Sunday, March 22, 2026 · 天火 · tianmu.org

Community Rules

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Texts

Damascus DocumentA Good Works Translation of the Damascus Document (CD-A / CD-B) from Hebrew. A community constitution combining theological history with detailed laws for life in the camps.Halakha AA Qumran halakhic ruling on Sabbath prohibitions (carrying, fire, livestock), the Omer count, and forbidden sexual unions — a companion text to the Ordinances and Miscellaneous Rules.Miqsat Ma'ase Ha-TorahA Good Works Translation of MMT (4Q394–399) from Hebrew. A halakhic letter — calendar rulings, purity law, and a hortatory conclusion addressed to the leader of Israel.Miscellaneous RulesA Qumran legislative text combining Sabbath prohibitions, congregation entry requirements, and the remarkable Eden passage — which grounds the post-partum purity periods of Leviticus 12 in Adam and Eve's delayed admission to the Garden.OrdinancesA Qumran halakhic text ruling on the half-shekel census tax (once in a lifetime, not annual), witnesses, sha'atnez, and gleaning — Mosaic law read in the sectarian keyRebukes of the OverseerCave 4 disciplinary record naming two Qumran community members rebuked by the overseer — the only Dead Sea Scroll that preserves individual names attached to specific rulingsSefer ha-MilhamahA Good Works Translation of the Sefer ha-Milhamah (4Q285) from Hebrew. Fragmentary war rule containing the Branch of David passage and eschatological blessings.The Community RuleThe Community Rule of Qumran — the founding charter of the Dead Sea sect, translated from Hebrew.The Rule of BenedictionsA Good Works Translation of the Rule of Benedictions (1QSb) from Hebrew. Liturgical blessings for the faithful, the priests, and the Prince of the Congregation.The Rule of the CongregationA Good Works Translation of the Rule of the Congregation (1QSa) from Hebrew. The constitution for all Israel at the end of days, including the messianic meal.The Two WaysCave 4 Hebrew wisdom fragment presenting the Deuteronomic choice between two paths—the good way guarded by God, the evil way met with blight, snow, and hail.Ways of Righteousness (4Q421)A Good Works Translation of 4Q421 and 4Q421b, Cave 4 Hebrew wisdom texts — contrasting the servants of God with workers of wickedness, anchored in Isaiah 57:15 on God dwelling with the contrite