Damaged fragments (2 columns) of a scroll
discovered in cave 1 at Qumran
(in
1947),
outlining the hierarchical social order of the congregation of Israel in the messianic
age. Though originally appended to the Community
Rule (1QS), this
"rule" is distinct in several respects:
-
(a) it envisions the
unification of all Israel under the leadership of the Zadokite
priests;
-
(b) it presupposes marriage & children who are born
& raised within the community; &
-
(c) it describes Israel as a
confederacy of tribes organized according to Mosaic military
standards.
It concludes with description of a communal meal in which
bread & new wine are blessed first by the chief priest & then by
the Messiah of Israel.
Other resources
online: