their dwelling places. And they shall rejoice and celebrate. (5) [\u2026] [blank]<\/p>\n
Passover Sacrifice and Feast of Unleavened Bread<\/p>\n
(6) [And they shall offer on the fo] urteenth of the first month [at twilight] (7) [a paschal sacrifice to the LORD.] And they shall slaughter (it) before the meal offering of the evening. [Every male must] slau[ghter it]; (8) from twenty years old and upward they should offer it. And they shall eat it at night (9) in the courts of [the] holy place. And they shall rise early (on the next day) and go each one to his tent. [\u2026] (10) [blank] And on the fifteenth of this month (there shall be) a ho[ly] convocation. (11) You may do no laborious work on it\u2014a festival of unleavened bread (for) seven days (12) for the LORD. And you shall sacrifice on each and every day for the[se] seven days (13) a burnt offering to the LORD (of) two bulls, a ram, and seven one-year-old lambs (14) that are perfect; and one he-goat for an expiation offering. And their meal offerings and their libations (shall be) (15) [according to the reg]ulation, for the bulls, the rams, the [la]mbs, and for the goat. And on the seventh day (16) [(there shall be) an assembly] for the [Lo]rd; you may not do any laborious work on it.<\/p>\n
Sacrifices of the Day of Waving the Sheaf<\/p>\n
Column 18 (+ 11QT col. 3) (1) [\u2026 one year ol]d [lambs] fo[ur] (2) [ten \u2026] for this ram. [And bread,] (3) [parched grain, and fresh ears (of grain) you must not eat until] that [very] day. And [you must sacrifice] (4) [\u2026 and] a he-[goat] as an expiation offering to [atone] (5) [for all the people of the congregation. Its meal offering and] its [li]bation according to the regulation: a tenth (of an ephah) of fine flour (6) [mixed with oil, a quarter of a hin, and] wine for libation, a quarter of a hin. (7) [\u2026 it will make atonement] on behalf of the people of the congregation for all [their] guilt; (8) [and they shall be forgiven throughout their generations.] This shall be for them [an] eternal [sta]tute (9) [in all the]ir [dwelling places.] Then afterward, they shall offer the one ram, once (10) [a yea]r, on the day of the waving of the sheaf. [blank]<\/p>\n
The Feast of the Firstfruits of Wheat<\/p>\n
And you shall count (11) [for yourself] seven full weeks. From the day when you bring the sheaf (12) of the wave offering, you must count, until the morrow after the seventh week. You must count (13) [fifty] days. Then you shall bring a new meal offering to the LORD from your dwelling places: (14) [loaves of] leavened bread of new flour, as firstfruits for the LORD. (You shall offer) wheat bread, tw[elve] (15) [loaves.] Each loaf sh[a]ll be of [two] tenths (of an ephah of) fine flour. (16) [And the heads of the] trib[e]s of Israel [must bring them,] and they must sacrifice. Column 19 (+ 11QT cols. 3\u20134) (1) [\u2026 after the burnt offering of the morn]ing. [\u2026] (2) [\u2026 in the fourth quarter of the day they will offer] the burnt offer[ing of the firstfruits.] (3) [And they will sacrifice one young bull], twelve [rams,] [and seven perfect one-year-old lambs], (4) [and their meal offering and their libation] according to the regulation. Then [the priests shall] wave (5) [them, a wave offering together with the bread of the] firstfruits. [They] shall be for the priests, [and they shall eat them] (6) [in the inner court w]ith the bread of the firstfruits. Then afterward, [the entire nation will eat] (7) [bread of new grain, f]reshly ripened ears. And [this] d[ay] will be [for them] (8) [a holy convocation,] [an eter]nal [statute] throughout their generations; any (sort of) laborious wo[rk they may not] (9) [do on it.] It is the [festival of] Shavuot and the festival of firstfruits, for an etern[al] remembrance. (10) [\u2026] [blank]<\/p>\n
Feastival of the New Wine Ceremony: Reckoning<\/p>\n
(11) [Then] you shall count for yourselves from the day on which you brought the meal offering of new grain to the Lor[d,] (12) [the] bread of the firstfruits, seven weeks. Seven full weeks (13) [there will be;] up until the day after the seventh week shall you count, (for) fifty days.<\/p>\n
Sacrifices of New Wine Ceremony<\/p>\n
(14) Then you shall [bring] new wine for libation, four hin from all the tribes of Israel, (15) a t[hir]d of a hin for each tribe. And they will offer along with the wine, on this day, (16) [(as) a burnt offering to the LORD, tw]elve rams (from) all of the heads of the clans of Israel. Column 20 (+ 11QT col. 4) (01) [He must offer the rams and their meal offerings according to the regulation: two-tenths (of an ephah)] (02) [of fine flour mixed with oil, a third of a hin of oil for each ram, with this libation.] (03) [They will offer as a burnt offering two bulls, one ram, and seven one-year-old lambs], (04) [and a single he-goat as an expiation offering to atone on behalf of the people of the congregation, [blank]] (05) [their meal offering and their libation according to the regulation for the bulls, the ram, the lambs, and the he-goats] (06) [(for it is) an offering by fire, a pleasing odor, to the LORD. At a quarter of the day they shall sacrifice \u2026]. (1) [And the rams and the libation. And they shall sacrifice pea]ce offering[\u2026 rams] (2) [.\u2026 And fo]urteen [one-year-old lambs, their meal offering and their libation] (3) [according to the regulation. For the rams and for the lambs,] after the burnt offering they shall offer them. [They shall dash their blood upon] (4) [the base of the ledge of the altar, and] their fat they shall burn on the al[tar: all] (5) [the fat which covers the entrails,] and all the fat which is on the ent[rails;] [and the appendage of the liver on] the kidneys he shall remove along with the fat [which is] o[n them,] (7) [and that which is on the loins, an]d the fat tail close to the backbone (which shall be removed). Then [the priests] shall o[ffer] (8) [all of it on the altar] along with its meal offering and libation, as an offering by fire, a plea[s]a[n]t odor, (9) [before the LORD]. [blank]<\/p>\n
OFFERING AND EATING THE MEAL OFFERING FOR NEW WINE FESTIVAL<\/p>\n
And you shall offer every meal offering with which the libation is offered with it according to [the regulation.] (10) [And every meal offering th]at is offered upon it, whether it is offered with frankincense, or (if it is offered) dry, they must take off from it a handful, as (11) its [memorial portion], and they shall burn it on the altar. That which remains from them they shall eat in the [In]ner Court. (12) The priests shall e[at] them as unleav[ened cakes]. It must not be eaten as leavened (cakes). On that day it must be eaten, (13) [for] the sun shall [no]t s[et on it].<\/p>\n
Salt<\/p>\n
And on all your sacrifices you must place salt, you shall not omit a [cov]enant of salt [forev]er. [blank]<\/p>\n
Wave Offering of New Wine Festival<\/p>\n
Then they shall present to the LORD a gift offering, (15) a [w]ave offering fr[om] [the ra]ms and from the lambs: the right thigh, and the breast, and (16) [the cheeks, and the stomach,] and the foreleg up to the shoulder bone. And they shall wave them as a wave offering Column 21 (+ 11QT col. 5) (01) [before the LORD \u2026 [blank]<\/p>\n
Priestly and Levitical Portions<\/p>\n
For the priests there will be the thigh of the gift offering] (02) [and the breast of the wave offering. And for the first portion, they must give [the forelegs, the cheeks] (03) [and the stomachs as portions. And it must be theirs as an eternal statute from the Children of Israel]. (04) [And the shoulder that remains of the foreleg they must give to the Levites; and it must be theirs] (05) [from the nation as an eternal statute for them and their descendants.<\/p>\n
Climax of Festival<\/p>\n
Afterward, they shall take them out to the children] (06) [of Israel. The officers of thousands should give, from the rams and from the lambs, one ram] (1) [(and) one lamb, for Aaron and to] his sons; and for the sons of Lev]i, one ram (and) one lamb;] (2) [and for each tribe, one [ram] (and) one lamb, for each of the trib[es of the tw]elve (3) [tribes of Israel. And they must eat the]m in the Outer Courtyard before the LORD. [And they shall drink] (4) [from the young wine. The priests shall] drink there first, and the Levites [second,] (5) [and after them all the Children of I]srael (will drink): the chiefs of the troops f[i]r[st]. (6) [\u2026] and after them, all the people, from great [t]o [small], (7) [shall begin to drink new wine] and eat grapes and unripe fruit from the vines, [for] (8) [on this day they shall provide atonement for the] young wine. The Children of Israel shall rejoice bef[ore] the LORD (9) (for it is an) eternal [statute] throughout their generations in all their dwelling places. They shall rejoice on this d[ay], (10) at the proscribed time, [for they have begun] to pour the libation of strong drink of new wine on the altar of the LORD, year after year. (11) [\u2026] [blank]<\/p>\n
Festival of New Oil: Reckoning<\/p>\n
(12) Then [you mu]st count [for yourselv]es from this day seven weeks, seven times, forty-(13) nine days. Seven complete weeks shall there be until the day after the seventh (14) week shall you count, fifty days.<\/p>\n
Offering the Oil and Accompanying Sacrifice<\/p>\n
Then you shall offer new oil from the dwelling places of the (15) tribes of the Chil[dren of Isra]el, one-half hin from each tribe, new beaten oil. (16) [They shall sacrifice the first of the] oil on the altar of burnt offering, as firstfruits to the LORD. Column 22 (+ 11QT cols. 5\u20136) (01) [\u2026 two bulls] (02) [two rams \u2026 and one he-goat as an expiation offering] (03) [to atone with it on behalf of the entire congregation before the LORD; and its meal offering, three tenths (of an ephah?) of fine flour] (04) [mixed with this oil, half a hin \u2026] (05) [and he will offer its fat, its meal offering, and its libation (?) according to the regulation. It is a burnt offering, (06) [an offering by fire, a pleasant odor to the LORD. [blank] (?)]<\/p>\n
Lighting the Lamps With New Oil and Shelamim<\/p>\n
(1) [They shall burn this oil in the la]mps \u2026 [\u2026] (2) [\u2026]. the commanders of thousand[s with the princes of the troops,] (3) [fourteen rams] and fourt[een la]mbs [and their meal offerings and their libations] (4) [according to the regulatio]n for the rams and for the la[mb]s. Then the sons of Levi will slaughter [the rams and the lambs,] (5) [and the] priests, the sons of Aaron, [shall sprinkle] their blood [on the altar, all around. And] (6) [their meat and] their fat they shall burn on the altar of the [burnt offering according to the regulation. And] (7) [their meal offering] and their libation they shall burn together with the fat[s and the meat. It is an offering by fire, an odor (that is)] (8) pleasant [to] the LORD. [blank]<\/p>\n
Climax of Oil Festival<\/p>\n
Then they shall take off fr[om the rams and from the lambs] (9) the right thigh and the breast of the wave offering; and for the first portion [the foreleg, an]d (10) the cheeks, and the stomach\u2014it shall be for the priests as a portion, according to their regulation; and for the Levites (11) the shoulder. Afterward, they shall take them (the portions) out to the Children of Israel, and the Children of Israel shall give to the priests (12) one ram (and) one lamb, and to the Levites one ram (and) one lamb, and to each and every (13) tribe one ram (and) one lamb. They shall eat them (the meat) on this day in the outer courtyard (14) before the LORD, (as) eternal statutes throughout their generations, year after year. Afterward, (15) they shall eat and anoint from the new oil and from the olives. For on this day they shall make atonement (16) f]or [al]l the [o]il of the land before the LORD, once a year. And they shall rejoice\u2014Column 23 (+ 11QTb col. 6 and 4Q365 22, italics indicate overlap of 11QT and 4Q365) (01) [all (the) Children of Israel\u2014in all their dwelling places, before the LORD, (as) an eternal statute] (02) [throughout their generations. [blank] (?)]<\/p>\n
Festival of Wood: Appointed Time<\/p>\n
(03) [And after the festival of the oil, they must contribute the wood for the altar, (04) [the twelve tribes of Israel. And there shall be the ones contributing on the first day: the tribes of] (05) [Levi and Judah; on the second day Benjamin and the sons of Joseph\u2014Ephraim] (1) [and Manasseh together; and on the third day, Reuben and] Sim[eon; and on the fourth day, Issachar] (2) [and Zebulun; and on the fifth day, Gad and] Asher; and on the [sixth] da[y, Dan and Naphtali] (3) [[blank] (?)<\/p>\n
Sacrifices of Festival of Wood<\/p>\n
They shall sacrifice with the woo]d, a burnt offering to the L[ord \u2026] (4) [\u2026] t[wo] he-[g]oats as an expiation offering to atone] (5) [through them for the Children of Israel. And] their [meal offering] and their libation according to the reg[ulation. They shall offer a burnt offering] (6) [\u2026] one ram, Day of Memorial on the First of the Seventh Month<\/p>\n And on the [seventh] m[onth, on the first] (3) [of the month, there shall be for you a day of rest, a day of mem]orial (proclaimed with blast) of trumpets, a [holy] con[vocation. And you shall offer] (4) [a burnt offering, an offering by fire,] it is [a pleasant odor be]fore the LORD. And [you] shall sac[rifice on it (this day) a burnt offering (5) [to the LORD: one bull,] one[ ram,] seve[n] year-o[ld lamb]s, [one he-goat] (6) [as an expiation offering, and] their meal offerings and libations according to thei[r] regulation, [as a pleasant odor to the] (7) [LORD, besides th]e continual [burnt offerin] g[and] the burnt offering of the new month. Afterward, [you must offer t]his [burnt offering] (8) during the third quarter of the day. (They are) an eternal decree for y[our] generations [in your dwelling places]. (9) They shall rejoice on this day; they may not perform on it any laborious w[ork]. A day of rest it shall be (10) for you this day. [blank]<\/p>\n Day of Atonement: Law of Self-Affliction and Sacrifices<\/p>\n And on the tenth of this month (11) it is the Day of Atonement; you shall afflict yourself. For every person who does not (12) afflict themselves on this very day shall be cut off from his people. On this (day) you shall sacrifice a burnt offering (13) to the LORD: one bull, one ram, seven (perfect) one-year-old lambs, one he-goat (14) as an expiation, besides the expiation of atonement, its meal offering and its libation (15) according to their regulation for the bull, the ram, the lamb, the goat. For the expiation of atonement you must sacrifice (16) two rams as a burnt offering. The High Priest shall sacrifice one for himself and for his father\u2019s house. Column 26 (1\u20132) [\u2026] (3) [\u2026] will be impur[e.\u2026]<\/p>\n The Two Lots and Their Outcome<\/p>\n The [High Prie]st [must cast upon] (4) [the two goats lots\u2014] on[e] lot (marked) [for the LORD, and one lot (marked) for Azazel]. (5) [Then] they shall slaughter the goat on which fe[ll the lot for the LORD. The priest shall receive] (6) its blood with the golden basin that is in [his] ha[nd, and d]o with [its] bl[ood as he di]d with the blood (7) of his bull. And he shall make atonement with it on behalf of all the people of the congregation. Its fat and meal offerings (8) with libations he must burn upon the altar of burnt offering. And its meat, and its skin, and its dung (9) they must burn next to his bull. It is the expiation offering for the congregation; and he shall atone with it for all the people of the congregation, (10) and they will be forgiven. And he shall then wash his hands and his feet of the blood of the expiation offering and come to (11) the live goat, and confess over its head all the sins of the Children of Israel, with (12) all their guilt, all their sins. He shall place them upon the head of the goat, and send it away (13) into the wilderness of Azazel by the hand of a designated man. The goat shall bear all the iniquities of Column 27 (01) [the Children of Israel to a desolate land he shall send the goat into the wilderness]<\/p>\n Further Sacrifices of Atonement<\/p>\n (02\u201309) [\u2026] (010) [.\u2026 He shall prepare his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the nation; and he will atone] (011) [on his behalf and on behalf of the nation. He shall then throw] [their] blood [upon the altar all around] (012) as an offering by fire, [it is] a pleasin[g] smell to the Lo[rd \u2026] (1) [\u2026] on the day [\u2026] (2) for Festival of Sukkot<\/p>\n And on the fifteenth day of this month Column 28 (01) [(there) will be for you a holy convocation; you must not do any laborious work.] (02) [You will celebrate a festival to the LORD, (for) seven days, (with) an offering by fire, a pleasing odor to the LORD.] (03) [On the first day, you shall offer thirteen young bulls,] (04) [two rams, fourteen perfect one-year-old lambs,] (05) [and one he-goat for an expiation offering. Its meal offering must be of choice flour mixed with oil,] (06) [three-tenths of a measure (of flour) with half a hin (of oil) and a wine libation of half a hin] (07) [for each of the thirteen bulls. The meal offering of choice flour mixed (08) [with oil, two-tenths of a measure (of flour), a third of a hin (of oil), and a wine libation of a third] (09) [of a hin of wine for each of the two rams. One-tenth] (010) [of the meal offering of choice flour mixed with a fourth] of a hin (of oil) and the libation [a fourth] (011) [of a hin of wine for each lamb. Th]us they must do to the[fourteen] (1) lambs, [for the goat, in addition to the continu]al [burnt offering], and [its] me[al offering, and its libation upon] (2) the altar; [it is] an offering by fire, [a pleas]ing odor [to the LORD. [blank] (?) Eighth Day of Assembly<\/p>\n Then on the] (010) [eighth day, there will be for you a solemn gathering. All] la[bor]io[us work you shall not] (011) [do. You shall sacrifice to a Me a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a pleasing odor to the LORD: one bull, one] (012) [ram,] se[ven la]mbs, [and one goat as an expiation offering with their meal offerings] (1) and their libations [for the bull, ram, lambs, and goat, according to their regulations. [blank] (?)]<\/p>\n Conclusion of the Laws of the Festivals<\/p>\n (2) These [are the set times of the LORD that you must declare as holy convocations] (3) to offer up burnt offerings, [meal offerings, sacrifices, and libations \u2026] in the house where I [will cause] My name [to dwell] (4) upon it. [They must offer in it] the [daily] sacrifice on its day, according to the teachings of this regulation (5) continually from the children of Israel. (This is) in addition to their freewill offerings from all that they will bring, (6) all their votive offerings and all their gifts that they will bring to Me in order that th[ey] may be accepted. (7) And I will accept them. They shall be My nation, and I will be theirs forever; and I will dwell (8) with them forever and ever. And I will consecrate My [Te]mple through My glory, (the Temple) on which I will settle (9) My glory until the day of (re-)creation, on which I will create My Temple (10) in order to establish it for Myself for all times, in accordance with the covenant that I established with Jacob at Bethel.<\/p>\n The Stairhouse<\/p>\n Column 30 (1) [\u2026] and I will sanctify (2) [\u2026] (3) [\u2026] above a winding staircase [\u2026] make. And [you] must make [a house] (4) for the stairs, from bo[th sides of the gat]es in the house that you will build [in order that] My [name to be] (5) upon it. [blank] (?) You shall [m]ake] (the) [hous]e (?) of the winding staircase to the north of the Temple, a square building, (6) twenty cubits from corner to corner, aligned with its four corners. And it shall be (located) at a distance from the wall of (7) the Temple, seven cubits to its northwest. And you must make the width of its wall four (8) cubits, rising straight from thi[s stoa] like the Temple building. And its inside, from angle to angle, [will be] (9) twelve cu[bits]. And (there shall be) a square pillar in the center, its width four (10) cubits on all its sides. The width of the winding staircase, the ascending staircase, four [c]ubits. Column 31(+ 11QT col. 8) (1) [\u2026] (2) [\u2026] the gate (3) [\u2026 oi]l of anointment (4) [\u2026] the deputy priest (5) [\u2026 the Hi]gh [Priest] [blank] (6) And in the upper chamber of [this] build[ing you shall construct a ga]te (with an) opening onto the roof of the Temple. A (cause) way should be made (7) through this gate to the stoa [behind the] Temple, through which one may enter the upper chamber of the Temple. (8) This entire winding staircase building shall be overlaid with gold\u2014its walls, gates, and roof, inside (9) [and] outside, and its column and stairs. And you must do according to everything that I tell you.