Charter for Israel in the Last Days 1QSa, 1Q28a

Sectarian Literature Portions

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Dead Sea Scrolls - Michael O. Wise Translation

Yahad means “to come together as Yahudi; that is, as followers of Yahweh.”

This is the rule for all the congregation of Israel in the Last Days when they are mobilized to join the Yahad. They must live by the law of the Sons of Zadok, the priests, and the men of their Covenant, they who ceased to walk in the way of the people. These same are the men of His Council who kept His Covenant during evil times, and so atoned for the land.

As they arrive, all the newcomers shall be assembled – women and children included – and read from the statutes of the Covenant. They shall be indoctrinated in all of their laws, for fear that otherwise they may sin accidentally.

Rules for the childhood education of the troops. The mysterious "Book of Meditation" is also mentioned in the Damascus Document (text 1) and in the Secret of the Way Things Are (text 88).

The following is the policy for all the troops of the congregation, and it applies to every native-born Israelite. From early childhood each boy is to be instructed in the Book of Meditation. As he grows older, they shall teach him the statutes of the Covenant, and as his ability permits, they shall ground him in their laws. For ten years (starting at age ten) he is to be considered a youth.

Male rite of passage into adulthood and the army at age twenty. Female incorporation at marriage.

Then, at age twenty, he shall be enrolled in the ranks and take his place among the men of his clan, thereby joining the holy congregation. He must not approach a woman for intercourse before he is fully twenty years old, when he knows right from wrong. With the marriage act she, for her part, is received into adult membership. From this time on he may bear witness to the statutes of the Law, and take his place among the ranks for the ceremonial proclamation of the ordinances.

Rules governing eligibility for service to the congregation and the army at ages twenty-five, thirty, and older.

At age twenty-five, he is eligible to take his place among the pillars of the holy congregation and to begin serving the congregation. When he is thirty years old, he may begin to take part in legal disputes. Further, he is now eligible for command, whether of the thousands of Israel, or as a captain of hundreds, fifties, or tens, or as a judge or official for their tribes and clans. (Exodus 18:31)

Command appointments shall be decided by the Sons of Aaron, the priests, advised by all the heads of the congregations clans. Anyone so destined must take his place in service publicly, and likewise go forth to battle and return while the congregation looks on. In proportion to his intelligence and the perfection of his walk, let each man strengthen his loins for his assignment among the troops, for the performance of his works among his brothers. Whatever his rank, high or low, let each man seek honor for himself, striving to outdo his fellow.

When a man is advanced in age, let him be assigned a task in the service of the congregation that is commensurate with his remaining strength.

The place of the dull-witted.

No dull-witted man is to be ordained to office as a leader of the congregation of Israel; neither may he be a legal disputant, nor perform a task for the congregation. He may not receive command in the war that will bring the Gentiles to their knees. Still, he may be enlisted in the ranks of his clan and serve as a laborer or such, as his capacities permit.

The role of the Levites.

Now the Sons of Levi shall each receive a specific assignment from the Sons of Aaron. In general, they shall lead the whole congregation out to battle and back, each man in ranked array, commanded by the heads of the congregations clans: officers and judges and officials, in the number required by their armies. The Levites shall be overseen by the Sons of Aaron, the priests, and all the heads of the congregation’s clans.

Whenever the entire congregation is required to assemble, whether to deliver a legal verdict, as a society of the Yahad, or as a war council, then the Levites shall consecrate them for three days, insuring that everyone who comes is properly prepared for the council.

Membership in the society of the Yahad.

These are the men appointed to the society of the Yahad: all the wise of the congregation, the understanding and knowledgeable – who are blameless in their behavior and men of ability – together with the tribal officials, all judges, magistrates, captains of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, and the Levites, each a full member of his division of service. These are the men of reputation, who hold commissions in the society of the Yahad in Israel that sits before the Sons of Zadok, the priests.

Those excluded from assemblies. Some are disallowed because of cultic impurity, others because of physical infirmity, which was regarded as a mark of sin.

No man who suffers from a single one of the uncleannesses that affect humanity shall enter their assembly; neither is any man so afflicted to receive an assignment from the congregation. No man with a physical handicap – crippled in both legs or hands, lame, blind, deaf, dumb, or possessed of a visible blemish in his flesh or a doddering old man unable to do his share in the congregation – may enter to take a place in the congregation of the men of reputation. For the holy angels are a part of their congregation.

If one of these people has something to say to the holy congregation, let an oral deposition be taken, but the man must not enter the congregation, for he has been smitten.

The messianic banquet. The Yahad believed that in the Last Days two messiahs would emerge from their own ranks, one a priest, the other a royal commander for the armies.

The procedure for the meeting of the men of reputation when they are called to the banquet held by the society of the Yahad, when Elohim has fathered the Messiah among them: the Priest, as head of the entire congregation of Israel, shall enter first, trailed by all his brothers, the Sons of Aaron, those priests appointed to the banquet of the men of reputation. They are to sit before him by rank. Then the Messiah of Israel may enter, and the heads of the thousands of Israel are to sit before him by rank, as determined by each man’s commission in their camps and campaigns. Last, all the heads of the congregation’s clans, together with their wise and knowledgeable men, shall sit before them by rank.

When they gather at the communal table, having set out bread and wine so the communal table is set for eating and the wine (poured) for drinking, none may reach for the first portion of the bread or the wine before the Priest. For he shall bless the first portion of the bread and the wine, reaching for the bread first. Afterward the Messiah of Israel shall reach for the bread. Finally, each member of the whole congregation of the Yahad shall give a blessing, in descending order of rank. This procedure shall govern every meal, provided at least ten men are gathered together.

From The Dead Sea Scrolls: A New Translation Wise, Abegg, and Cook. This collection may be purchased for ~$20. Includes a very good, updated commentary. 513 pages, paperback.

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