Column 6

1 bear iniquity because of him. And also, no one shall bring a matter against his fellow before the many unless it is with reproof before witnesses. In these ways⁠a 2 they shall walk in all their dwelling places, everyone who is found with his fellow. The lesser shall obey the greater in work and in money. Together they shall eat, 3 together they shall bless, and together they shall take counsel. And in every place where there are ten men of the council of the community, there shall not be lacking among them a man who is 4 a priest. And each shall sit before him according to his rank, and so they shall be asked for their counsel in every matter. And when they set the table to eat, or the new wine 5 to drink, the priest shall stretch out his hand first to bless the first portion of the bread or the new wine to drink, the priest shall stretch out his hand first 6 to bless the first portion of the bread and the new wine. And in the place where the ten are, there shall not be lacking a man who studies the Torah day and night, 7 continually, each taking over from his fellow. And the many shall keep watch together for a third of all the nights of the year, to read the book and to study judgment 8 and to bless together. This is the rule for the session of the many: each in his rank. The priests shall sit first, and the elders second, and the rest of 9 all the people shall sit each in his rank. And so they shall be asked about judgment and about every counsel and matter that concerns the many, each offering his knowledge 10 to the council of the community. No one shall speak in the middle of his fellow’s words, before his brother has finished speaking. And also, he shall not speak before the rank of one who is written 11 before him. The man who is asked shall speak in his turn. And in the session of the many no one shall speak any word that is not at the pleasure of the many and of the man 12 who is the overseer over the many. And any man who has a word to speak to the many, who is not in the position of the man who asks the counsel of 13 the community, that man shall stand on his feet and say, “I have a word to speak to the many.” If they tell him, he shall speak. And everyone from Israel who volunteers 14 to be added to the council of the community, the man appointed at the head of the many shall examine him as to his insight and his works. And if he is fit for discipline, he shall bring him 15 into the covenant, to turn to the truth and to turn away from all iniquity, and he shall instruct him in all the judgments of the community. And afterward, when he comes to stand before the many, they shall all be asked 16 about his affairs. And as the lot falls, by the counsel of the many, he shall draw near or keep away. And when he draws near to the council of the community, he shall not touch the purity of 17 the many until they examine him as to his spirit and his works, until a full year is complete for him. And he also shall have no share in the property of the many. 18 And when a year is complete for him in the midst of the community, the many shall be asked about his affairs, as to his insight and his works in the Torah. And if the lot falls for him⁠b 19 to draw near to the assembly of the community, at the word of the priests and the majority of the men of their covenant, they shall also bring his property and his earnings to the hand of the man 20 who is the overseer over the earnings of the many, and they shall write it in the account by his hand, and he shall not spend it on the many. He shall not touch the drink of the many until 21 a second year is complete for him among the men of the community. And when the second year is complete for him, he shall be examined at the word of the many. And if the lot 22 falls for him to draw near to the community, he shall be written in the order of his rank among his brothers, for Torah and for judgment and for purity, and for the mixing of his property. And his counsel shall be 23 for the community, and his judgment. 24 And these are the judgments by which they shall judge in the study of the community, according to the cases. If there is found among them a man who lies⁠c 25 about property, and he does so knowingly, they shall separate him from the midst of the purity of the many for one year, and he shall be punished by a quarter of his bread. And whoever answers 26 his fellow with a stiff neck, or speaks with a short temper, so as to break the foundation of his companion by disobeying his fellow who is written before him, 27 his own hand has saved him, and he shall be punished for one year [and separated. And] whoever mentions a matter in the name of the one honored above all … […]