<\/p>\n House of the Laver<\/p>\n (10) And you shall construct a square building for the laver in the southeast; on each side twenty-one (11) cubits. (It is) fifty cubits away from the altar. The width of the wall is three cubits, and (the) height, (12) [t]wenty cubits. [blank] (?) [And thre]e gates should be made for it: (one) on the east, (one) on the north, (13) and (one) on the west. The wdth of the gates is four cubits; and their height is seven (cubits). Column 32 (+ 11QT col. 9) (1) [\u2026] three cubits [\u2026] (2) [\u2026] (3) [\u2026]three[\u2026] (4) [\u2026] their [\u2026] (5) [\u2026] their, for the altar [\u2026] (6) [\u2026] their guilt, to make atonement on behalf of the people. And when [the priests] go up (7) [\u2026] for their mea[l offering] and to burn upon the altar (8) the burnt offer[ing \u2026] \u2026 in the wall of this house (there should be) (9) cubbies, one cubit by one cubit \u2026 [\u2026] from [\u2026] cubit and their height (10) is four cubits from the ground. Overlaid with gold shall be (the place) on which they shall place [the]re, upon them, (11) their clothing with whi[ch] they come\u2014above, on top of the building of the lave[r]\u2014(12) when they enter to perform the holy service. And you must construct a conduit around the laver, next to the altar of burnt offerings, (13) that shall lead under[nea]th the laver to a dry well that flows downward into the ground, so that (14) the water will flow and go into it and be lost in the ground. And no (15) one shall be touched by it for some of the blood of the burnt offering is mixed in it. Column 33 (1) [\u2026] \u2026 coming [\u2026] (2) [\u2026] And at the time when [\u2026] (3) [\u2026] \u2026 and [\u2026] (4) [\u2026] which are upon them. And they (must) pla[ce \u2026] (5) [\u2026] the build[ing] of the laver and.[\u2026]. to the lave[r \u2026] (6) [and those who ente]r the (House of the) Laver, and those who exit with them to [the Middle Courtyard in order not to] (7) communicate holiness to the gate with the holy garments that [they serve in]. (8) [blank]<\/i><\/p>\n House of the Utensils<\/i><\/p>\n You must construct a building to the east of the House of the Laver equivalent to the dimensions of the [Hous]e of the Laver. (9) Its wall must be distant from its w[a]ll seven cubits; and its [en]tire structure and ceilings should be like the House of the Laver. (10) And it is to have two gates, (one each) on its north and on its south, one opposite the other, of the same dimensions as the gate of the House of (11) the Laver. And this entire building, its walls (must be) made of blocked windows facing inward, (12) two cubits wide by two cubits, and four cubits high, (13) with doors. (They shall serve as) containers for the utensils of the altar: the basins, flagon Temple Precinct<\/p>\n Any person who is not [\u2026 the oil of holy anointment] (3) [it shall b]e. Any person who is not [\u2026 the h]oly (4) [must be anoint]ed from it. And any[one from the Children of Israel who will bring it and] he himself is not (5) a priest, shall [be put to] death. And any man who is from the [priests, the sons of Aaro]n, who will offer (6) it, and he himself is not dressed in [the holy] gar[ments or has] not been not ordained, (7) they too shall be put to death. And [they] must not defile [the sanc]tuary of their God so as to incur (8) the guilt of iniquity punishable by death. And you shall sanctify (the area) around the altar, the Temple (building), the laver, (9) and the stoa; and it shall be of the holiest of the holy (areas) forever and ever. [blank]<\/p>\n The Stoa of Columns West of the Heikhal and Sacrifices There<\/p>\n (10) You must construct a place west of the Temple (building), a stoa of (free) standing columns (going) around, (11) for the expiation offering(s) and the guilt offering(s), separated one from the other: for the expiation offering(s) of the priests and the goats, (12) and for the expiation offerings of the people and their guilt offerings, so that they not mix all of them one (13) with the other. Therefore, their places shall be separate from one another in order that (14) the priest not err in (offering) any expiation offering of the people or with any rams of the guilt offerings, so as to incur (15) the penalty of transgression. [blank] And the bird(s) which must be offered on the altar, the turtledoves<\/p>\n The Inner Court<\/p>\n Column 36 (1) [\u2026] (2) [\u2026] gates [\u2026] (3) [\u2026] from the angle [\u2026] (4) [to the corner] of the gat[e one hundred and twenty cubits. And] the gate (should be) forty cubits wide; (5) for each and every side [this should be] its di[mensions.] T[he wi]dth of [its] wa[ll] (must be) seven cubits, (6) and its height (should be) [forty]-five [cubits up to the cei]ling of [its] roof. [And the wid]th of [its] ch[ambers] (must be) twenty-six (7) cubits from angle to angle. And (as to) the ga[t]es through which they enter (8) and [g]o out, the width of (each) gate (must be) four[tee]n cubits, and their height (must be) (9) twenty-eight cubits from the thr[e]shold to the lintel. And the height of (10) the ceiling from the lintel (shall be) fourteen cubits; and (it shall be) roofed over with an entablature (11) of cedar, overlaid with pure gold, and its doors shall be overlaid with fine gold. [blank] (12) [blank] And from the corner of the gate to the second angle of the courtyard (shall be) one hundred (13) and twenty cubits. And this shall be the di The Middle Court<\/p>\n (12) And you shall make a second [c]ourt around the inner court, at a distance of one hundred cubits. (13) And the length on the east side (shall be) four hundred eighty cubits. And this shall be the width and length on all (14) its sides, to the south, the west and the north. And the thickness of its wall (shall be) four cubits, and its height shall be twenty-(15) eight cubits. And chambers shall be made in the wall on the outside; and (the distance) from one chamber to the next (shall be) three Column 39 (+ 4Q365a 2 i) (01) [and a half cubits \u2026] (02\u201307) [\u2026] (1) [\u2026 (the) m]easure of the gat[es] (2) all [\u2026] up to the ceiling of the roof [\u2026] (3) cubits [\u2026] and its doors [\u2026] (4) covered in gold [\u2026 shall come to] this courtyard, all (5) the community of the congregation of Israel, and the stranger who was born in your mi]dst, the four[th] generation, of age (6) twenty years [and older. And when they come to] worship before Me, the entire congregation of the Children of (7) Israel [\u2026] A woman may not enter there, nor a boy until the day (8) when he completes the period of [his] yo[uth; then he must give ] his own [redempti]on to the LORD, a half-shekel, (9) as a memorial in their dwelling places\u2014the shekel being (equivalent to) twenty gerahs. [blank] (10) And when they collect from him the half-she[k]el, [he must swea]r to Me. Afterward, they may enter, from twenty (11) [year]s old and up. Outer Court: Total Area and Gates<\/p>\n And you must make a third Court [surrounding the Middle Court] (6) \u2026 and for their daughters, and for the proselytes who were bor[n] in Israel (7) [through the third generation \u2026 and] the width at a distance from the Middle Court of six hundred cubits (8) in length, approximately one thousand six [hundred] cubits from corner to corner. For each and every direction this must be the dimension, (9) to the east, south, west, and n[or]th. And the width of the wall (must be) seven cubits, and the height, forty-(10) nine cubits. And chambers (must be) constructed in it and for its gates, on the outside against the foundation, (11) up to its crenellations. (There must be) three gates in it in the east, three in the south, three (12) in the west, and three in the north. And the width of the gates (must be) fifty cubits, and their height seventy (13) cubits. And from gate to gate (there must be) a [dimension of] three hundred sixty cubits. From the corner to (14) the gate of Simeon is three hundred and sixty cubits; and from the gate of Simeon to the gate of Levi, (15) the sme dimension. And from the gat[e] of Levi to the gate of Judah, the same dimension, three Column 41 (4Q365a 2 ii) (01) [hundred and sixty cubits. And from the gate of Judah to the southern corner, the same dimension,] (02) [three hundred and sixty cubits. And from this corner] (03) [to the gate of Reuben (is) three hundred and sixty cubits. And from the gate of] (04) [Reuben to the gate of Joseph, the same dimension, three] (05) [hundred and sixty cubits. And from the gate of Joseph to the gate of Benjamin (is) three] (1) [hundred and sixty cubits. And from the gate of Benjamin to the we]st[ern corner] (2) [(is) three hundred and sixty cubits. And thus from] this [corner] (3) to the ga[te of Issachar (is) three hundred and sixty] cubits. And from the gate of (4) Issachar [to the gate of Zebulun (is) three] hundred [and sixty] cubits. (5) And from the gate of Ze[bulun to the gate of Gad] (is) three hundred [and sixty] (6) cubits. And from the ga[te of Gad] to the [northern corner] (7) and sixty cubits. [blank] [And] from this corner to (8) the gate of Dan (is) three hundred and sixty cubits. And thus from the gate of Dan to (9) the gate of Naphtali (is) three hundred and sixty cubits. And from the gate of Naphtali (10) to the gate of Asher (is) three hundred and sixty cubits. And from the gate of Asher to the eastern corner of the southern gate, (is) three hundred and sixty cubits. (12) The gates (must) protrude from the wall of the Court outward seven cubits. (13) And to the inside, they must extend (inward) from the wall of the Court thirty-six cubits. (14) And the width of the openings of the gates (must be) fourteen cubits; and their height (must be) (15) twenty-eight cubits up to the lintel. And they must be roofed (16) with beams of cedar wood overlaid with gold; and their doors (must be) overlaid (17) with pure gold.<\/a><\/p>\n Chambers, Rooms, and Stoas<\/a><\/p>\n And between one gate and another you must construct inside (the wall) chambers, Column 42 (+ 4Q365a 2 ii) (01) [rooms, and stoas. The width of the room (must be) ten cubits, its length] (02) [twenty cubits, and its height fourteen cubits. It must be roofed] (03) [with beams of cedar wood. And the width of the wall (must be) two cubits. Outside]] (04) [of it (must be) the chamber. (The) width of the chamber (must be) ten cubits, and its length twenty] (05) [cubits. The wall (must be) two cubits wide and a height of fourteen (1) [cubits. It must be roofed with beams of cedar wood. And its entrance (must be) three cubits] (2) [wide \u2026] until the lintel. And [their] s[toas] (3) [\u2026 one size] for each of the chambers and the [ir]rooms. (4) And [each of] their stoas [must be of a wi] dth of ten cubits. And between each gate (5) there [should be eight] een chambers, and their rooms, (6) eight[een \u2026] [blank]<\/p>\n Chambers and Sukkot<\/p>\n (7) You must construct a building for stairs next to the walls of the gates, inside (8) the stoa. Winding staircases ascend into the second and third (floors of the) stoa (9) and to the roof. And chambers (must be) built, and their rooms and their stoas like the lower ones. (10) (Those on the) second and third (story shall be) of the same dimension(s) as those on the bottom (stories). And on the roof of the third (story) (11) you shall construct columns that are roofed over with beams, (extending) from column to column, (12) (as a) place for sukkot (that are) eight cubits high. And the sukkot shall be (13) constructed upon them every single year for the Festival of Sukkot, for the elders of (14) the congregation, for the princes, for the heads of the clans of the Children of Israel, (15) and for the officers of the thousands and the officers of the hundreds who will go up (16) and sit there until the sac Eating the Tithe in the Outer Court<\/p>\n Column 43 (1) [\u2026] for the si[x days of creation \u2026] (2) [\u2026] and on Sabbath days, and on day[s of the (new) month,] (3) [and on the days of the festival of matzot,] and on the days of the Firstfruits (festivals), for grain, w[ine], (4) and o[il, and on the festival of the] wood (offering.) On these days it may be eaten and they may not leave over (5) any of it from one year to the next year. For in this manner they eat it: (6) from the festival of Firstfruits of the grain of wheat, they shall eat the grain (7) until the following year, up to the day of the Firstfruits festival (of grain); and the wine, from the day of the (8) wine festival until the following year, up to the day (of the) festival (9) of the wine; and the oil, from the day of its festival until the next year, (10) to the festival of the day of offering new oil Apportioning Chambers in Outer Court<\/p>\n You must apportion [each chamber from the gate of] (4) [Simeo]n to the gate of Judah to the priests, [the sons of Aaron]. (5) And the en[tire] right side of the gate of Levi and its left side, you shall apportion to the sons of Aaron, your brother: (6) one hundred eight chambers and their rooms, and their two sukkot, (7) which are above the roof. And for the sons of Judah (you shall apportion) from the gate of Judah to (8) the corner: fifty-four chambers and their rooms, and the sukkah (9) that is upon them. And for the sons of Simeon, from the gate of Simeon to the second (10) corner, their chambers, their rooms, and thi Mixing of Priestly Courses<\/p>\n (3) And when the [first (priestly) cour]se sh[al]l enter, the next (course) shall leave on the left. [And when it enters,] (4) the first course shall leave, so that they [do] not mix with one another and with regard to th[eir] vess[els]. And when the (5) (priestly) course arrives to its place, they must encamp. One [en]ters and the other leaves toward the eighth day. And they (must) purify the (6) chambers, one after the other, [at the] time [when] the previous (course) leaves so that there will be no (7) mingling there. [blank]<\/p>\n Bans on Entering the Temple and its City<\/p>\n And if a ma[n] has a nocturnal emission, he may not enter (8) any part of the sanctuary until he [com]pletes three days. And he shall launder his clothes and bathe (9) on the first day; and on the th[ir]d day he shall launder his clothes Arrangement for Safeguarding the Purity of the Temple<\/p>\n You must construct a terrace all around, outside of the Outer Courts, (6) fourteen cubits wide, opposite the openings of all the gates. And (7) you must construct twelve step(s) for it upon which the Children of Israel shall ascend (8) to enter My Temple. [blank] Holiness of the Temple City<\/p>\n (2) [They shall be only at the t]op and never at the bott[om \u2026] [blank] (3) And their cities [shall be] pure, and [I (will cause) My name to] d[well among t]hem forever. And the city (4) that I will sanctify so as to cause My name and [My] Tem[ple] to dwell [therein] shall be consecrated and pure (5) from everything, from every impurity with which they may be defiled. Everything that is in it must be (6) pure, and everything that enters it must be pure. Wine, oil, any foodstuff, (7) and any food upon which liquid has been poured must be pure. Every hide of a pure animal that they will slaughter (8) in their cities they may not bring into it (the City of the Sanctuary). In their cities, however, they may do (9) their work with them for all their needs. But they may not bring (them) into the city of My Temple, (10) for their (level of) purity is (equal to) that of their meat. For you may not render impure the city that (11) I am causing My Name and My Temple to dwell within. But (only) the hides (of animals) that they slaughter (12) in the Temple shall they be bringing with their wine, their oil, and all (13) their foodstuffs to the city of My Temple. And they must not defile My Temple with the hides of their abominable (14) offerings that they sacrifice throughout their land. Clean and Unclean Animals<\/p>\n Column 48 (01) [\u2026] (02) [\u2026 The following you must abominate among the birds; they must not be eaten] (03) [they are an abomination: the eagle, the vulture, and the black vulture; the kite, falcons of every variety;] (04) [all varieties of raven; the ostrich, the nighthawk, the sea gull; hawks of every variety;] (05) [the little owl, the cormorant, and the great owl; the white owl, the pelican, and the bustard;] (1) [the stork; herons of every variet]y; the hoopoe, [and the bat. All winge]d [swarming things] (2) [that walk on (all) four(s) shall be an abomination for you. [blank] ] Laws Concerning the Dead and the Purity of the Cities<\/p>\n You are the children (8) of the LORD your God. You may (therefore) neither lacerate yourselves, nor make bald spots on your foreheads (9) for the dead. And you may not make an incision on your flesh because of the dead, nor shall you tattoo any marks on (10) yourselves. For you are a holy nation unto the LORD your God. [blank] Judges and Officers<\/p>\n (11) You must appoint judges and officers in all your gates and they must judge the people (12) (with) righteous judgment. They may not show favoritism in judgment, nor take a bribe, nor (13) pervert justice. For (the taking of) a bribe perverts justice and subverts the cause of righteousness, and blinds the (14) eyes of the wise, thus causing great guilt, and defiling the Temple with sinful (15) transgression. Justice, (and only) justice, shall you pursue, in order that you may live and come to inherit (16) the land that I am giving you to inherit forever. But the man (17) who takes a bribe and perverts righteous judgment must be put to death. You must not be afraid (18) of putting him to death. [blank]<\/p>\n Idolatry<\/p>\n (19) You must not do within your land as the na Laws of Sacrificing In and Around the Temple<\/p>\n <\/a><\/a>And you may not (4) sacrifice to Me an ox or a sheep that has any disqualifying blemish, for these are an abomination (5) to Me. Nor may you sacrifice to Me an ox, sheep, or goat while they are pregnant, for they are an abomination to Me. Vows, Oaths, and Pledges<\/a><\/p>\n (9) But you must take your sacrificial offerings and your votive offerings and come to the place where I will cause (10) My name to dwell upon it. And you shall sacrifice there before Me as you have consecrated or vowed with your mouth. (11) And if you make a vow, do not delay in fulfilling it, for I will surely require it of you, (12) and it will be a source of transgression for you. If you refrain and do not vow, it will not be a source of transgression for you. (13) Guard that which comes from your lips. When you vow a voluntary offering from your mouth, you must do (14) as you vowed. [blank] The Prophet or Dreamer of Dreams<\/p>\n (8) If there will arise among you a prophet or a dreamer\u2014who had (previously) given you a sign or (9) wonder, and this sign The Enticer<\/p>\n (19) And if your brother, the son of your father or the son of your mother, or your son or your daughter, (20) or the wife of your bosom, or your neighbor who is like you, shall entice you secretly saying, (21) \u201cLet us go and worship other gods,\u201d with whom you have no relationship, (neither) you Column 55 (+ 11QT col. 16 and 4Q524 4) (01) [(nor) your fathers; (If the prophet calls on you to worship a god) from among the gods of the nations that are around you, whether near you] (02) [or far away from you, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth; you shall not agree ] (03) [with him, nor shall you listen to him. You shall not have pity on h[im] (04) [nor cover up for him. Rather, you must put him to death. Your hand must be first] (05) [to execute him, and the hand of the entire people shall be next. You must stone him with rocks, and he will die. For] (06) [he sought to lead you astray from the LORD your God, who took you out of the land of Egypt,] (07) [from the house of bondage. And all of Israel shall listen and fear and not continue to do] (1) [(anything) like this evil thing] in your midst. [[blank] (?)]<\/p>\n Town Led Astray<\/p>\n (2) If you hear regarding on[e of your cities, which] I am giving to you to dw[ell in], (3) the following: \u201cSome worth[less] peo[p]le among you have gone out and have led astray all the [in]habitants (4) of their city, saying, \u2018Let us go and worship gods with whom you have no relationship,\u2019 \u201d (5) then you must ask, inquire, and investigate carefully. If the accusation turns out to be true (and) correct, (6) (that) this abomination has been performed among (the people of) Israel, you must obliterate all the inhabitants of (7) that city by the sword, destroying it and all (the people) that are in it. And (8) all its domesticated animals you must kill by the sword. You must gather all the spoils into (9) its open square and then burn with fire\u2014the city and the spoil as a whole burnt offering to the LORD (10) your God. And it must be an eternal mound never to be rebuilt. None of the property to be destroyed should remain (11) in your possession. (You shall do all this) in order that I be appeased from My anger and show you (12) mercy, and have compassion on you, and increase you as I promised to your forefathers; (13) provided that you obey Me and observe all My commandments, which I command you (14) today in order that you may do what is right and good before the LORD your God. [blank]<\/p>\n The Idolatrous Individual<\/p>\n (15) [blank] If there be found in your midst, in one of your gates that (16) I give to you, a man or a woman who does what is evil in My sight, (17) (namely) breaking My covenant, because he (or she) went and served other gods, and bowed down to them, (18) the sun, moon, or to any heavenly host, and they inform you regarding him (or her), (19) then you shall listen to this charge, and you shall seek out and investigate well. And if (20) the accusation turns out to be true (and) correct, (that) this abomination has been performed among (the people of) Israel, then you shall take out (21) that man or that woman and stone them with rocks Column 56 (01) [so that they die. Based upon the testimony of two witnesses or (on the testimony) of three witnesses the person shall be put to death.] (02) [He (or she) must not be put to death based upon the testimony of one witness. The hands of the witness must be] (03) [the first against him to put him to death, and the hands of the rest of the people thereafter. Thus you will sweep out evil] (04) [from your midst. [blank]]<\/p>\n Priests, Levites, and Judges<\/p>\n (05) [If a case is too difficult for you to decide, be it over homicide, civil law,] (06) [or assault, (all) matters of dispute in your gates, you must get up and go] (07) [to the place that I will chose (to rest My name there); and you will come to the levitical priests] (1) [o]r to the [j]u[dge in charge at th]at [time], and [they] shall investigate (2) the problem about which you travele[d to inquire, and they shall info]rm you about the judgments. (3) You must act according to the instruction that they relate to you, and according to the matter in (4) which they tell you from the book of the Torah. And they will proclaim to you in sincerity (5) from the place that I will choose for My name to dwell upon. You must be careful to adhere to (6) all that they instruct you. And according to the judgment they instruct you (7) you must perform. You must not stray from the instruction they instruct you either to the right (8) or the left. And the man who does not obey (these instructions), and acts presumptuously, without (9) regard to the priest who stands there to serve before Me or to (10) the judge, that man shall be put to death. Thus you will sweep out evil from among Israel. The entire (11) nation will hear and be afraid; and no one will act presumptuously again within Israel.<\/p>\n Statutes of the King: Ascension and Commandments<\/p>\n (12) When you enter the land that I am giving you, and you take possession of it and dwell (13) within it, and you say, \u201cI will se King\u2019s Guard<\/p>\n He (the king) shall choose for himself from them one thousand (6) from each tribe to be with him, twelve thousand warriors, (7) who will not leave him alone, lest he be captured by nations. And all (8) those selected whom he shall chose must be trustworthy men, God-fearers, (9) who spurn unjust gain, and mighty men of war. They shall be with him always, (10) day and night, so that they will guard him from any sinful thing, (11) and from a foreign nation, lest he be captured by them. King\u2019s Marriage<\/p>\n He shall not marry a woman from amongst (16) the daughters of the nations, but rather from the house of his father he shall take a wife, (17) from the family of his father. And in addition to her he should not take another wife, for (18) she alone must be with him all the days of her life. If she dies, and he marries (19) another (woman), (she too must be) from the house of his father, from the family (of his father).<\/p>\n King\u2019s Justice<\/p>\n He (the king) may not pervert justice, (20) nor may he take a bribe to pervert a righteous judgment. He may not covet (21) a field or a vineyard, nor any wealth or house, nor any object of delight in Israel and rob Column 58 (+ 4Q524 5) (1) [\u2026] (2) [them (?)] their men [blank]<\/p>\n Defensive War<\/p>\n (3) If Offensive War<\/p>\n And if he (the king) shall go out to war against (16) his enemies, then one-fifth of the people, (of) the warriors, all the mighty men (17) of valor, shall go out with him. They shall keep themselves from every impure thing, and from forbidden sexual relationships, and from any transgression or guilt. (18) He (the king) may not go out (to war) until he comes before the High Priest who shall inquire on his behalf of the judgment of the Urim (19) and Thummim. At his (the High Priest\u2019s) word he (the king) shall go out, and at his word he shall come in, he and all the people of Israel who are (20) with him. He may not go out (to war) by the counsel of his heart until he inquiries of the judgment of the Urim (21) and Thummim. He will then succeed on all his paths that he followed upon judgment, which Column 59 (+ 4Q524 6\u201313, 23?) (1) [\u2026]<\/p>\n Conclusion of Statutes: Blessings and Curses<\/p>\n [\u2026] (2) they will scatter them in many lands, and they will be a horr[or], an (object of) scorn, and ridicule, and they will be under a heavy yoke, (3) and lacking in everything. There they will worship gods, handmade by men, (of) wood and stone, silver (4) and gold. And in all this (time) their cities will become a waste, a hissing, and a ruin; and their (5) enemies will devastate them. And in the land of their enemies they (will) groan (6) and cry out because of (the) heavy yoke. They will call out and I will not hear. They will cry out, and I will not answer (7) them because of their evil doings. And I will hide My face from them, and they will be food, (8) spoil, and a trampling object. And there shall be no one to rescue them because of their wickedness by breaking My covenant (9) and by spurning My Law, until they will be guilty of all sins. Afterward, they will return (10) to Me with all their heart and with all their soul, according to all the words of this teaching. (11) I will save them from the hands of their enemies and deliver them from the hand of those who hate them, and bring them (12) to the land of their fathers, where I will deliver them and multiply them. Then I will take delight in them, (13) and I shall be their God, and they shall be My people. [blank] Priestly and Levitical Gifts<\/p>\n Column 60 (+ 4Q524 6\u201313) (01) [The priests (and?) Levites, the entire tribe of Levi, will not have a territorial portion with] (02) [Israel. They shall burn and eat the fire offerings of the LORD as their portion. They shall have no portion] (03) [among their brethren; the LORD is their portion. [blank]] Ban on Following the Abominable Practices of the Nations<\/p>\n (16) When you enter the land that I give you, do not learn to act according to (17) the abominable practices of those nations. There shall be no one found among you who consigns his son or his daughter (18) to the fire (as an offering), or who practices divination, a soothsayer, augur, sorcerer, charmer, medium, (19) wizards, or necromancer. For anyone who does these is an abomination to Me. (20) Because of these abominable practices I am driving them out before you. (21) You shall be exclusively devoted to the LORD your God. [blank]<\/p>\n Real and False Prophets<\/p>\n For these nations, which Column 61 (01) [you are about to dispossess, they listen to the augurs and soothsayers, but you not so.] (02) [I have given you a prophet from among your brethren; one like Moses (?) I will establish for you. You must obey him.] (03) [This is just what you asked of Me at Horeb, on the day of the assembly, saying, \u201cLet me not hear any longer] (04) [the voice of the LORD my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.\u201d] (05) [And I said, \u201cThey have done well in speaking thus. I will raise up a prophet for them from among their brethren like him (Moses). I will put] (06) [My words in his mouth and he will speak to them all that I command them. If anybody fails to obey] (07) [My words, the (ones the) prophet speaks in My name, I Myself will call him to account from amongst his nation. But any prophet who presumes] (1) to spe[ak] in [My] na[me an oracle] tha[t] I did not command h[im to] utter, or wh[o speaks in the name of oth]er go[ds], (2) that prophet shall die. [blank] And if you say in your heart, \u201cHow can we know that the oracle (3) was not spoken by the LORD?\u201d If the prophet speaks in the name of the LORD and the oracle does not come to pass, (4) this is an oracle that I have not spoken; the prophet has uttered it presumptuously: do not stand (5) in dread of him. [blank]<\/p>\n Testimony by a Single Witness<\/p>\n (6) A single witness may not testify against a person guilty or blameworthy for any offense that he committed, only based upon the testimony of two (7) witnesses or three witnesses can a case be valid. If a malicious witness appears against another to testify (8) against him falsely, then the two men who have the dispute must stand before Me, and before the priests, Levites, and before (9) the judges that will be in those days. And the judges will make a thorough investigation. And, behold, it is a false witness, it testified falsely (10) against his fellow, you shall do to him as he schemed to do to his fellow. Thus you will sweep out evil from your midst. (11) And the remaining people will hear and be afraid, and will no Exemptions from Military Service<\/p>\n When (13) you go forth to wage war against your enemies and you see horses, chariots, and an army larger than your own, do not be afraid (14) of them. For I, who raised you out of the land of Egypt, am with you. When you draw near to the battle, (15) the priest shall come forward and shall address the people. And he shall say to them: \u201cListen, Israel, you are drawing near Column 62 (01) [today to battle against your enemy. Let not your courage falter, do not fear,] (02) [or panic, or be in dread of them. For the LORD your God is marching] (03) [with you to do battle on your behalf against your enemy, to save you.\u201d Then the officials (?)] (04) [shall address the people, as follows: \u201cIs there anyone who has built a new house and has not dedicated it? Let him go back] (05) [to his home, lest he die in battle and another dedicate it. Is there anyone who has planted] (06) [a vineyard but has never harvested it? Let him go back to his home, lest he die in battle and another (1) [man harvest it. Is there anyone who has betrothed a woman, but who has not yet married her? Let him go back to his home, lest] (2) another man m[arry her [blank] (?) And] then the judg[es] shall speak further (3) to the people and they shall say: \u201cIs there any man who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go and return to (4) his house lest he melt the courage of his brothers like his own.\u201d [blank] When the judges have finished (5) addressing the people, they shall appoint commanders over the troops at the head of the people. [blank]<\/p>\n The Law of the Siege<\/p>\n When you (6) approach a city to fight against it, you shall offer it terms of peace. If it (7) accepts (your terms of) peace and opens up to you, then all the people who are found in it (8) shall do forced labor for you and shall serve you. If it does not make peace with you, but (rather) makes war with you, (9) then you shall besiege it. When I hand it over to you, you shall smite its males with the sword. But (10) the women, the children, the animals, and everything which is in the city, all spoils you shall take as booty (11) for yourself; you shall enj Slain Person at the Roadside<\/p>\n (05) [[blank] If, in the land that I provide you to possess, someone slain is found lying] (06) [in the open, and the identity of the slayer is not known, then your elders and judges should go out and measure the distances from] (07) [the corpse to the nearby towns. The elders of the town nearest to the corpse should then take a heifer, one that has never] (1) been worked, which [has never pulled in a yoke; and] the [elders] of that town shall [brin]g the (2) heifer[r] to an ever-flowing wadi that has not been tilled or sown. There they must break the heifer\u2019s neck. (3) [blank] The priests, sons of Levi, shall come forward; for I have chosen them to minister before Me and to pronounce blessing in My name; (4) and every lawsuit and case of assault is subject to their ruling. Then all the elders of the town nearest to the corpse (5) shall wash their hands over the head of the heifer whose neck was broken in the wadi. And they shall make this declaration: \u201cOur hands (6) did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it (done). Absolve, LORD, Your people Israel whom You redeemed, (7) and do not let the blood of the innocent remain among Your people, Israel. Absolve them of the bloodguilt.\u201d Thus you will remove (8) the blood of the innocent from Israel; and you will do what is right and good before the LORD your God. (9) [blank]<\/p>\n The Beautiful Captive Woman<\/p>\n (10) When you go out to war against your enemies, and I give them over into your hand, and you take (some of) them captive, (11) if you see among the captives a woman of beautiful appearance, and you are desirous of her, then you must take her for yourself as a wife. (12) Then you shall bring her into your house, shave her head, pare her nals, and remove (13) her captive\u2019s garb from upon her. She shall remain in your house and cry for her father and her mother for a full month. (14) Afterward, you may come to her Two Wives, One Loved the Other Unloved<\/i><\/p>\n (04) [If a man has two wives, one loved and the other unloved,] (05) [and both the loved and the unloved have borne him sons, but the firstborn is the son of the unloved one, on the day he bequeaths] (06) [to his sons (everything) that is his, he may not treat as firstborn the son of the loved one in disregard] (07) [of the son of the unloved one who is older. Instead, he must accept the firstborn, the son of the unloved one, and allot to him a double portion] (1) [of all he possesses; since he is the first fruit of his vigor, the birthright is his due. [blank]]<\/p>\n Stubborn and Rebellious Son<\/p>\n (2) If a man has a wayward and defiant son, who does not obey his father or mother (3) and does not obey them even after they discipline him, his father and mother may take hold of him and bring him out to (4) the elders of his town at the gate of his place. They say to the elders of his town, \u201cThis son of ours is disloyal (5) and defiant; he does not heed us. He is a glutton and a drunkard.\u201d Then the men of his town must stone him (6) to death. Thus you will sweep out evil from your midst. All Israel will hear and be afraid. [blank]<\/p>\n Crimes Punishable by Death<\/p>\n If (7) there is an informant among My people, and he delivers My people up to a foreign nation, and does harm to My people, (8) you may hang him on the tree, and he will die. On the evidence of two witnesses and on the evidence of three witnesses (9) he may be put to death; and they will hang him on the tree. [blank] Lost Objects and Animals<\/p>\n You must not see your brother\u2019s ox or his sheep or his donkey (14) go astray and withhold your help from them; you must certainly return them to your brother. And if your brother is not near (15) you, or if you do not know him, you must bring it home to your house, and it must remain with you until [your fellow] seeks Column 65 (01) [it; then you must give it back to him. You must do the same with his ass; you must do the same with his garment;] (02) [and so too you must do with anything that your fellow loses that you find. You must not] (03) [remain indifferent. [blank] If you see your fellow\u2019s ass or ox fallen on the road,] (04) [do not ignore it; you must help him raise it. [blank]<\/p>\n Woman in Man\u2019s Garments<\/p>\n A woman must not put on a man\u2019s garment,] (05) [nor should a man wear a woman\u2019s clothing; for whoever does this is abhorrent to Me.] (06) [[blank]<\/p>\n Forbidden Mixtures<\/p>\n You shall not sow your vineyard (with) two kinds (of seeds), lest you disqualify the full crop, (07) the seed that you sow, the crop of the vineyard. [blank] You must not wear a mixed cloth of wool and linen together.] (08) [You must make tassels on the four corners of the garment with which you cover yourself.]<\/p>\n Bird\u2019s Nest<\/p>\n (2) If, along the road, you chanc[e] upon a bird\u2019s nest, in any tree or on the ground, (3) with fledglings or eggs, and the mother sitting with the fledglings or on the eggs, (4) do not take the mother together with her young. Send the mother off, and take only the young, (5) in order that you may fare well and have a long life.<\/p>\n New House<\/p>\n When you build a new house, (6) you must make a parapet for its roof, so that you do not bring bloodguilt on your house if anyone should fall (7) from it. [blank]<\/p>\n Accused Virgin<\/p>\n If a man marries a woman and has sexual relations with her, and then despises her, and charges her with shameful behavior, (8) and defames her, and says, \u201cI married this woman, and when I had relations (9) with her, I did not find evidence of (her) virginity,\u201d then the father of the girl or her mother shall take (10) the evidence of the girl\u2019s virgini[ty] and present it to the elder of the gate. [blank] Then the girl\u2019s father shall say (11) to the elders, \u201cI gave my daughter Adultery<\/p>\n If a man is found lying with another man\u2019s wife,] (06) [both of them\u2014the man and the woman with whom he lay\u2014shall die. Thus you will sweep away] (07) [evil from Israel. [blank] The Seduced Virgin<\/p>\n If a man seduces (9) a virgin girl who has not been betrothed, and she is fitting to (marry) him according to the law, and he has sexual relations with her (10) and is found out, then the man who has sexual relations with her must give the father of the girl fifty (shekels of) silver. (11) She shall be his wife, since he violated her; he may not divorce her all his days.<\/p>\n Incest Laws<\/p>\n (12) A man may not marry the wife of his father, nor may he uncover his father\u2019s cloak. A man may not marry the wife (13) of his brother, nor may he uncover his brother\u2019s cloak, (whether his brother is) the son of his father or the son of his mother, for it is impurity. (14) A man may not marry his sister (whether she is) the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother; it is an abomination. (15) A man may not marry his father\u2019s sister or his mother\u2019s sister, for it is immorality. (16) A man may not marry [blank] (17) his brother\u2019s daughter or his sister\u2019s daughter, for it is an abomination. [blank] A man may not marry Column 67? (+4Q524 15\u201322) (1) [the daughter of his son or the daughter of his daughter, for it is an abomination. [blank] A man may not marry the wife] (2) [of his son, for it is an abomination. [blank] A man may not marry a woman and her daughter, the daughter of her son, or] (3) [the daughter of her daughter, for it is an abomination. [blank] A man may not marry a woman and her sister, for it is an abomination.] (4) [[blank]<\/p>\n Levirate Marriage<\/p>\n If two brothers dwell together and one of them dies childless, the dead man\u2019s wife] (5) [may not go outside (the family) to an unrelated man; a brother-in-law shall have sexual relations with her and take her for himself as a wife, and perform levirate marriage. And the firstborn child] (6) [shall establish the name of the brother who died, and thus his name shall not be erased from among Israel. [blank] But if] (7) [the man does not desire to take his sister-in-law, then the sister-in-law shall go up to the gate (of the city) to the elders and say,] (8) [\u201cMy brother-in-law refuses to establish his brother\u2019s name in Israel; my brother-in-law does not desire me.\u2019 Then the elders of his city shall call him and tell him (this thing)] (9) [he will stand and say, \u201cI do not desire to take her.\u201d His sister-in-law will then approach him in front of all the elders and remove his sandal] (10) [from on his foot and spit in his face. She will then say, \u201cThus shall be done to the man who does not build the house] (11) [of his brother.\u201d And his name in Israel will be called \u201chouse of the one whose sandal was removed\u201d \u2026]<\/p>\n Some Precepts of the Torah<\/p>\n Lawrence H. Schiffman<\/p>\n Miktzat Ma\u2019ase ha-Torah (also known as the Halakhic Letter and by its abbreviation, 4QMMT) purports to be a document sent by the leaders of the Qumran sect to the leaders of the priestly establishment in Jerusalem. The text\u2019s title, which may be translated as Some Precepts of the Torah or Some Rulings Pertaining to the Torah, was given by its editors as a description of its contents, based on phrases at the beginning and the end of the text. Found in Cave 4 in six fragmentary manuscripts, the text sets out some 20 laws regarding sacrifices, priestly gifts, ritual purity, and other matters over which the writers disagree with the Jerusalem authorities. Exploring the framework of these laws may allow us to learn much about the ideology of those who authored the text and about the very origins of the Qumran sect itself.<\/p>\n Authorship and History<\/p>\n 4QMMT may actually date from the earliest days of the Qumran group, or it may have been written later to justify the sectarian schism with the Jerusalem establishment. Whatever the correct dating, however, its importance to the sectarians is attested by the existence of six manuscripts, the earliest being late Hasmonean to early Herodian, that is, from the second half of the 1st century BCE. Evidence for the text\u2019s creation in the earliest stages of the sect\u2019s development is the absence of any mention of the Teacher of Righteousness.<\/p>\n Significance<\/p>\n The authors list about 20 matters of Jewish law that they insist are being violated by the Jerusalem establishment and have caused them to withdraw from that city and form their own sect. This letter is a proof that the major conflicts of Second Temple Judaism did not arise from theological disagreements on topics such as messianism, but rather from conflicts about the proper way to carry out Jewish law. Some of the views of 4QMMT\u2019s authors are representative of Sadducean halakhah; some of the same laws are reported in the Mishnah (M. Yad.), where the views of our text are attributed to the Sadducees. These halakhot (laws) in 4QMMT are usually stricter than those of the Pharisees and later Rabbis, and the author excoriates those who do not accept the sectarians\u2019 view. GUIDE TO READING<\/p>\n The structure of the document can be divided into three parts: an introductory sentence setting out the nature of the letter, a section listing the halakhic disagreements between the sect and the Jerusalem authorities, and a conclusion. In at least one of the manuscripts, this text was preceded by a copy of the 364-day solar calendar known from other Qumran scrolls, the text of 1 Enoch and Jubilees. (Because I consider the calendar as a secondary addition, it is not included in the translation and commentary below.) SUGGESTED READING<\/p>\n Baumgarten, Joseph M. \u201cThe \u2018Halakha\u2019 in Miqsat Ma\u2019ase ha-Torah (4QMMT).\u201d Journal of the American Oriental Society 116 (1996): 512\u201316. Review essay on Qimron and Strugnell, DJD 10. TRANSLATION<\/p>\n Laws<\/p>\n 1 These are some of our regulations [concerning the law of G]od, that are pa[rt of] 2 the precepts we [are examining and] they [a]ll relate to [\u2026] 3 and the purity of [\u2026] \u2026 [Concerning the offering of the] wheat of the Gen[tiles which they \u2026] 4 and they touch it [\u2026] and they defi[le it: you shall not eat it.] 5 [None] of the wheat of the Gentiles shall be brought into the Temple.\u2026 [And concerning the sacrifice] 6 which they cook in vessels [of bronze \u2026] 7 the flesh of their sacrifices and [\u2026] in the courtyard the [\u2026] 8 with the broth of their sacrifices. And concerning the sacrifice of the Gentiles: [we say that they sacrifice] 9 [\u2026] [And concerning the shelamim] 10 sacrifice which they postpone from one day to another, w[e think] 11 that the ce[real] offering [should be eaten] with the fats and the meat on the day of their sa[crifice, and that the] 12 priests should oversee in this matter in such a way that the [sons of Aaron] do not 13 lead the people into error. Exhortation<\/p>\n 1 [\u2026] 2 Who will come 3 and who [\u2026] 4 And concerning women: [\u2026] violence and betrayal [\u2026] 5 for in these matters [\u2026 for] violence and fornication [several] 6 places have been ruined. And [further] it is writ[ten in the book of Moses that] an abomination [is not] to be brought [into a house, for] 7 an abomination is odious. War Scroll<\/p>\n Jean Duhaime<\/p>\n War Scroll was one of the first manuscripts discovered in 1947 by a Bedouin in a cave near Qumran, on the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea. Eleazar L. Sukenik purchased this scroll for the Hebrew University and prepared it for publication. He named it The War between the Children of Light and the Children of Darkness, in short War Scroll. The manuscript was later designated by the abbreviation 1QM, in which \u201c1Q\u201d stands for Qumran Cave 1 and \u201cM\u201d for the Hebrew word Milhamah (\u201cwar\u201d). Authorship and History<\/p>\n War Scroll is a leather manuscript made of skin sheets sewn together. Five of them have survived, in addition to smaller pieces, preserving altogether 19 columns of Hebrew writing. A fragment found in 1949 by the excavators of Cave 1 showed that there was at least a 20th column. The lower part of each column is lost, and only 14 to 19 lines of each have survived at best; the original scroll contained at least 21 or 22 lines per column. Significance<\/p>\n War Scroll is rooted in the biblical tradition of the \u201cwars of God\u201d (Num. 21:14; 1 Sam. 18:17; 25:28) exemplified by the liberation from Egypt (Exod. 14), the battle of Jericho (Josh. 6), the victory of Deborah and Barak over Sisera (Judg. 4\u20135), and so on. This concept took an eschatological tone in prophetic and apocalyptic writings, in which a final confrontation between Israel and its enemies is expected (Ezek. 38\u201339; Zech. 14; Dan. 10\u201312). The books of the Maccabees also provide vivid accounts of their battles, replete with religious language (e.g., 1 Macc. 3:44\u20134:25). GUIDE TO READING<\/p>\n Despite War Scroll\u2019s redactional nature, a straightforward reading of it, beginning at col. 1, is ideal. One may also read the text according to its larger divisions and go directly from the introduction (col. 1) either to the prayers (col. 10\u201314) or to the description of the engagement (cols. 15\u201319), before reading the more technical sections on the organization and tactics (cols. 2\u20139). SUGGESTED READING<\/p>\n Alexander, Philip S. \u201cThe Evil Empire: The Qumran Eschatological War Cycle and the Origins of Jewish Opposition to Rome.\u201d In Emanuel: Studies in Hebrew Bible, Septuagint, and Dead Sea Scrolls in Honor of Emanuel Tov, ed. Shalom M. Paul, et al., 17\u201331. VT Supplement 94. Leiden: Brill, 2003. TRANSLATION<\/p>\n Introduction (1:1\u2013bottom)<\/p>\n OVERVIEW OF THE WAR (1:1\u20137)<\/p>\n 1:1For the Mas[ter, rule] of the War. The first attack of the Sons of Light shall be launched against the lot of the Sons of Darkness, against the army of Belial, against the troop of Edom and Moab, the sons of Ammon, 2the A[malekites(?), the people of] Philistia, and against the troops of the Kittim of Asshur, these being helped by those who violate the covenant. The sons of Levi, the sons of Judah, and the sons of Benjamin, the exiles of the wilderness, shall wage war against them 3[\u2026] according to all their troops, when the exiles, the Sons of Light, return from the wilderness of the peoples to encamp in the wilderness of Jerusalem. After the battle, they shall depart from there 4[and shall encamp against the king(?)] of the Kittim in Egypt. When his time (has arrived) he shall march out with great fury to wage war against the kings of the north, his anger (aiming) at exterminating and cutting off the horn 5[of Israel. It shall] be a time of salvation for God\u2019s people and a time of dominion for all the men of his lot, but of everlasting destruction for all the lot of Belial. There shall be [great] panic 6[among] the sons of Japheth, Asshur shall fall down, there will be no rescue for it; the Kittim\u2019s dominion shall come to an end, wickedness being subdued without a remnant; neither shall there be an escape 7f[or all the Son]s of Darkness. [blank]<\/p>\n THE DAY OF THE KITTIM\u2019S FALL (1:8\u201315)<\/p>\n 1:8But [the Sons of Rig]hteousness shall shine unto all the uttermost ends of the world, going on to shine till the completion of all the appointed times of darkness. At the appointed time of God, his exalted greatness shall shine unto all the times 9[of eternity] for peace and blessing, glory, joy, and long life for all the Sons of Light. On the day of the Kittim\u2019s fall, there shall be clash and fierce carnage before the God of 10Israel for this is the day he has appointed long ago for a destructive war against the Sons of Darkness. On this (day) they shall clash in a great carnage: the congregation of divine beings and the assembly of 11men, the Sons of Light and the lot of darkness, shall fight each other to (disclose?) the might of God, with the uproar of a large multitude and the war cry of divine beings and men, on the day of calamity. This (is) a time of 12tribulation u[pon al]l the people whom God redeems: of all their tribulations, none was comparable to this, because of its hastening toward the end for an everlasting redemption. In the day of their war against the Kittim 13[they shall be refined(?) in a] carnage. During the war, the Sons of Light shall strengthen (for) three lots and smite wickedness, but (for) three (lots) the army of Belial shall gird itself for the return of the lot of 14[light(?)]. There shall be skirmishing battalions to melt the heart, but the might of God (shall be) supporting the he[art of the Sons of Light]. During the seventh lot, the great hand of God shall subdue 15[Belial, al]l the angels of his dominion, and all the men of [his lot]. [blank]<\/p>\n FINAL EXTERMINATION (1:16\u2013END)<\/p>\n 1:16[\u2026] the holy ones, he shall shine in help [\u2026] truth for the destruction of the Sons of Darkness. Then [\u2026] 17[\u2026 upro]ar [of a] large multitude and the [war] cry [of \u2026] they shall set the hand to [their] weapon[s] 18[of war \u2026]<\/p>\n Organization and Tactics (1:end\u20139:bottom)<\/p>\n MOBILIZATION AND ASSIGNMENT OF TROOPS (1:END\u20132:15)<\/p>\n 1:end[\u2026 the chiefs of the] 2:1fathers of the congregation, 52. They shall arrange the chiefs of the priests behind the chief priest and his deputy, 12 chiefs who are to serve 2steadily before God; 26 chiefs of divisions shall serve in their divisions. Behind them, 12 chiefs of the Levites are to serve steadily, one 3for (each) tribe; their chiefs of divisions shall serve, each one in his position. The chiefs of the tribes and the fathers of the congregation behind them are to take up their station steadily in the gates of the sanctuary; 4their chiefs of divisions with their numbered (men) shall take up their station for their festivals, for their new moons and Sabbaths, and for all the days of the year, from the age of 50 and over. 5These shall take up their station at the holocausts and at the sacrifices to prepare a soothing incense for the good pleasure of God, to atone on behalf of all his congregation and to grow fat before him steadily 6at the table of glory. They shall arrange all these during the appointed time of the year of remission. During the remaining 33 years of the war, the men of renown 7appointed to the meeting and all the chiefs of the fathers of the congregation shall choose for themselves men of war for all the lands of the nations. From all the tribes of Israel they shall equip 8for themselves men of worth who shall march out to campaign according to the fixed times of war year after year. But during the years of remission they shall not equip (them) to march out to campaign, for they are a Sabbath 9of rest for Israel. During the 35 years of service, the war shall be prepared during six years, the whole congregation preparing it together. 10The war of the divisions (shall take place) during the remaining 29 (years). During the first year, they shall wage war against Aram Naharaim, and during the second against the sons of Lud. During the third, 11they shall wage war against the remainder of the sons of Aram, against Uz and Hul, Togar and Mesha, who (are) beyond the Euphrates. During the fourth and fifth, they shall wage war against the sons of Arphaxad. 12During the sixth and seventh, they shall wage war against all the sons of Asshur and Persia, and the Kadmonites up to the great wilderness. During the eighth year, they shall wage war against the sons of 13Elam. During the ninth they shall wage war against the sons of Ishmael and Keturah. During the following 10 years, the war shall be divided against all the sons of Ham 14ac[cording to their clans in] their [set]tlements. During the 10 remaining years, the war shall be divided against all [the sons of Japh]et in their settlements. 15[blank]<\/p>\n RULE FOR THE TRUMPETS (2:16\u20133:12)<\/p>\n 2:16[Rule for the trumpets of \u2026 and the trumpets] of alarm for all their service [\u2026] for their numbered (men) 17[\u2026 in myriads, 1,000s, 100s, 50s], and 10s. Upon [\u2026] 3:1battle formations, the trumpets for summoning them when opening the gates of the battle to let the skirmishers march out, the trumpets of alarms of the slain, the trumpets of 2ambush, the trumpets of pursuit when the enemy is smitten, and the trumpets of gathering when withdrawing from battle. On the trumpets for summoning the congregation they shall write \u201cSummoned of God.\u201d 3On the trumpets for summoning the commanders they shall write \u201cPrinces of God.\u201d On the trumpets of enrollment they shall write \u201cRule of God.\u201d On the trumpets of the men of 4renown, chiefs of the fathers of the congregation when they gather in the house of meeting, they shall write \u201cFixed times of God for the holy council.\u201d On the trumpets of the camps 5they shall write \u201cPeace of God in the camps of his holy ones.\u201d On the trumpets for breaking them they shall write \u201cMighty deeds of God to scatter the enemy and to put to flight all those who hate 6righteousness,\u201d and \u201cReturn of the mercies against those who hate God.\u201d On the trumpets of the battle formations they shall write \u201cFormations of the battalions of God for the vengeance of his anger against all the Sons of Darkness.\u201d 7On the trumpets for summoning the skirmishers when opening the gates of the battle that they may march out toward the line of the enemy they shall write \u201cMemorial of vengeance at the appointed time of 8God.\u201d On the trumpets of the slain they shall write \u201cMighty hand of God in the battle to bring down all the slain of unfaithfulness.\u201d On the trumpets of ambush they shall write 9\u201cMysteries of God to ruin wickedness.\u201d On the trumpets of pursuit they shall write \u201cGod has smitten all the Sons of Darkness, he shall not turn away his anger until they are destroyed.\u201d 10When they withdraw from battle to come back in the line they shall write on the trumpets of withdrawal \u201cGod has gathered.\u201d On the trumpets of the way of withdrawal 11from the battle against the enemy to come back to the congregation in Jerusalem they shall write \u201cRejoicings of God in peaceful withdrawal.\u201d 12[blank]<\/p>\n RULE FOR THE STANDARDS (3:13\u20135:12)<\/p>\n Standards of the Whole Congregation (3:13\u2013bottom)<\/p>\n 3:13(This is the) rule of the standards of the whole congregation according to their enrollment. On the great standard that is at the head of the whole people they shall write \u201cPeople of God\u201d and the name of Israel 14and Aaron and the names of the 12 t[ribes of Israe]l according to their generations. On the standards of the chiefs of the camps of three tribes 15they shall write \u201cIn the se[crets of God.\u201d \u2026 O]n the standard of the tribe they shall write \u201cEnsign of God\u201d and the name of the prince of the tri[be and the names of his] 16clan[s. On the standard of \u2026, they shall write] the name of the prince of the myriad and the names of the com[manders \u2026] 17[\u2026] his 100s. On the standard [\u2026]<\/p>\n Standards of the Levites (3:end\u20134:5)<\/p>\n 3:?[\u2026] 4:1On the standard of Merari they shall write \u201cOffering of God\u201d and the name of the prince of Merari and the names of the commanders of his 1,000s. On the standard of the 1,0[0]0, they shall write \u201cAnger of God in outburst toward 2Belial and against all the men of his lot without any remnant,\u201d and the name of the commander of the 1,000 and the names of the commanders of his 100s. On the standard of the 100 they shall write \u201cFrom 3God a hand of war against all flesh of deceit\u201d and the name of the commander of the 100 and the names of the commanders of his 10s. On the standard of the 50 they shall write \u201cThey have ceased 4to stand, the wicked ones, [by] the might of God\u201d and the name of the commander of the 50 and the names of the commanders of his 10s. On the standard of the 10 they shall write \u201cJubilations 5of God upon the 10-stringed harp\u201d and the name of the commander of the 10 and the names of the nine men under his instructions. [blank]<\/p>\n Changes on Standards of the Levites (4:6\u20138)<\/p>\n 4:6When they go to battle they shall write on their standards \u201cTruth of God,\u201d \u201cRighteousness of God,\u201d \u201cGlory of God,\u201d \u201cJudgment of God,\u201d and after these the whole ordered list of their names. 7When they draw near for battle they shall write on their standards \u201cRight hand of God,\u201d \u201cAppointed time of God,\u201d \u201cPanic of God,\u201d \u201cSlain of God\u201d; and after these the whole list of their names. 8When they withdraw from battle they shall write on their standards \u201cExaltation of God,\u201d \u201cGreatness of God,\u201d \u201cPraise of God,\u201d \u201cGlory of God,\u201d with the whole list of their names. [blank]<\/p>\n Changes on Standards of the Congregation (4:9\u201314)<\/p>\n 4:9(This is the) rule of the standards of the congregation. When they march out for battle they shall write on the first standard \u201cCongregation of God,\u201d on the second standard \u201cCamps of God,\u201d on the third 10\u201cTribes of God,\u201d on the fourth \u201cClans of God,\u201d on the fifth \u201cBattalions of God,\u201d on the sixth \u201cAssembly of God,\u201d on the seventh \u201cSummoned of 11God,\u201d on the eighth \u201cHosts of God,\u201d and they shall write the list of their names with all their order. When they draw near for battle they shall write on their standards 12\u201cBattle of God,\u201d \u201cVengeance of God,\u201d \u201cStrife of God,\u201d \u201cRequital of God,\u201d \u201cPower of God,\u201d \u201cRetribution of God,\u201d \u201cMight of God,\u201d \u201cDestruction by God of every nation of vanity,\u201d and the whole list of 13their names they shall write upon them. When they withdraw from battle they shall write on their standards \u201cDeliverances of God,\u201d \u201cVictory of God,\u201d \u201cHelp of God,\u201d \u201cSupport of God,\u201d 14\u201cJoy of God,\u201d \u201cThanksgiving to God,\u201d \u201cPraise of God,\u201d \u201cPeace of God.\u201d [blank]<\/p>\n Measurements of Standards (4:15\u201317)<\/p>\n 4:15[Length of the st]andards. Standard of the whole congregation, the length (shall be) 14 cubits; standard of the th[ree tribes, the length (shall be 1]3 cubits; 16[standard of the tribe:] 12 cubits; standard of the myriad 1[1 cubits; standard of the 1,000: 10 cubits; standard of the 10]0: nine cubits; 17[standard of the 50: eight] cubits; standard of the 10 se[ven cubits]. [blank]<\/p>\n Inscription for the Prince of the Congregation (4:18\u20135:2)<\/p>\n 4:18[\u2026] 5:1And on the [\u2026] of the prince of the whole congregation they shall write his name [and] the name of Israel and Levi and Aaron and the names of the 12 tribes of Israel according to their generations 2and the names of the 12 commanders of their tribes. [blank]<\/p>\n RULES FOR FIGHTING BATTALIONS (5:3\u20137:8)<\/p>\n Front Formations (5:3\u201315)<\/p>\n 5:3(This is the) rule to array the fighting battalions. When their host is large enough to form a full frontal line, the line shall be tied on 1,000 men; seven (such) frontal formations 4(constituting) a line, (when) arrayed according to the rule, one man standing behind another. All of them shall be equipped with shields of burnished bronze, like 5a face mirror. The shield (shall be) surrounded with a border patterned like a cord, with the design of a joint, a skillful work, in gold and silver, and bronze welded together, 6and precious stones, many colored ornaments, the work of a skillful craftsman. The length of the shield (shall be) two cubits and a half. Its width (shall be) one cubit and a half. In their hand (shall be) a spear 7and a sword. The length of the spear (shall be) seven cubits, from this the socket and the point (shall be) half a cubit. On the socket (shall be) three chiseled rings, with a border patterned like 8a cord, in gold, silver, and bronze welded together, as when patterned in a skillful design, and a joint; the d[e]sign shall be on both parts of the ring, 9around precious stones, many colored ornaments\u2014the work of a skillful craftsman\u2014and an ear of grain. The socket shall be carved between the rings, after the pattern of 10a skillfully worked column. The point (shall be) white shining iron, the work of a skillful craftsman. (There shall be) an ear of grain, in pure gold, in the center of the point, and tapering toward 11the head. The swords (shall be) selected iron, purified in the crucible and made white like a mirror, the work of a s[k]illful craftsman. Ear of grain figures of 12pure gold (shall be) attached to it on both sides. The lips (shall be) straight up to the head, two on each side. The length of the sword (shall be) one cubit 13and a half. Its width (shall be) four fingers. The belly (shall be) four thumbs; four palms to the belly, and the belly, bent downward, here 14and there, five palms. The hilt of the sword (shall be) a selected horn, a skillful work, (with) many-colored design in gold and silver, and precious stones. 15[blank]<\/p>\n Light Infantry (5:16\u20136:7)<\/p>\n 5:16When standing [\u2026] they shall array the seven lines, one line behind the other. 17A distance [\u2026 3]0 cubits in which shall stand the me[n \u2026] 18[\u2026] the frontal shields [\u2026] 6:1seven times and they shall return to their position. After them three skirmishing battalions shall march out and take position between the lines. The first battalion shall throw toward 2the line of the enemy seven war javelins. On the point of the javelin they shall write \u201cFlash of spear for the might of God\u201d; on the second dart they shall write 3\u201cSparks of blood to bring down the slain by the anger of God.\u201d On the third javelin they shall write \u201cFlame of a sword devouring the slain of iniquity by the judgment of God.\u201d 4All these shall cast seven times and they shall return to their position. After them two skirmishing battalions shall march out and take position between the two lines. The first 5battalion shall be equipped with a spear and a shield, and the second battalion shall be equipped with a shield and a sword to bring down the slain by the judgment of God and to humiliate the line of 6the enemy by the might of God, to pay the full requital of their evil to every nation of vanity. The kingship shall belong to the God of Israel and among the holy ones of his people he shall do worthily. 7[blank]<\/p>\n Cavalry (6:8\u201318)<\/p>\n 6:8Seven formations of horsemen shall also take position to the right and to the left of the line. Their formations shall stand on either side, 700 9horsemen on the one flank and 700 on the second flank. 200 horseman shall march out with the 1,000 of a line of skirmishers. Likewise 10they shall stand on all the si[d]es of the camps, all together 4,600, and 1,400 mounts for the men of the rule of the lines, 1150 for ea[ch] line. The horsemen, including the mounts of the men of the rule, shall be 6,000 for a tribe. All the mounts that go out 12for battle with the skirmishers shall be male horses, swift of foot, soft of mouth, long of breath, in the full measure of their days, drilled for battle, 13trained to the hearing of [n]oises and to the sight of all scenes. Those riding on them shall be men of worth for the battle, drilled to mount, and the measure of 14their days shall be from 30 years to 45 years. The horsemen of the rule shall be from 40 years to 50; they 15and [their] moun[ts being dre]s[sed with \u2026], helmets, and leggings, equipped in their hand with round shields and a spear eight cubi[ts] long [\u2026] 16[\u2026] a bow and arrows, and war javelins. All of them shall be ready in [\u2026] 17[\u2026] and to shed the blood of the slain of their guiltiness. They are the ones who [\u2026] 18[\u2026] [blank] [\u2026]<\/p>\n Age, Disqualification, Purity (6:19\u20137:8)<\/p>\n 6:19[\u2026] 7:1The men of the rule shall be from 40 years to 50. Those who order the camps shall be from 50 years to 60. The officers 2shall also be from 40 years to 50. All those who strip the slain, seize plunder, purify the land, keep watch over the weapons 3and the one who prepares the provisions, all of them shall be from 25 years to 30. No young boy or woman shall enter their camps when they leave 4Jerusalem to go to battle until their return. Neither lame, nor blind, nor crippled, nor a man in whose flesh there is a permanent blemish, nor a man stricken by some uncleanliness 5in his flesh, none of them shall go to battle with them. They shall all be volunteers for war, perfect ones of spirit and flesh, and ready for the day of vengeance. Any 6man who is not purified from a (bodily) discharge on the day of the battle shall not go down with them, for the holy angels are together with their hosts. There shall be a distance 7between all their camps and the latrine, 2,000 cubits or so. No indecent nakedness shall be seen in the surroundings of all their camps. 8[blank]<\/p>\n HOW THE PRIESTS ARE TO DIRECT THE BATTLE (7:9\u20139:9)<\/p>\n 7:9When they array the battle lines against the enemy, line against line, then shall march out, from the middle gate toward the space between the lines, seven 10priests from the Sons of Aaron, dressed with clothes of white byssus, a linen tunic and linen breeches, girded with a linen girdle, twisted byssus in violet, 11both purple and scarlet, with a many-colored design, a skillful work, (wearing) turban headdresses on their heads. (These are) war clothes, they shall not enter the sanctuary 12with them. The first priest shall walk in front of all the men of the line to strengthen their hands for the battle. In the hand of six (others) there shall be 13the trumpets of summoning, the trumpets of memorial, the trumpets of alarm, the trumpets of pursuit, and the trumpets of gathering. When the priests march out 14toward the space between the lines, seven Levites shall march out with them, in their hand seven ram\u2019s horns. Three officers from the Levites (shall stand) in front of 15the priests and Levites. The priests shall blow the two trumpets of summon[ing and of memorial and they shall open the gates of ba]ttle on 50 shields, 16and 50 skirmishers shall march out from the first gate and [\u2026] levitical officers. With 17each and every line they shall march out according to all [this] ru[le. The priests shall blow the trumpets and two skir]mishing [battalions shall march out] from the gates. 18[They shall take posi]tion between the two lines and [\u2026] the bat[tle formations \u2026]. 8:1The trumpets shall keep blowing to conduct the slingers until they have finished throwing seven 2times. Then the priests shall blow for them the trumpets of withdrawal, and they shall come to the side of the 3first line to station themselves in their position. The priests shall blow the trumpets of summoning, and 4three skirmishing battalions shall march out from the gates and take position between the lines with the mounted men beside them, 5on the right and on the left. The priests shall blow on the trumpets a level sound, the signal of battle array, 6and the columns shall be spreading out to their formations, each man to his position. When they stand in three formations, 7the priests shall blow for them a second alarm, a low and legato sound, the signal of marching, until they approach 8the line of the enemy, and stretch their hand(s) to the weapons. The priests shall blow on the six trumpets 9of the slain a shrill staccato sound to conduct the battle; the Levites and the entire horn band shall blow 10together a great war alarm to melt the enemy\u2019s heart. With the sound of the alarm, 11the war javelins shall go out to bring down the slain. The sound of the horns shall cease, but 12the priests shall keep blowing on the t[ru]mpets a shrill staccato sound, conducting the fighting hands, until they have thrown into the line of 13the enemy seven times. Then the priests shall blow for them on the trumpets of withdrawal 14a low, level, legato sound. According to this rule shall the [pr]iests blow for the three battalions. With 15the first cast, the [\u2026] shall blow [on the trump]ets a great sound of alarm 16to conduct the bat[tle \u2026] the priests [shall blow] for them 17on the trump[ets \u2026 and they shall station themselves] in their position in the line of 18[\u2026] and shall take position 19[\u2026 the s]lain [\u2026] 9:1they shall set their hand(s) to bring down among the slain. The whole band shall cease the sound of the alarm, but the priests shall keep blowing the trumpets 2of the slain to conduct the battle until the enemies are smitten and turn back their neck and the priests shall blow to conduct the battle. 3When they are smitten before them the priests shall blow the trumpets of summoning, and all the skirmishers shall march out toward them from the center of 4the frontal lines. Six battalions shall take position in addition to the battalion that was engaged, seven lines altogether, 28,000 5warriors and 6,000 horsemen. All these shall pursue the enemy to exterminate (them) in the battle of God for the 6everlasting destruction. The priests shall blow for them the trumpets of pursuit, and [they] shall divi[de] against all the enemy for a destructive pursuit. The cavalry 7shall bring (them) back in the battle area until (their) annihilation. When the slain fall down, the pri[est]s shall keep blowing from afar. They shall not come 8to the midst of the slain (so as) to become defiled in their unclean blood, for they are holy. They shall [no]t profane the oil of their priestly anointing through the blood 9of nations of vanity. [blank]<\/p>\n RULES TO MODIFY THE FORMATION OF FIGHTING BATTALIONS (9:10\u2013BOTTOM)<\/p>\n Towers (9:10\u201316)<\/p>\n 9:10(This is the) rule to modify the formation of the fighting battalions to set up position upon(?) [\u2026] a folding of hands with towers; 11a bow with towers, as when bent a little, the heads going out; wings [going out on bo]th sides of the line [to cru]sh 12the enemy. The shields of the towers shall be three cubits long, their spears (having) a l[en]gth of eight cubits. And the to[we]rs 13shall march out from the line, 100 shields for each tower front. Th[us shall they] surround the tower on the three frontal sides, 14300 shields. There shall be two gates for the tower, one to [the right and] one to the left. On all the shields of the towers 15they shall write: on the first \u201cMich[ae]l,\u201d [on the second \u201cGabriel,\u201d on the third] \u201cSariel,\u201d on the fourth \u201cRaphael.\u201d 16Michael and Gabriel to [\u2026] [blank]<\/p>\n Ambush(?) (9:17\u2013bottom)<\/p>\n 9:17[\u2026] for four [\u2026 If] they shall set up an ambush for [a lin]e 18[\u2026]<\/p>\n War Prayers (9:end\u201314:bottom)<\/p>\n PRAYERS AT THE CAMP (9: END\u201312: BOTTOM)<\/p>\n Teachings from the Past (9:bottom\u201311:12)<\/p>\n 9:?[\u2026] 10:1our camps and to be on guard against any untoward nakedness. Thus, he has told us that you (stand) in our midst, O great and awesome God, to plunder all 2our enemies be[fore u]s. He has taught us long ago concerning our generations, saying, \u201cBefore you join battle, the priest shall take position and address the troops, 3saying: \u2018Hear, O Israel! You are about to join battle with your enemy. Do not be in fear, let not your courage falter, 4do not be in pa[nic, or in] dread of them. For it is your God who marches with you to do battle for you against your enemy, to bring 5you victory.\u2019 \u201d Our [of]ficers shall address all those who are ready for battle, to strengthen the willing hearted in the might of God, to restore all 6the disheartened, to strengthen together all the mighty men of worth. So have you s[po]ken through Moses, saying: \u201cWhen you are at war 7in your land against an aggressor who attacks you, [you] shall sound short blasts on the trumpets, that you may be remembered before your God 8and be delivered from your enemies.\u201d Who (is) equal to you, God of Israel, in hea[ve]n or on earth, to do deeds as your great ones 9and to (show) strength as your mighty one. Who is like your people Israel whom you have chosen for yourself among all the peoples of the lands, 10the people of the holy ones of the covenant, learned in the statute, taught in the discern[ment \u2026], hearers of the glorious voice, seers of 11the holy angels, open of ear, and hearers of deep things? [You are the maker of(?)] the expanse of the skies, the hosts of luminaries, 12the task of the spirits, the dominion of the holy ones, the treasures of gl[ory in the darkne]ss(?) of the clouds; the creator of the earth and the boundaries of its divisions 13for the wilderness and dry land, of all its products with [their] fru[its, the ma]ker(?) of the circle of the seas, the reservoirs of the rivers and the cleaving of the depths; 14the deeds of beasts and birds, the shape of the human and the genera[tions of] his [descen]dants, the confusion of language and the separation of peoples, the settling of the clans 15and the distribution of the lands [\u2026], the appointed times of holiness, the circuits of years and the times of 16eternity [\u2026]. We have known these things from your discernment, which [you had] hid[den(?)]. 17[\u2026 Prick up] your [ea]rs to our cry, for [\u2026] 18[\u2026] his house [\u2026]. 11:1Indeed, the battle is yours! With the power of your hand their corpses have been dashed into pieces with no one to bury (them). Goliath of Gath, a mighty man of worth, 2you did deliver into the hand ofyour servant David, for he trusted in your great name and not in a sword or a spear. For the battle is yours! The 3Philistines, he humil[i]ated many times by your holy name. You also have saved us many times by the hand of our kings 4on account of your compassion and not according to our works, in which we have done evil, and our sinful deeds. The battle is yours, and the strength is from you, 5(it is) not ours! Neither our power nor the force of our hands have done worthily except by your power and with the vigor of your great worth. So have you told 6to us long ago, saying: \u201cA star rises from Jacob, a scepter (comes forth) from Israel. It smashes the brow of Moab, the foundation of all children of Seth. 7A victor issues from Jacob to wipe out what is left of the city. The enemy becomes a possession and Israel is triumphant.\u201d Through your anointed ones, 8seers of fixed times, you have told to us the tim[es of] the wars of your hands, to cover yourself with glory against our enemies, to bring down the troops of Belial, the seven 9nations of vanity, by the hand of the poor ones whom you have redeemed [with po]wer(?) and with success, to (show) wonderful might and to open hope (for) the melted heart. You shall act against them as against the Pharaoh 10and the officers of his chariots in the Re[d] Sea. You will kindle the brokenhearted like a flaming torch among sheaves, devouring wickedness: it does not turn away until 11the extermination of guiltiness. A long time ago you have put in re[serve a fixed ti]me for your mighty hand against the Kittim, saying: \u201cAsshur shall fall, not by the sword of man; a sword 12not of humans shall devour him.\u201d [blank]<\/p>\n The Elect Ones Shall Be Victorious (11:13\u201312:6)<\/p>\n 11:13For (it is) in the hand of the poor ones (that) you will deliver the [ene]mies (from) all the lands and through the hand of those who are bowed to the dust (that you will) bring low the mighty men of the peoples, to render the requital of 14the wicked ones upon th[eir] guil[ty] head, to do justice to your truthful judgment upon all the sons of man, to make for yourself an everlasting name through the people 15[\u2026] the wars, to manifest your greatness and your holiness in the sight of the remnant of the nations, that [they(?)] may know [\u2026] 16[\u2026 when] you will [ex]ecute the judgments against Gog and all his battalions that has mus[te]red [abou]t [him \u2026] 17[\u2026] for you will do battle against them from the heave[ns \u2026] 18[\u2026] for a turmoil [\u2026]. 12:1For [th]ere is a multitude of holy ones in the heavens, and the hosts of angels (are) in your holy height to pr[aise] your [truth]. The elect ones of the holy people, 2you have set for yourself in [your] ha[nd. And the bo]ok of the names of all their hosts is with you in your holy abode, and the re[cord of the righ]teous(?) is in your glorious habitation. 3The mercies of [your] blessing[s are for them(?)], and the covenant of your peace, you have engraved (it) for them with a stylus of life, to reign [\u2026] in all the appointed times forever, 4and to muster the ho[sts of] your cho]sen ones according to their 1,000s and their myriads, together with your holy ones [and with] your angels, so that they have a mighty hand 5in the battle. [They shall fall, all(?)] the rebels(?) of the earth, in the strife of your judgments, and the people of the elect ones of the heavens shall be victo[rious]. 6[blank]<\/p>\n The Glorious King Is with Us (12:7\u201316)10<\/p>\n 12:7You, O God, are awe[some] in the glory of your kingship, and the congregation of your holy ones (is) in our midst for an everlasti[ng] help. [Because of(?)] us (there shall be) contempt for the kings, mockery 8and derision for the mighty ones: for the LORD is holy and the King of glory(is) with us, together with the holy ones, the po[wers of] the host of angels (who are) among our numbered (men); 9the valiant in batt[le] (is) in our congregation and the host of his spirits (is) with our foot soldiers and our horsemen, [like] rain clouds and like mist clouds covering the earth, 10like a rainstorm watering (with) judgment all its products. Arise, mighty one! Take your captives, glorious man! Seize 11your plunder, (you) who do worthily! Put your hand upon the nape of your foes and your foot upon the piles of the slain! Crush the nations (that are) your enemies, and let your sword 12devour the guilty flesh. Fill your land (with) Presence and your inheritance (with) blessing: abundant flocks in your fields, silver, gold, and precious 13stones in your palac[e]s. Zion, rejoice greatly! Shine forth in jubilation, Jerusalem! Exult all you, cities of Judah! Keep 14[your] gate[s] open continually, to let in the wealth of the nations! Their kings shall wait upon you; all your tormentors shall bow down before you and 15[lick] the dust [of your feet. Daughter]s of my people, shout with a joyous voice! Deck yourselves with glorious jewels! Have dominion over [the ki]n[gdoms of nations(?)!] 16[There will be \u2026 (?) for your camps, and I]srael (is) to reign forever. [blank]<\/p>\n Fragment of a Prayer (12:17\u2013bottom)<\/p>\n 12:17[\u2026] mighty ones of war, Jerusalem [\u2026] 18[\u2026] above the heavens, LORD [\u2026].<\/p>\n PRAYERS ON THE BATTLEFIELD (12: END\u201314:1)<\/p>\n Introduction and Blessing of God (12:end\u201313:3)<\/p>\n 12:end[\u2026 the high priest(?) shall take position with] 13:1his brothers the [pri]ests, the Levites, and all the elders of the rule with him. They shall bless, from their position, the God of Israel and all his truthful works. They shall denounce 2there Be[li]al and all the spirits of his lot. They shall speak up, saying: \u201cBlessed be the God of Israel for all his holy plan and his truthful works. Bl[es]sed be they, 3all (who) serve him righteously (and) know him faithfully.\u201d [blank]<\/p>\n Curse of Belial and His Lot (13:4\u20136)<\/p>\n 13:4\u201cCursed be Belial for the hostile plan and may he be denounced for his guilty authority! Cursed be all the spirits of his lot for their 5wicked plan and may they be denounced for all their service of impure uncleanliness! For they are the lot of darkness, but the lot of God is for 6[everlast]ing light! [blank]<\/p>\n Hymn to the God of Our Fathers (13:7\u201317)<\/p>\n 13:7Y[o]u, O God of our fathers, we bless your name forever! We are a people [\u2026]. You have [es]tablished a covenant with our fathers and kept it with their descendants 8through the appointed ti[me]s of eternity. In all your glorious fixed times there was a memorial: your [wonderful acts(?)] in our midst for the help of the remnant and the preservation of your covenant; 9and to re[count] your truthful works and the judgments of your wonderful might, you[, God have redee]med(?) us for you, (as) an everlasting people and you have cast us in the lot of light, 10according to your truth. The Commander of light, long ago, you entrusted to our rescue; in [\u2026] and all the spirits of truth are under his dominion. You 11have made Belial to corrupt, a hostile angel: in darkne[ss is] his [domination], his counsel is aimed toward wickedness and guiltiness. All the spirits of 12his lot, angels of destruction, are behaving according to the statutes of darkness: toward it is their one [ur]ge. As for us, in your truthful lot, let us rejoice for 13your mighty hand, exult for your deliverance, and be glad for [your] hel[p and for] your peace. Who is like you according to power, O God of Israel! With 14the poor ones is your mighty hand! Who, be he an angel or a commander, is like the help of [your] re[demption(?). Fo]r long ago, you appointed for yourself a day of clash [\u2026] 15[\u2026] to [make shi]ne(?) among truth, to exterminate among guiltiness, to bring low darkness, and to make light powerful [\u2026] 16[\u2026 to bind Belia]l(?) into an everlasting place, for the destruction of all Sons of Darkness, and the joy of [al]l [the Sons of Light \u2026] 17[blank]<\/p>\n Fragment of a Prayer (13:18\u201314:1)<\/p>\n 13:18[\u2026 f]or you have appointed us for the ti[me of.\u2026 It will be(?)] 14:1like the fire of his outburst against the idols of Egypt. [blank]<\/p>\n PRAYERS AFTER THE VICTORY (14:2\u2013BOTTOM)<\/p>\n Introduction and Hymn to the Merciful God (14:2\u201315)<\/p>\n 14:2When they have departed from the slain to enter the camp, they shall all sing the hymn of the return. In the morning they shall wash their clothes and cleanse themselves 3of the blood of the guilty corpses. They shall return to the place where they had taken position, where they had arrayed the line before the enemy\u2019s slain fell down. They shall bless there 4all together the God of Israel and they shall extol his name in a joyful community. They shall speak up, saying, \u201cBlessed be the God of Israel, he who provides faithfulness for his covenant and periods of 5deliverance for the people whom he redeems. He has called the tottering to wonderful [mighty deed]s. He has gathered an assembly of nations for a destruction without any remnant, (in order) to raise through a judgment 6the melted heart, to open the mouth of the dumb so that he sings the might [of God], and to teach war to the slack [hands], while giving to the staggering knees strength to stand 7and steadiness of loins to the smitten back. Through the humble spirit [\u2026 shall] the stubborn heart [be cut] off(?), and through those of blameless way shall all the wicked nations be destroyed; 8none of their mighty men shall stand. We are the rem[nant of your people. Blessed be] your name, O merciful God, you who keep the covenant for our fathers and with 9all our generations! You have displayed through wondrous deeds your mercy for the remna[nt of your inheritance(?)] during the dominion of Belial. With all the mysteries of his hatred, he has not drawn [us] away 10from your covenant; you have driven his spirits of [des]truction far from u[s. When the me]n of his dominion [were acting wickedly] you kept the soul of those you have redeemed. You have raised up 11the fallen by your vigor, but the tall ones you have fel[led \u2026]. For all their warriors there is no deliverer, for their swift there is no flight. To their great men, 12you render contempt, all [their] existence of vanity [you bring (it) to no]thing. We, your holy people, because of your truthful works, shall praise your name, 13and because of your mighty deeds, shall exalt [your magnificence in all] the times and holy days of the everlasting fixed times, with the ar[ri]val of the day and night, 14and the departure of the evening and morning. For great (is) your [gloriou]s p[lan]. The mysteries of your wonderful acts (are) in [your] heights to li[ft] up to you those from the dust 15and to bring low among the divine beings. [blank]<\/p>\n Fragment of a Prayer (14:16\u2013bottom)<\/p>\n 14:16Rise up! Rise up, O God of gods! Assert yourself with streng[th, \u2026] 17[al]l [the S]ons of Darkness [shall be scatte]red and your great light [shall] shi[ne \u2026]. 18[\u2026 Sh]eol shall burn(?) in a fir[e \u2026]<\/p>\n War against the Kittim (14:end\u201320:?)<\/p>\n TIME OF TRIBULATION (14: END\u201315:3)<\/p>\n 14:?[\u2026] 15:1For this shall be a time of tribulation for Isr[ael and the sum]mons of war against all the nations. The lot of God (shall be) in everlasting redemption, 2but a destruction (is) for all the wicked nations. All those rea[dy for] the battle shall go and encamp against the king of the Kittim and against all the army of 3Belial gathered with him for the day of ven[geance] by the sword of God. [blank]<\/p>\n FIRST ENGAGEMENT (15:4\u201316:10)<\/p>\n Speech of the Chief Priest (15:4\u201316:2)<\/p>\n 15:4The chief priest shall take position, his brothers the pr[iests], the Levites, and all the men of the rule (being) with him. He shall read in their hearing 5the prayer of the appointed time for wa[r according to the ordinances of the bo]ok(?) of the rule of that time, with all their words of thanksgiving. He shall array there 6all the lines according to a[ll the instructions of th]is [rule(?)]. The priest shall walk along, the one assigned for the appointed time of vengeance according to the decision of 7all his brothers, and he shall strengthen [their hands for the battl]e. He shall speak up, saying: \u201cBe strong and resolute, be brave men! 8Do not be in fear! Do not be dis[mayed! Do not let] your [courage falter]! Do not be in panic! Do not be in dread before them! Do not 9be turned back! Do not [run away(?) from the]m! For they are a wicked congregation: in darkness (are) all their works, 10toward it is [their] urge. [They have made falsehood(?) al]l their refuges; their might (is) like melting smoke. All the assembly of 11their multitude (shall become) like cha[ff(?); \u2026 de]solation, (it) shall not be found. All their creatures of calamity shall soon wither 12[like a flo]wer during sum[mer \u2026]. Strengthen yourself for the battle of God, for today is the appointed time for the war 13[of] God against all the n[ations and a time(?) of judgme]nt against all flesh. The God of Israel is raising his hand in his wonderful [migh]t 14[against] all the wic[ked] spirits. [The whole army(?) of the mi]ghty divine beings shall gird themselves for the battle; the formation[s of] the h[o]ly ones 15[are muste]red for the day [vengeance(?) \u2026] 16the God of I[srae]l [\u2026] 17to put an end to Bel[ial(?) \u2026] 18in the da[rk (places of)(?)] perdition [\u2026] 16:1until the completion(?) of [\u2026]. The God of Israel has summoned a sword against all the nations, and among the holy ones of his people he shall do mightily. 2[blank]<\/p>\n Details of the Engagement (16:3\u201310)<\/p>\n 16:3They shall act according to this entire rule [on] that [time], where they stand, in front of the camps of the Kittim. Then the priests shall blow for them the trumpets of 4memorial, the gates of the ba[ttle] shall open, the skirmishers shall [m]arch out and take position in columns between the lines. The priests shall blow for them 5the alarm of formation. The columns [shall spread] at the sound of the trumpets until each man is stationed at his own position. The priests shall blow for them 6a second alarm, [the signal of en]gaging, and when they stand near the line of the Kittim, within throwing range, each man shall raise his hand with 7his weapon. The six [priests shall blow on the t]rumpets of the slain a shrill staccato sound to conduct the battle; the Levites and the whole 8horn band shall blo[w a war alarm with] a great sound. When the sound is emitted, they shall set their hand to bring down among the slain of the Kittim. The whole 9band shall cease the sound of the alarm, [but the priest]s shall keep blowing on the trumpets of the slain so that the battle against the Kittim shall still be conducted. 10[blank]<\/p>\n ENGAGEMENT OF THE RESERVE (16:11\u201317: BOTTOM)<\/p>\n Instructions for Summoning the Reserve (16:11\u201314)<\/p>\n 16:11When [Belial(?)] girds himself to help the Sons of Darkness, when the slain of the skirmishers begin to fall down according to the mysteries of God, when all those appointed for the battle are put to test by them, 12then the pri[e]sts shall blo[w] the tr[u]mpets of summoning for another line, (from) reserve (troops), to march out to the battle: they shall take up position between the lines. 13For those engag[ed in the b]attle, they shall blow (the signal) for withdrawal. The chief priest shall draw near and take up position in front of (the men of) the line; he shall strengthen 14their heart [for the vengeance(?) of Go]d and their hands for his battle. [blank]<\/p>\n Speech of the Chief Priest to the Reserve (16:15\u201317:3)<\/p>\n 16:15He shall speak up, saying, \u201c[The God of Isra]el [raises(?) and] puts the he[a]rt of his people to test within the crucible. Do not [\u2026] your slain. For you have heard long ago, 16according to the mysteries of God, [\u2026]. 17:1He will set peace for them in the burning [\u2026] those who are put to test within the crucible. He will sharpen his weapons, and they shall not get blunt until [the final extermination(?) of all] 2wicked [nations(?)]. As for you, remember the bloodshed [of Nadab and] Ab[i]hu, the Sons of Aaron, by whose judgment God showed his holiness in the eyes of [all the people; but Eleazar] 3and Ithamar, he has bound them to him for the pact [of priesthood(?)] for all times. [blank]<\/p>\n Exhortation to Stand Strong (17:4\u20139)<\/p>\n 17:4As for you, strengthen yourselves. Do not be terrified by them! [\u2026 Fo]r they (aim) toward nothingness and toward voidness is their desire! Their support (is) in what [is] not and [shall] not [be! For to the God of] 5Israel (is) all that is and [will be] in [the world(?)] in all everlasting happenings. (This is) the day he has set to humiliate and to bring low the commander of the dominion of 6wickedness. He has sent an everlasting help to the lot whom he has [re]deemed through the might of the majestic angel. (He will set) the authority of Michael in everlasting light. 7He will cause the covenant of Israel to shine in joy! Peace and blessing to the lot of God! He will exalt over the divine beings the authority of Michael and the dominion of 8Israel over all flesh. Righteousness shall rejoice in the heights and all his Sons of Truth shall be glad in everlasting knowledge. As for you, sons of his covenant, 9strengthen yourselves in the midst of God\u2019s crucible until he waves his hand and fills up his crucibles (according to) his mysteries so that you may stand.\u201d [blank]<\/p>\n Details of the Engagement (17:10\u2013bottom)<\/p>\n 17:10After these words, the priests shall blow for them to array the battalions of the line, and the columns shall spread at the sound of the trumpets 11until each [ma]n is statio[ned] at [his] position. The priests shall blow on the trumpets a second alarm, the signal to engage. When 12the skir[mishers almost] reach [the li]ne of the Kittim, within throwing range, each man shall raise his hand with his weapon. The priests shall blow on the trumpets of 13the slain. [The Levites and] the whole horn band shall blow a war alarm and the skirmishers shall stretch out their hand against the army 14of the Kittim. [When the so]und [of the al]arm [is emitted], they shall begin to bring down among the slain. The whole band shall ceas[e] the sound of the alarm, but the priests 15shall keep blowing on [the trumpets of the slai]n, and the ba[ttle] against the Ki[ttim] shall still be conducted: [(they) shall begin] to [fall down, those who are s]mitten before them. 16In the th[ir]d lot [\u2026] the slain 17[\u2026] God(?) [\u2026]<\/p>\n FINAL ENGAGEMENT AND PURSUIT (17: END\u201319:8)<\/p>\n Instructions and Prayer for the Final Engagement (17:end\u201318:9)<\/p>\n 17:end[\u2026] 18:1[\u2026] when the great hand of God is [rai]sed against Belial and against all [the ar]my(?) of his dominion in an everlasting slaughter; 2[there shall be \u2026] and the alarm of the holy ones (engaged) in the pursuit of Asshur; the sons of Japheth shall fall down without rising anymore; the Kittim shall be crushed without 3[a remnant(?); \u2026] the upraising of the hand of the God of Israel against the multitude of Belial. At that time, the priests shall blow 4[\u2026 in the trum]pets of memorial and all the battle lines shall gather toward them and divide against all [the camps(?) of the K]ittim 5to annihilate them [\u2026 When] the sun hastens to set, on that day, they shall take position: the chief priest, the priests and the [Levite]s who 6(are) with him, the chi[efs of the lines(?) and the men(?) of] the rule. They shall bless there the God of Israel. They shall speak up saying, \u201cBlessed be your name, God of [god]s, for 7you have done great (things) among yo[ur] people [as you came(?)] to perform wonders. You have kept your covenant for us since long ago. The gates of deliverances you have opened many times for us 8for the sa[ke of] your [co]venant and [you have see]n(?) our affliction, in your goodness toward us. You, God of righteousness, have acted for the sake of your name.\u201d [blank] 9[blank]<\/p>\n Prayer before the Pursuit (18:10\u201319:8)<\/p>\n 18:10[\u2026] You have performed for us wonder after wonder. Since long ago, there has been nothing similar, for you knew about this time appointed for us. This day has shone 11for us, for you [have shown(?)] to us your merciful hand, among us in an everlasting redemption to put an irreversible end to the domi[ni]on of the enemy, and your mighty hand. 12In the wa[r, you have shown your might(?)] against our enemies for a destructive slaughter. Now the day is hastening for us to pursue their multitude, for you 13[\u2026], the heart of the mighty ones, you have surrendered (it) so that none of them could stand. Yours is the might, in your hand is the battle, and there is no 14[one to save them(?) \u2026 you have set(?) \u2026] and the appointed times, according to your good pleasure. The requital [you return to(?)] your [enemies(?)] and you cut (them) off from [your(?)] measure 15[\u2026 the d]ay(?) of all da[ys(?) \u2026] 16[\u2026] [blank] 19:1[\u2026 mockery and derision for the migh]ty ones. For our majestic one (is) holy, and the King of glory (is) with us. The ho[st of his spirits (is) with our foot soldiers and our horsemen] 2[like rain clouds and like mi]st clouds covering the earth, like a rainstorm watering (with) judgment all [its products. Arise, mighty one!] 3[Take your captives, glorious man! Sei]ze your plunder, (you) who do worthily! Put your hand upon the nape of your foes and your fo[ot upon the piles of the slain!] 4[Crush the nations (that are your enemi]es, and let your sword devour flesh. Fill your land (with) Presence and your inheritance (with) blessing; a[bundant flocks] 5[in your fields, silver and gold] in your palaces. Zion, rejoice greatly! Exult all you, cities of Ju[dah! Keep] 6[your gates open continually, to let in] the wealth of the nations! Their kings shall wait upon you; [al]l [your tormentors] shall bow downbefore you, 7[and lick the dust of your feet]. Daughters of my people, burst with a joyous voice! Deck yourselves with glorious jewels! Have do[mi]nion over the kingdoms of 8[nations(?)! There will be \u2026 (?) for] your [camp]s, and Israel, is to (have) a reign (lasting) forever! [blank]<\/p>\n AFTER THE WAR (19:9\u201320:?)<\/p>\n Instructions for the Day after Victory (19:9\u2013?)<\/p>\n 19:9[Then they shall gather to the ca]mp, [on] that n[i]ght, to rest until the morning. In the morning, they shall come to the [p]lace of the line 10[where (they) had fallen, the mi]ghty men of Kittim, the multitude of Asshur, and the army of all the nations assembled (with them), (to see) if [they are dead], the multitude of (those) slain], 11[with no one to bury (them), who] had fallen there by the sword of God. There, the chi[ef] priest shall draw near, [along with his deputy, the priests], 12[the Levites, and also with the prince(?) of] the war, all the chiefs of the lines and [their] numbered (men): [\u2026 they] 13[shall take position together where they had stood, bes]ide [the s]lain of the Kitti[m. They shall p]raise there th[e] God of [Israel \u2026]<\/p>\n Return and Triumph(?) (20:?)<\/p>\n [\u2026]<\/p>\n
\nAnd the Hi[g]h Priest shall sac[ri]fice the burnt offering of the [Levites] (10) first; and afterward, he shall offer the burnt offering of the tribe of Judah. And whi[le he] (11) is offering (it), they must slaughter before him the he-goat first. Then he shall raise (12) its blood up to the altar in a basin, put some of its blood with his finger on the four corners of the altar (13) of the burnt offering and upon the four corners of the ledge of the altar, and spill (the rest of) its blood on the base (14) of the ledge of the altar all around. Then he shall burn its fat on the altar, the fat that covers (15) the entrails and that which is on top of the entrails. And the appendage of the liver along with the kidneys (16) he shall remove, as well as the fat that is on them and that which is on the loins. Then he shall burn (17) all of it on the altar with its meal offering and libation, an offering by fire, a pleasant odor to the LORD. And the Column 24 (1) [\u2026] the head [and the suet \u2026] (2). [\u2026 the two foreleg]s and the s[houlder \u2026] (3) [\u2026 and] the breast with the [right thigh] (4) [and they shall wash in water the entrails and the t]wo legs. They must b[urn it all] (5) [upon the altar as a burnt offering to the LORD along with] the meal offering with its oil and the libation [of its wine \u2026] (6) [\u2026]a hin shall be poured [u]pon the meat as a pleasant[odor; it is an offering by fire] (7) [to the LORD.\u2026 And th]us shall they do for each [and] every bull, for each and every ram, and for [each and every lamb.] (8) And its parts must b[e] (kept) separate, and its meal offering and its libation (shall be) upon it. (These shall be) [ete]rnal statutes (9) throughout your generations before the LORD. [blank] (10) Then after this burnt offering, he shall offer the burnt offering of the tribe of Judah by itself. Just as (11) he did in regard to the burnt offering of the Levites, thus shall he do in regard to the burnt offering of the sons of Judah after (that of) the Levites. (12) [blank]
\nAnd on the second day, he shall offer the burnt offering of Benjamin first; and afterward, (13) he shall offer the burnt offering of the sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh together. And on the third day, he shall offer (14) the burnt offering of Reuben separately and the burnt offering of Simeon separately. And on the fourth day, (15) he shall offer the burnt offering of Issachar separately and the offering of Zebulun separately. And on the fifth day, (16) he shall offer the burnt offering of Gad separately and the burnt offering of Asher separately. [blank] And on the sixth day, Column 25 (01) [he shall offer the burnt offering of Dan separately and the burnt offering of Naphtali separately. [blank] (?)] (02\u201306) [\u2026] (1) [\u2026] he shall offer.[\u2026] (2) [\u2026] [blank]<\/one><\/p>\n
\nAnd on the] (3) second [day]: twelve bulls, [two rams, four]teen [lambs] (4) and one he-goat [for an expiation offer]ing, [and their] mea[l offerings and] their [libations] (5) according to their regulations: for the bulls, ram[s], lambs, (and) goat\u2014an offering by fire, (6) it is a pleasing odor to the LORD. [blank]
\nAnd on the third day: (7) eleven [bu]lls, two rams, fourteen lambs, (8) and one he-goat for an expiation offering. Their meal offering and their libation (are) according to the regulations for the bulls, (9) rams, lambs and the goat. [blank]
\nAnd on the fourth day: (10) te[n] bulls, two rams, fourteen male one-year-old lambs, (11) and one he-goat for an expiation offering. Their meal offerings and their libations for the bulls (12) Column 29 (01) [rams, lambs, and the goat according to the regulation. [blank] And on the fifth day:] (02) [nine bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs, and a one he-goat] (03) [for an expiation offering. Their meal offerings and their libations according to the regulation, for the bulls, rams,] (04) [lambs, and goat. [blank]
\nAnd on the sixth day: eight bulls,] (05) [two rams, fourteen lambs, and one he-goat for an expiation offering.] (06) [Their meal offering and their libation according to the regulation for the bulls, rams, lambs, and goat.] (07) [[blank]
\nAnd on the seventh day: seven bulls, two rams,] (08) [fourteen lambs, and one he-goat for an expiation offering and their meal offerings and their libations (09) [according to the regulation for the bulls, rams, lambs, and goat. [blank]<\/p>\n, fire pans, (14) and the silver ladles with which they will raise up the entrails and (15) the legs onto the altar. [blank] And when they finish burning Column 34 (1) [\u2026 over]laid with a[bronze] tablet [\u2026]<\/s><\/p>\nThe Slaughterhouse<\/s><\/p>\n(2) [\u2026] and between one pillar and another pi[llar \u2026] (3) [\u2026] which is between the pillars [\u2026] (4) [\u2026] which is between the pillars [\u2026] (5) [the whee]ls, they close the wheels, and [\u2026] (6) and they tie the horns of the bulls to the rings, and [\u2026] with the rings. (7) Afterward, they must slaughter them; and they must gather [all the blood] in basins (8) and throw it on the base of the altar all around. [blank] Then they must open (9) the wheels and flay the skins of the bulls off their meat, cut (10) them up into their pieces, salt the pieces with salt, wash the (11) entrails and the legs, salt them with salt, and burn them on (12) the fire that is on the altar; each and every bull with its pieces next to it, and the meal offering of its flour upon it, (13) and the wine of its libation next to it, some of which (should be poured) upon it. Then the priests, the sons of Aaron, must burn everything (14) upon the altar, an offering by fire, a pleasant odor before the LORD. [blank] (15) And you must make chains descending from the ceiling of the twelve pillars. Column 35 (+ 4Q524 1) (1) [to the hol]y of holie[s \u2026] (2) [i]t.<\/p>\n
\nColumn 37 (+ 11QT col. 10) (01\u20131) [\u2026] (2) [\u2026] new [wine] from the gardens for the entire ye[ar] (3) [\u2026 and a stoa you should b]uild between the four[\u2026] (4) [the wall of the] Inner Co[urt] to the ledge of the [al]tar upon which [they would eat] (5) [there t]he sacrifices of the peace offerings of the Children of Israel. And regarding the burnt [off]ering, from the stoa (6) [\u2026] the corners of the lower stoa are made of gold \u2026 (7) the steps near [the walls] of the gates, on both [sides] of the gate. [blank] (?)
\n(8) And you must co[n]struct [in]side, in the co[urt], a pl[a]ce (with) seats for the priests and tables (9) in front of the seats, in the inner stoa, next to the outer wall of the court. (10) (These) places are made for the priests, for their sa[c]rifices, for the firstfruits, the tithes, (11) and for the sacrifices of their peace offerings that they will sacrifice, so that [th]ey not mix the sacrifices (12) of the peace offerings of the Children of Israel with the sacrifices of the priests. [blank] (13) And in the four angles of the Court [y]ou shall make for them a place for [s]to[v]es,, (14) where they will cook their sacrifices and the expiation offerings Column 38 (01) [\u2026 in the north-east angle and \u2026] (02\u201307) [\u2026] (1) [\u2026] they will eat [\u2026] (2) [\u2026] their [fi]rst (fruits) (3) [\u2026] they will eat and drink [\u2026] (4) [during the harves]t for grain, young wine, and o[il] (5) \u2026 first \u2026 to [the Children of Israel. On the Festival of the Fruits] (6) [they will bring] to the left of the western gate [all the fruit of their land: the dates] (7) [and the pomegranates, and] any tree (the fruit of which) can be eaten. And [to the right of this gate, (they shall eat) the meal offering of the sacrifices] (8) [upon which is brought] frankincense. Left of the [no]rth ga[te], (they shall eat) the meal offering of the guilt offering of jealousy. (9) And to the righ[t of th]is gate every meal offering and goats of expiation offering that the Children of Israel shall offer. (10) There they shall eat [the expi]ation offering, the fowl, the turtledoves, and the young pigeons. (11) [blank]<\/men><\/p>\n
\nAnd the names of the gates of this Court shall be according to the n[ames] (of) (12) the Children of Is[r]ael: Simeon, Levi, and Judah to the east; Reuben, Joseph, and Benjamin to the south; (13) Issachar, Zebulun and Gad to the west; Dan, Naphtali, and Asher to the north. And between the gates, (14) the dimension(s shall be): From the northeastern corner to the gate of Simeon, ninety-nine cubits; and the gate itself (15) twenty-eight cubits. And from this gate to the gate of Levi, ninety-nine (16) cubits; and the gate (itself) twenty-eight cubits. And from the gate of Levi to the gate of Judah Column 40 (1) [\u2026] to put on the ves[tments \u2026] (2) [\u2026]. to be pr[i]nce und[er Aaron] (3) [\u2026] the Children of Israel, so that he not die [\u2026] (4) [\u2026] this [cour]t to [\u2026] (5) [\u2026]<\/p>\n
\nAnd when a man has sexual relations with his wife, having a seminal emission, he may not enter the entire City of (12) the Sanctuary, wherein I will cause My name to dwell, for three days.
\nNo blind man (13) may enter it for their entire life so that they will not render impure the city in which I dwell, (14) for I am the LORD who dwells among the Children of Israel forever. [blank]
\n(15) And any man who becomes pure from his issue shall count seven days for his purification. And he shall launder his clothes (16) on the seventh day, and wash all his flesh in running water. Afterward, he may enter the City of (17) the Sanctuary. And anyone who is impure by impurity of the dea
\nAnd any tzarua (18) and one stricken may not enter it until they are purified. And when he has been purified, he shall sacrifice Column 46 (+ 11QT cols. 12\u201313) (01) [his expiation offering. On the eighth day, he may draw near to the purity(?) inside the City of the Sanctuary, bu]t (02) [he shall not enter the Temple nor may he eat from the hallowed food. And with the setting of the sun] (03) [on the eighth day, he may eat from the hallowed food and he may enter the Temple.] (04) [[blank]
\n\u2026 of bronze] (1) [\u2026] the [\u2026 its border, where] (an) impure bird [shall no]t dw[ell] (2) upon [My] Tem[ple, that is in the Inner Courtyard, and] upon the roofs of the gates, [which (lead into)] (3) the Outer Courtyard. And every [impure bird is not permitted to] be inside My Temple foreve[r] (4) and ever, (for) all the days that I dw[e]ll in their midst. Blank (5) [blank]<\/d><\/and><\/p>\n
\n(9) And you shall construct a barrier around the Temple, one hundred cubits wide, which will (10) separate between the holy Temple and the city, so that they do not enter suddenly into (11) My Temple; they must not desecrate it. But rather, they must sanctify My Temple and be reverent of My Temple, (12) for I dwell in their midst. [blank]
\n(13) And you shall construct for them a place for a latrine outside the city where they can relieve (14) themselves. (It should be) to the northwest of the city; roofed buildings with pits inside them (15) so that the excrement will go down into them,
\nAnd you must construct (17) three places to the east of the city, separated from one another, into which (18) shall come the metzora\u2019im, the gonorrheics, and the men who have a nocturnal 11QT col. 13 (Independent Fragment) (2) [emission.\u2026] (3) And those who come [\u2026] (4) far fr[om the city \u2026 (5) And all who [\u2026] (6) something and [\u2026] (7) [\u2026] (8) And [\u2026] (9) You shall bring them down (10) [th]eir cities [\u2026] Column 47 (1) [\u2026]<\/not><\/so><\/p>\n
\nAnd you may not consider any city (15) from among your cities to be as pure as My city. For according to (the level of) purity of its (i.e., the slaughtered animal\u2019s) meat is the (level of) the purity of the hides. If (16) you slaughter it in My Temple, it (the hide) is (sufficiently) pure for My Temple. But if you slaughter it in your cities, then it is (sufficiently) pure (17) for your cities (only). Therefore, you must bring all pure (food) for the Temple in hides (of animals slaughtered in) the Temple. You must not render impure (18) My Temple and My city, in which I dwell, with the hides of your abominations.<\/p>\n
\n(3) [These among] the flying [insects] you may eat: the locust according to its species, the ba[ld] locust according to its species, the cri
\nAny (6) carcass of a fowl or animal you may not eat, but rather you should sell it to a foreigner. You must not eat (7) any abominable thing for you are a holy nation unto the LORD your God. [blank]<\/l><\/c><\/p>\n
\nAnd you shall not defile (11) your land. [blank] So do not do as the nations do; they bury (12) their dead anywhere. They even bury (them) inside their houses. Rather, set aside (13) places within your land in which you shall bury your dead. Between (every) four (14) cities you shall apportion a place to bury in them.
\nAnd for each and every city you shall set aside places for those afflicted (15) with tzara\u2019at, with plague, or with scab so that they do not enter your cities and defile them; and also for gonorrheics, (16) and for women when they are in their period of impurity and when they have given birth, so that they not defile (others) in them (17) during their period of impurity.
\nAnd as for one afflicted with chronic tzara\u2019at or scab and the priest declares him impure, Column 49 (1) [\u2026] (2) [\u2026 You must isolate] them s[even days. And you must purify them] (3) [with two bird]s, cedar wood, a hyssop, and [scarlet] str[ing in order they will not defile] (4) your cities with the disease of tzara\u2019at, so they (do not render others) impure. [blank]
\n(5) And when a man dies in (one of) your cities, any house in which a dead man dies becomes impure (6) for seven days. Anyone who is in the house and anyone who comes into the house shall be impure (7) for seven days. And any food upon which wa[t]er shall be poured shall be impure. Anything over which (another) liquid has been poured (8) is impure. And earthenware vessels shall be impure, and everything that is in them, for every pure person (9) shall be impure. But the open (vessels) shall be impure for every person in Israel, (along with) every drink (10) that is in them. [blank]
\n(11) And on the day on which they take the dead body out of it, they shall sweep the house of all (12) defilement of oil, wine, or moisture of water. Its floor, walls, and doors they shall scrape. (13) And its locks, doorposts, thresholds, and lintels they shall wash with water. On the day in which (14) the dead body shall leave it, they must purify the house and all its vessels, (including) millstones and mortar, (15) all vessels made of wood, iron, and bronze, and all vessels that may be purified. (16) And clothing, sacks, and skins must be washed. And as for persons, anyone who was in the house (17) or anyone who entered the house must bathe in water and wash his clothes on the first day. (18) And on the third day, they must sprinkle on them waters of purification, and they must bathe and wash their clothing (19) and the vessels that are in the house. [blank] And on the seventh day, (20) they must sprinkle a second time, and bathe and wash their clothes and their vessels. And by evening they will become pure (21) (of the impurity) of the dead so (as to be permitted) to touch all their pure stuff. And a man who was not defiled by Column 50 (+ 11QT col. 14 and 4Q524 2) (01) [\u2026] (02) [\u2026 until the third? day \u2026] (03) [\u2026 the seventh day] (04) [\u2026] (05) [\u2026 in the water \u2026] (06) [\u2026] (07) [they became impure (with the impurity of) the dead \u2026] (1) [\u2026 and they may not eat] anything that was made impure (2) because water of puri[fication will be sprinkled upon them. And they will be (made) pure from im]purity of the dead [in whatever way they] (3) became impure. [They] may no long[er be touched in] their [purity] until they (are) sprinkl(ed) a sec[ond (time,)] (4) on the seventh day. Then [they] will be pure in the evening when the sun sets. [blank]
\nAnd any (5) man who touches the bone of a dead man in the open field, or one slain with a sword, (6) or a corpse, or the blood of a dead man, or a grave shall cleanse himself according to the statute of this regulation. (7) But if he does not purify himself according to the regulation of this law, he is impure\u2014(8) his impurity is still within him. Therefore, any man who touches him must wash his garment(s), bathe, and become pure (9) by evening. [blank]
\n(10) And if a woman is pregnant and her child dies in her womb, for as long as (11) it is dead within her, she shall be impure like a grave. Any house that she enters shall be impure, (12) as well as all its furnishings, for seven days. And anyone who comes in contact with it shall be impure until the evening. But if (13) he comes into the house with her, he will be impure for seven days. And he must wash his clothes, (14) and bathe on the first day. And on the third day, he must be sprinkled and wash his clothes and bathe. (15) And on the seventh day, he must be sprinkled a second time and wash his clothes and bathe; and when the sun sets (16) he will be pure. [blank] And (as for) all the furnishings, clothes, skins, and all (17) work of goats(\u2019 hair), you shall do to them according to the regulation of this law. But all (18) earthenware vessels must be broken, for they are impure and they can never be purified again (19) forever [blank]
\n(20) Everything that creeps on the ground you should consider impure: the weasel, the mouse, and the large lizard according to its species, the land crocodile, (21) the lizard, the sand lizard, and the chameleon. Any person who comes in contact with them when they are dead, Column 51 (+ 11QT cols. 14\u201315) (01) [is impure until evening. He must wash his garment, bathe in water, and become pure at sunset.] (02) [\u2026 [blank] (?) Anything on which one of them falls] (03) [when dead is impure. Be it any article of wood, or a cloth, or a skin, or a sack, any such article] (04) [that one can do work with must be dipped in water, and it remains impure until evening; then it is pure.] (05) [And you must break any earthenware vessels that any of them fall into; and since] (06) [\u2026] (07) [\u2026 and it remains impure until the evening \u2026] (1) [\u2026 and whatever iss]ues from the[m after their (?) death \u2026] for they are impure (2) [and] you must [not] defile yourselves (through contact) with the[m. And anyone who touches them when] they are dead will become impure (3) un[til the] evening. Then he shall wash his clothes and bathe [in water; and when] the sun [goes down, he is pure. (4) And anyone who carries any part of their bones, or of their carcass, (whether) hide, meat, or nail, must wash (5) his clothes and bathe in water. When the sun sets, afterward, he will be pure. And you should warn (6) the Children of Israel (to stay away) from all impuriti
\nThey must not become impure with them, (namely, the impurities that) (7) I relate to you on this mountain, so they not become impure. [blank] For I, the LORD, dwell (8) among the Children of Israel. Therefore, you must sanctify them. And they must be holy, so as not to make themselves abominable (9) with anything that I set apart for them as to render (them) impure; and they must be (10) holy. [blank]<\/e><\/p>\n
\n(6) And you shall not sacrifice an ox or a sheep, it together with its young, on the same day, so as not to kill the mother (7) together with (her) young. [blank]
\n(As to) every firstborn that will be born among your cattle, and your sheep, and goats, (8) you must sanctify to Me the males. You may not work your firstborn ox nor may you shear your firstborn (9) sheep. Before Me shall you eat it (the firstborn animal) each year, in the place that I will choose. But if it has (10) a blemish, (or if it is) lame or blind, or (has) any serious blemish, you may not sacrifice it to Me. In your gates (11) shall you eat it, the pure and the impure among you alike, as though it were a deer or a gazelle. Nevertheless, you may not eat the blood; (12) you must spill it on the ground like water and cover it with dirt.
\nAnd you may not muzzle an ox when it is (standing) over its grain (13) nor may you plough with an ox and a donkey together.
\nYou may not slaughter an ox, sheep, or goat that are pure (14) in any of your gates near My Temple (a distance of) three days\u2019 journey. Rather, within (15) My Temple shall you slaughter it in order to make it a burnt offering or a sacrifice of a peace offering. Then you shall eat (16) and rejoice before Me in the place that I will choos
\n(19) You may not eat the meat of an ox, <\/e><\/a>, or a goat within My city that I sanctify (20) by placing My name within it\u2014(namely, meat) that did not enter within My Temple, such that they slaughter it there (21) and pour its blood on the base of the altar of the burnt offering, and burn its fat. Column 53 (01) [But whenever you desire, you may slaughter and eat meat according to My blessing that I have granted you] (02) [in any of your gates. The unclean and the clean alike may partake of it, as of the gazelle and the deer. But you must not partake of the blood;] (03) you shall pour it out on the ground like water. You may not partake in your gates of the tithes] (04) [of your new grain, young wine, oil, firstlings of your herds and flocks, or of any of the votive offerings that you vow,] (05) [or of your freewill offerings, or of your contributions. Rather, you must consume (them) before me in the place that I will choose\u2014] (06) [you and your son(s) and your daughter(s), your male and female slave(s), and the Levite in your gates.] (07) [You shall rejoice before me in all your undertakings.
\nWhen I enlarge your territory as I] (1) [promised you, and if the place that I have chosen is too fa}r [from you, and you say,] (2) [\u201cI would (like to) eat meat,\u201d for] you [de]sire to eat m[eat; as much] mea[t as you desire] (3) you may eat. [And] you [may sl]augh[ter] from your sheep and goats or from your cattle, according to My blessing that I will give (4) to you. And you must eat it in your gates; (it may be eaten by both) the pure and impure among you alike, as though it were a deer (5) or a gazelle. Only be certain that you not eat the blood. You must spill it on the ground like water, and you must cover it (6) with dirt. For the blood is the life-essence, and you may not eat the life-essence with the meat. (All this you must do) in order that (7) it should be good for you and for your children after you forever. You must do what is right and good (8) before Me; I am the LORD your God.<\/a><\/p>\n
\nAnd when a man makes a vow to Me or swears (15) an oath to impose a prohibition on himself, he shall not break his words. According to everything that comes forth from his mouth (16) he shall do. [blank]
\nAnd if a woman vows a vow to Me or imposes an obligation on herself (17) while in her father\u2019s house, by an oath (taken) during her youth, and her father hears her vow or (18) the obligation that she imposed upon herself, and says nothing to her, then all her vows shall be valid, (19) and any obligation that she has imposed upon herself shall be valid. [blank]
\nAnd if (20) her father indeed countermands her on the day when he hears it, then all her vows and her obligations (21) that she has imposed upon herself shall not be valid. And I will forgive her, since [(Col. 51:01) her father] countermanded her. Column 54 (+ 11QT col. 16 and 4Q524 3) (01) [her father] (02\u201307)[\u2026] (1) [when he] h[ears. But if he cancels them after the] da[y] [when he] he[ars, then he will bear] (2) her transgression, (for) [her] h[usband has cancelled them.
\n(As to) any vow] or any binding o[ath to afflict oneself,] (3) her husband may confirm it or her husband [may] annul it on the day when he hears it; and I will forgive [he]r. (4) [blank]
\nBut as to any vow (made) by a widow or a divorc\u00e9e, whatever she has imposed upon herself (5) shall be obligatory upon her, just like everything that comes forth from her mouth. [blank]
\nAll the commandments that (6) I am commanding you
\nFrom your own brethren you shall set a king. (15) You may not set a foreigner, one who is not your brother, over yourselves.
\nAdditionally, he may not (16) keep for himself many horses, in order that he not send the people back to Egypt to wage war for the purposes of (17) accumulating for himself horses, silver, and gold. [blank] For I have said to you, \u201cYou may never (18) go back that way again.\u201d Nor may he have many wives, lest they (19) turn his heart from following Me. Nor may he excessively accumulate for himself silver and gold. (20) [blank]
\nWhen he (first) sits on his royal throne, they shall (21) write for him this instruction on a scroll before the priests. [blank] Column 57 (01) [And it shall remain with him, and he will read it all the days of his life, so that] (02) [he may learn to revere Me, to observe faithfully every word of this teaching] (03) [and these laws, (and) to perform them without either acting haughtily] (04) [above his brothers or deviating from the commandment right or left,] (05) [(and) in order that his and his sons\u2019 reign be lengthy amongst] (06) [Israel \u2026] (07) [\u2026]
\n(1) And this is the law [that they shall write for him from before] the priests: (2) On the day on which they make h[im] king [they shall take a ce]ns[us of] the Children of Israel, from (3) the age of twenty until the age of sixty, according to their battalions. And he (the king) shall set over them (4) commanders of thousands, commanders of hundreds, commanders of fifties, (5) and commanders of t
\nTwelve (12) princes of his (the king\u2019s) people (shall be) with him, as well as twelve priests, and twelve of the Levites, (13) so that they will sit together with him for judgment (14) and for (reaching decisions about) the law. He may not act haughtily to them nor do anything (15) regarding any decision apart from them. [blank]<\/p>\n
\nIf they defeat (12) their enemies, then they should shatter them and smite them with the sword, and carry away their booty. They shall give (13) from it to the king his tenth, and to the priests one thousandth, and to the Levites one hundredth (14) of the total. And they shall divide the remainder between those who went into battle and their brothers (15) who they stationed in their cities. [blank]<\/nd><\/the>\n
\nAs for the king whose (14) heart and eye(s) turn aside from my comm
\n(04) [This is the priests\u2019 due from the people: (everyone who) offers a sacrifice,] (05) [whether an ox or sheep, shall give to the priest the foreleg (extending) to the shoulder bone, and] (06) [the cheeks and the stomach. Their new grain, wine, oil, the first shearing] (07) [of their sheep, and the first of fruits, which they give to the LORD, will be for them (the priests) from the Children] (1) [of Israel, from the gifts of their tithe. They must wave all their offerings of the LORD, (2) and all their wave offerings, all [of] their male firstborn (offerings), all the ti[t]h[e] (3) of their animals, all their sacrificial offerings that they sanctify to Me with all their hol[y] (4) (fruit offerings) of praise, the tribute of their offering, of the fowl, beasts, and fish, one-thousandth (5) of whatever they trap, and whatever they will devote, and the tribute from the booty and the spoil. [blank]
\n(6) [blank] And to the Levites (you shall give) as a tithe (one-tenth) of the grain, the young wine, and the oil that (7) they first sanctified to Me, and the shoulder from those offering a sacrifice, and the tribute from (8) the booty and the spoil. And from the trappings of fowl, beasts, and fish, one-hundredth. (9) And from the young pigeons and a tithe of the honey, one-fiftieth.
\nAnd for the priests, (10) one-hundredth of the young pigeons. For them (the priests) I have chosen from amongst a
\nWhen a Levite comes from any of your gates, from anywhere in (the Land of) Israel where (13) he lives\u2014whenever he pleases\u2014to the place that I shall choose to cause My name to dwell, (14) then he may serve like all his fellow Levites who stand there before Me. They shall have equal portions (15) to eat, besides what is received from the sale of the patrimony. [blank]<\/l><\/p>\n
\nIf a man is guilt
\nIf a virgin girl] (08) [is betrothed to a man, and a(nother) man finds her in the city and has sexual relations with her,] (1) [then you shall take the two of them to the elders] of the city and out to the ga[te of her place] (2) and stone them with stones; [and] (thus) they shall be put to death: the girl because she did not cry [out] (3) in the city, and the man because he violated the wife of his fellow. Thus shall you remove (4) the evil from within your midst. But if the man found her, the woman, in the field, in a place far from the city and hidden (from it), (5) and he took hold of her and had sexual relations with her, then only the man who has sexual relations with her should be put to death. (6) But nothing should be done to the girl. The girl has no (guilt for a) capital offense, for this case is just as if a man would arise (7) against his fellow and kill him. For he found her in the field, the betrothed girl cried out, (8) but there was no one to save her. [blank]<\/p>\n
\n4QMMT has wide ramifications for the history of Judaism in the Hasmonean period. In the disputes mentioned in the letter, the opinions of the sect\u2019s opponents are those attributed in Rabbinic literature to the Pharisees or the tannaim (mishnaic Rabbis). When tannaitic texts preserve a Pharisee-Sadducee conflict mentioned in 4QMMT, the view of the sectarians coincides with that of the Sadducees. For example, the specifics of the state of purity required for the person who prepares the ashes of the red cow according to our text are mentioned in Rabbinic sources as being the custom of the Sadducean priests in the Temple. This correspondence can be explained by the fact that the earliest members of the sect were Sadducees unwilling to accept the suppression of the Zadokite high priests in the aftermath of the Maccabean revolt (168\u2013164 BCE). Some of these disaffected Zadokites may have separated from the high priests in Jerusalem and formed the Qumran sect.
\nThe polemics of the 4QMMT, then, would be addressed to their Sadducean brethren who stayed in the Jerusalem Temple and accepted the new order, which followed Pharisaic rulings, and no longer practiced the old Sadducean teachings. The hortatory section at the end seems to be directed to the Hasmonean high priest. According to our view, this document dates from the earliest stage of the development of the Qumran sect, when the sectarians still hoped to reconcile with the Jerusalem priesthood. Later on, sectarian writings, having abandoned that hope, are filled with radical tendencies, animated polemics, and hatred for outsiders. The dominant Essene hypothesis must be modified to take into account the original Sadducean sectarians who perhaps had gone through a process of radicalization and become a distinct sect.<\/p>\n
\nThe overall text of this document was reconstructed by E. Qimron and J. Strugnell from six extremely fragmentary manuscripts. The translation presented here is based on the composite text and therefore must be regarded, to some extent, as tentative. The translation does not make any attempt to indicate which manuscripts the text is drawn from. That information is available in the critical edition of Qimron and Strugnell, cited below.
\nThis document is essentially a polemic, directly addressing the practices of the sect\u2019s opponents. In Rabbinic literature the sectarians\u2019 position in a number of these disputes is associated with the Sadducees, and their opponent\u2019s position is attributed to the Pharisees. For this reason, I take the view that many more of the disputes found in this text and in other Qumran halakhic texts represent previously undocumented Pharisee-Sadducee disputes. Readers should note that, according to this document, the fundamental self-definition of groups in Second Temple Judaism was based on their legal traditions.<\/p>\n
\nKampen, John, and Moshe J. Bernstein, eds. Reading 4QMMT: New Perspectives on Qumran Law and History. SBL Symposium Series 2. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1996. Volume of important studies showing direction that research on this text can be expected to go.
\nGarc\u00eda, Mart\u00ednez, F. The Dead Sea Scrolls Translated: The Qumran Texts in English, 77\u201379. Leiden: Brill, 1994.
\nQimron, Elisha, and John Strugnell, with Y. Sussmann. Qumran Cave 4. Vol. 5, Miqsat Ma\u2019ase ha-Torah. DJD 10. Oxford: Clarendon, 1994. Official edition and thorough study of the text and its law, language, and historical significance.
\nSchiffman, Lawrence H. \u201cMiqsat Ma\u2019ase ha-torah and the Temple Scroll.\u201d Revue de Qumran 14 (1990): 435\u201357. Detailed comparison of parallel laws in 4QMMT and 11QT showing the shared halakhic heritage of these works.
\n\u2014\u2014\u2014. \u201cThe New Halakhic Letter (4QMMT) and the Origins of the Dead Sea Sect.\u201d Biblical Archaeologist 53 (1990): 64\u201373. Significance of 4QMMT for the history of the Qumran sect.<\/p>\n
\nAnd also in what pertains to the purity of the red heifer in the sin offering: 14 that whoever slaughters it and whoever burns it and whoever collects the ash and whoever sprinkles the [water of] 15 purification, all these ought to be pure at sunset, 16 so that whoever is pure sprinkles the impure. For the sons of 17 [Aaron] ought [to be \u2026] 18 [And concerning the] hides of cat[tle and the flocks, we think that \u2026] 19 the vessels of [hide \u2026] 20 [in order to bring] them into the tem[ple \u2026] 21 [\u2026] And also concerning the hid[es and the bones of the unclean animals; they shall not make,] 22 ]from their bones] and from their hides, handles of ves[sels. And also, concerning the carcasses] 23 [of the] clean [animals]: the one who [carries] its carcass [shall not approach the holy purity] 24 [\u2026] And also concerning [\u2026] which they [\u2026] 25 [\u2026 for] 26 the priests ought to com[ply with all these] things [so that they do not] 26 lead the people into sin.
\nAnd concerning what is written: Lev. 17:3, [\u201cWhen a man slaughters within the camp\u201d\u2014they] 28 [slaughter] outside the camp\u2014\u201ca bull, or a[she]ep or a she-goat\u201d: the pl[ace of slaughter is to the north of the camp.] 29 And we think that the Temple [is the place of the tent of meeting, and Je]rusalem 30 is the camp; and outside the camp is [outside Jerusalem;] it is the camp of 31 their cities. Outside the ca[mp \u2026] [\u2026]You shall remove the ashes 32 from the altar and bur[n there the sin offering, for Jerusalem] is the place which 33 [he chose from among all the tribes of Israel \u2026] 34 [\u2026] 35 [\u2026 they] do not slaughter in the temple [\u2026] 36 [And concerning pregnant animals, we think that] the mother and offspring [should not be sacrificed] on the same day 37 [\u2026 And concerning who eats, w]e think that one can eat the offspring 38 [which was in the womb of his mother after she has been slaughtered; and you know that] this is so and that this matter is written down; the pregnant 39 [\u2026 And concerning the Ammonite and the Moabite and the bastard and the one with crushed testicles and one with sever]ed penis, if these enter 40 [the assembly \u2026 and] take a bone 41 [\u2026] 42 ] \u2026] we think 43 [\u2026] concerning these 44 [\u2026 that they should not] join them and make them 45 [\u2026] and not be brou[ght] 46 [into the temple \u2026 And you know that some] of the people 47 ] \u2026 some associating with others. 48 [Because the sons of Israel ought to keep themselves from all] uncleanness of the male 49 ]and be respectful toward the temple.
\nAnd also] concerning the blind 50 [who cannot see: they should keep themselves from all uncleanness,] and they do not see the uncleanness of 51 the sin offering. 52 and also concerning the deaf who do not hear the law or the regulations concerning purity and do not 53 hear the laws of Israel; for whoever neither sees nor hears, does not 54 know how to apply (them); but these are approaching the purity of the Temple.
\n55 And also concerning flowing liquids: we say that in these there is no 56 purity. Even flowing liquids cannot separate unclean 57 from clean because the moisture of flowing liquids and their containers is 58 the same moisture. And into the holy camp dogs should not be brought which 59 could eat some of the bones from the te[mple \u2026] the flesh on them. Because 60 Jerusalem is the holy camp, the place 61 which He has chosen from among all the tribes of Is[rael, since Jer]usalem is the head 62 of the camps of Israel.
\nAnd also [concerning] the planting of fruit trees: a plant 63 in the land of Israel is like the firstfruits, it is for the priests. And the tithe of the cattle 64 and the flocks is for the priests. And also concerning lepers: we 65 s[ay that] they should [not] enter the holy purity, but instead 66 [reside outside the house], alone. [And] also it is written that from the moment he shaves and washes he should reside outside 67 [his tent for seven] days. And it happens that when they are unclean, 68 [lepers approach] the holy purity, the house. And you know 69 [\u2026] And apart from him, shall bring 70 [a sin offering. And concerning evil acts offensively it is writ]ten that he is a slanderer and a blasphemer. 71 [and further: when they have the uncleanness of leprosy] they should not eat any of the holy things 72 until the sun sets on the eighth day. And concerning [the uncleanness of a] 73 corpse: we say that every bone, [whether stripped of the flesh] 74 or complete is subject to the law concerning a dead or murdered person.
\n75 And concerning the fornications carried out in the midst of the people: they are [members of the congregation of perfect] 76 holiness, as it is written: \u201cHoly is Israel.\u201d And concerning his [pure animal] 77 it is written that he shall not pair off two species; and concerning clothing, [it is written that no] 78 materials are to be mixed; and he will not sow his field [or his vineyard with two species] 79 because they are holy. And the sons of Aaron are the [holiest of the holy,] 80 but you know that a part of the priests and the people mingle] 81 and they unite with one another, defile the [holy] seed [and also] 82 their (own) [seed] with fornications, be[cause the sons of Aaron]<\/p>\n
\n[And you know that] we have segregated ourselves from the rest of the peop[le and (that) we avoid] 8 mingling in these affairs and associating with them in these things. And you k[now that there is not] 9 to be found in our actions deceit or betrayal or evil, for concerning [these things w]e give [\u2026 and further] 10 to you we have wr[itten] that you must understand the book of Moses [and the words of the pro]phets and of David [and the annals] 11 [of eac]h generation.
\nAnd in the book it is written[\u2026] not to 12 [\u2026] And further it is written that [you shall stray] from the path and you will undergo evil. And it is written 13 [\u2026] and we determined [\u2026] 14 [\u2026] And it is written that [all] these [things] shall happen to you at the end of days, the blessing 15 and the curse [\u2026 and you shall ass]ent in your heart and turn to me with all your heart 16 [and with a]ll your soul [\u2026 at the e]nd [of time] and you shall be [\u2026] 17 [And it is written in the book of] Moses and in [the words of the prop]hets that [blessings and curses] will come upon you] which [\u2026] 18 [the bl]essings which c[ame upon] him in the days of Solomon the son of David and also the curses 19 which came upon him from the [days of Je]roboam son of Nebat right up to the capture of Jerusalem and of Zedekiah, king of Judah 20 [that] he should bring them in [\u2026].
\nAnd we are aware that part of the blessings and curses have occurred 21 that are written in the b[ook of Mo]ses. And this is the end of days, when they will repent in Israel 22 for [ever \u2026] and not backslide [\u2026] but the wicked will act wickedly and [\u2026] 23 And [\u2026] remember the kings of Israel and reflect on their deeds, how whoever of them 24 who respected [the Torah] was freed from his afflictions; those who sought the Torah 25 [were forgiven] their sins. Remember David, one of the \u2018pious,\u2019 and he, too, 26 was freed from his many afflictions and was forgiven.
\nAnd also we have written to you 27 some of the precepts of the Torah which we think are good for you and for your people, for in you [we saw] 28 intellect and knowledge of the Torah. Reflect on all these matters and seek from Him so that He may support 29 your counsel and keep far from you the evil scheming and the counsel of Belial, 30 so that at the end of time, you may rejoice in finding that some of our words are true. 31 And it shall be reckoned to you as in justice when you do what is upright and good before Him, for your good 32 and that of Israel.<\/p>\n
\nWar Scroll begins with an overview of a future war. The opposing forces are those of light, belonging to the party or \u201clot\u201d of God, and those of darkness, led by an evil angel called Belial (\u201cworthless\u201d). This final or eschatological (from Gk. eschatos, \u201clast\u201d) war culminates with a powerful action of \u201cthe hand of God,\u201d resulting in the definitive extermination of the army of Belial and the triumph of the Sons of Light.
\nThe scroll contains three kinds of material related to the coming war: (1) a series of regulations explaining the organization and tactics of the army of the Sons of Light; (2) a series of prayers and blessings to be recited at the camp or on the battlefield; and (3) and a description of the sequence of the engagements, focused particularly on the exhortations, prayers, and directions that support the troops as they move into action. The end of the manuscript is lost.
\nThe closest parallels to War Scroll are found in Greco-Roman military manuals call \u201ctactical treatises\u201d; they were used initially for the training of military officers, but also for teaching logic and mathematics. Tactical treatises, however, lack the religious and utopian elements that permeate War Scroll. These features usually characterize historical \u201capocalypses\u201d (from Gk. apokalypt\u014d, \u201cto reveal\u201d), that is, writings in which a heavenly messenger reveals to a human recipient the secret plans of God for the latter days (e.g., 1 Enoch; Dan. 7\u201312). But there is no such angel in War Scroll, so it does not really qualify as an apocalypse. In the Qumran library, several documents provide \u201crules\u201d for the covenanters (Damascus Document, Rule of the Community, Rule of the Congregation), including prescriptions for the messianic period. 1QM might have been considered as one of this kind. Hence the name War Rule is sometimes given to this text. It might have been composed and used by religious leaders who were convinced that the ultimate struggle against the forces of evil was about to take place and who were trying to get ready for it.<\/p>\n
\nBased on the study of its handwriting, 1QM has been dated around 50 BCE Fragments of about 10 other manuscripts of War Scroll and related documents have been identified in the finds from Caves 4 and 11. All are written in Hebrew and dated between the first half of the 1st century BCE and the first half of the 1st century CE. Four belong to an edition of War Scroll similar to 1QM, four or five to other recensions, and two may be part of a different work. A study of the internal evidence and a comparative analysis of sections found in more than one manuscript demonstrate that 1QM is probably a revised edition of an earlier composition; but the exact contents of the initial work remain elusive.
\nThe precise dating of the edition represented by 1QM is debated. Column 1 of 1QM is based in part on Dan. 11\u201312, which is generally considered as an apocalyptic description of the desecration of the Jerusalem Temple and the beginning of the Maccabean revolt in the years 164\u2013160 BCE. These events provide an upper limit for War Scroll. The text as we have it in 1QM must have taken its form between this period and the writing or copying of this particular manuscript (50 BCE). There have been attempts to narrow down this dating by identifying groups or historical events to which 1QM might refer, and by comparing the military equipment and tactics described in it with those of the Maccabean, Greek, or Roman armies. But the discussion is still going on and has not led to a consensus so far.
\nIt is currently assumed that the manuscripts found at Qumran were part of the library of the group who lived in the nearby settlement, even if many of them could have been composed elsewhere and brought there at some point. Among these manuscripts, besides biblical texts, one usually distinguishes between \u201csectarian\u201d compositions (i.e., those that display the typical language and ideas of a \u201csect\u201d like the one associated with Rule of the Community, Thanksgiving Hymns, and similar documents) and \u201cnon-sectarian\u201d ones (i.e., those that do not share these characteristics).
\nBut scholars also generally agree that an initially non-sectarian work could have been appropriated by a sectarian group through one or many revisions. This might have been the case for War Scroll. It lacks a few important characteristics of the main sectarian texts found at Qumran. The term yahad (\u201cunion, community\u201d), for instance, is used several times in War Scroll, but it does not refer to a separate group, as in Rule of the Community or Thanksgiving Hymns. This suggests that an early edition of War Scroll could have had its origin in a non-sectarian setting. The final edition as we now have it, however, also contains a number of unmistakable sectarian features and was most likely copied and used by the Qumranites.
\nAs will be evident in the following translation and notes, there are many similarities between the material found in War Scroll and the religious and military practices of the Maccabees. On this basis, a few scholars have concluded that War Scroll, or at least part of it, originated during their times in Jewish circles related to them. This material would have been handed down from generation to generation and would have been considered particularly relevant after the Roman takeover of Judea (63 BCE), which prompted resistance movements that ultimately led to the Great Revolt (66\u201370 CE).
\nThe lack of indication about the specific origin of War Scroll, the anonymous character of this work, and its circulation in various editions are significant. It was probably not an historical document, but an inspirational one. Through it, priestly leaders provided the groups under their influence with what they thought were adequate means to interpret and face their own situation. Following a tradition that originated perhaps during the Maccabean conflict and its aftermath, the members of the Qumran group living under Roman occupation were still meditating, in 1QM, upon an updated version of this work.<\/p>\n
\nWar Scroll represents one of the most elaborate attempts by a Jewish group to envision the eschatological struggle against the forces of evil and to prepare themselves for it. Its message is that the God of Israel determined this event long ago and will master it from beginning to end. The Sons of Light will take part in it as if it were a holy ritual. This final war will involve the heavenly hosts as well. The battle will be harsh, but the victory is already granted, since God and his armies will be fighting along with the righteous.
\nFrom the composition of its oldest elements until its final version, War Scroll may have been used in different ways. The earliest parts of its material might have served on the battlefield to provide a religious motivation to Jewish troops fighting within the ranks of the Maccabean armies. Perhaps they were simply elaborated by a group of priests who attempted, but did not succeed, to impose their view of how a religious war should be conducted. In its final form, it was probably a work for the initiates living within the Qumran group or related to it, a utopian document that conveyed their dreams and hopes to be liberated from the assaults of the evil forces identified as the Roman occupants and their allies. The Qumran group may also have used War Scroll as an instrument to build and to consolidate its sectarian identity.
\nWar Scroll is an important witness to the kind of rhetoric of war and peace that a religious group can produce. People who are confronted with what they define as evil naturally use the language of conflict and violence as a way to express their revolt against it, their longing for its eradication, and their hope for of a better world where justice and peace prevail.<\/p>\n
\nThe authors of War Scroll took their inspiration mainly from their holy Scripture. In the surviving parts of 1QM, scholars have identified five explicit quotations (i.e., with a formal introduction) and some 200 implicit quotations, references, or allusions to what we now call the Hebrew Bible. The quotations are concentrated in the prayer section of 1QM 10:1\u201311:12 and are respectively from Deut. 7:21\u201322 (1QM 10:1\u20132), Deut. 20:2\u20134 (1QM 10:2\u20135), Num. 10:9 (1QM 10:6\u20138), Num. 24:17\u201319 (1QM 11:6\u20137), and Isa. 31:8 (1QM 11:11\u201312). Biblical references and allusions are mainly from the five books of the Torah, the greater prophets (namely Isaiah), and the Psalms. When reading War Scroll, one should pay attention to the various ways in which the biblical texts are used and interpreted in this work. These are indicated in the commentary and explained when necessary. Significant similarities between the scroll and other Qumran documents or ancient Jewish writings are also occasionally pointed out.
\nAs one reads through War Scroll, it is also worth observing how those who (re)wrote 1QM used various strategies that may have contributed to the making or the strengthening of a sectarian identity. The most obvious of them is the building of the two opposite camps: the Sons of Light and the Sons of Darkness. But there are more. The Sons of Light claim to be the authentic people of God, the \u201cremnant,\u201d to the exclusion of others. They insert the coming battle in an encompassing worldview by assimilating it to a cosmic event in which they are joined by the angels and headed by God or his \u201cgreat hand.\u201d According to them, this event is to be the climax of history, which will bring about the everlasting redemption. The coming battle is also explained as a \u201ccrucible,\u201d a test that the faithful have to withstand and that will eliminate from their ranks every member who is not a true elect of God. The commentary will also mention these strategies when appropriate.<\/p>\n
\nCollins, John J. \u201cThe Eschatological War.\u201d In his Apocalypticism in the Dead Sea Scrolls, 91\u2013109. London: Routledge, 1997.
\nDavies, Philip R. 1QM, the War Scroll from Qumran: Its Structure and History. BibOr 32. Rome: Biblical Institute Press, 1977.
\nDuhaime, Jean. \u201cWar Scroll.\u201d In The Dead Sea Scrolls: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek Texts with English Translations, vol. 2: Damascus Document, War Scroll, and Related Documents, ed. James H. Charlesworth, 80\u2013203. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1995.
\n\u2014\u2014\u2014. The War Texts: 1QM and Related Manuscripts. Companion to the Qumran Scrolls 6. New York: Clark, 2004.
\nSchultz, Brian. Conquering the World. The War Scroll (1QM) Reconsidered. STDJ 76. Leiden: Brill, 2009.
\nWenthe, Dean O. \u201cThe Use of Scripture in 1QM.\u201d DSD 5 (1988): 290\u2013319.
\nYadin, Yigael. The Scroll of the War of the Sons of Light against the Sons of Darkness. Translated by Batya Rabin and Chaim Rabin. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1962 (Hebrew 1955).<\/p>\n