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1 and if he cursed, whether startled by distress or for any reason he may have, … while he is reading the book or blessing, they shall separate him, 2 and he shall not return again to the council of the community. And if he spoke in wrath against one of the priests who are written in the book, he shall be punished for one 3 year and separated by himself from the purity of the many. But if he spoke in error, he shall be punished for six months. And whoever lies knowingly 4 shall be punished for six months. And the man who insults his fellow without cause, knowingly, shall be punished for one year 5 and separated. And whoever speaks to his fellow with deceit, or knowingly acts deceitfully, shall be punished for six months. And if 6 he is negligent toward his fellow, he shall be punished for three months. And if he is negligent with the property of the community, so that it is lost, he shall repay it … 7 in full. 8 And if he is not able to repay it, he shall be punished for sixty days. And whoever bears a grudge against his fellow unjustly shall be punished for six months, one year.⁠ 9 And likewise for one who takes revenge for himself in any matter. And whoever speaks a foolish word with his mouth: three months. And for one who speaks in the middle of his fellow’s words: 10 ten days. And whoever lies down and sleeps in the session of the many: thirty days. And likewise for a man who leaves the session of the many 11 without permission and without cause, as many as three times in one session: he shall be punished for ten days. But if they are standing 12 and he leaves, he shall be punished for thirty days. And whoever walks naked before his fellow without being forced to shall be punished for six months. 13 And a man who spits into the midst of the session of the many shall be punished for thirty days. And whoever brings his hand out from under his garment, and it is 14 torn, so that his nakedness is seen, shall be punished for thirty days. And whoever laughs foolishly, making his voice heard, shall be punished for thirty 15 days. And whoever brings out his left hand to gesture with it shall be punished for ten days. And the man who goes about slandering his fellow, 16 they shall separate him for one year from the purity of the many, and he shall be punished. But a man who goes about slandering the many is to be sent away from them, 17 and he shall not return again. And the man who grumbles against the foundation of the community, they shall send him away, and he shall not return. But if he grumbles against his fellow 18 unjustly, he shall be punished for six months. And the man whose spirit swerves from the foundation of the community, so as to betray the truth 19 and to walk in the stubbornness of his heart, if he returns he shall be punished for two years. In the first he shall not touch the purity of the many, 20 and in the second he shall not touch the drink of the many, and he shall sit behind all the men of the community. And when 21 two years are complete for him, the many shall be asked about his affairs. And if they let him draw near, he shall be written in his rank, and afterward he may be asked about judgment. 22 … And every man who has been in the council of the community … for ten full years, 23 … and whose spirit turns back so as to betray the community, and he goes out from before 24 the many to walk in the stubbornness of his heart, shall not return to the council of the community again. And any man of the men of the community who shares 25 with him in his purity or in his property, [which he has mixed with the property of] the many, his judgment shall be like his: he is to be [sent away.]

Texts in conversation

Compare 1QS 7:8 and Matthew 5:22

Dead Sea Scrolls, Sectarian and Community Texts · New Testament

Summary

The Dead Sea Scrolls Community Rule and Matthew both treat anger as a serious issue. The scroll gives penalties for grudges and careless speech, and in Matthew Jesus warns that anger and harsh words require appearing before the community for judgment.

Passages

1QS 7:8

Dead Sea Scrolls, Sectarian and Community Texts · Community Rule

5 and separated. And whoever speaks to his fellow with deceit, or knowingly acts deceitfully, shall be punished for six months. And if 6 he is negligent toward his fellow, he shall be punished for three months. And if he is negligent with the property of the community, so that it is lost, he shall repay it … 7 in full. 8 And if he is not able to repay it, he shall be punished for sixty days. And whoever bears a grudge against his fellow unjustly shall be punished for six months, one year. 9 And likewise for one who takes revenge for himself in any matter. And whoever speaks a foolish word with his mouth: three months. And for one who speaks in the middle of his fellow’s words: 10 ten days. And whoever lies down and sleeps in the session of the many: thirty days. And likewise for a man who leaves the session of the many

160–100 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in 1QS

Matthew 5:22

New Testament

21 “You have heard that it was said to an older generation, ‘Do not murder,’ and ‘whoever murders will be subjected to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that anyone who is angry with a brother will be subjected to judgment. And whoever insults a brother will be brought before the council, and whoever says ‘Fool’ will be sent to fiery hell. 23 So then, if you bring your gift to the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother and then come and present your gift. 25 Reach agreement quickly with your accuser while on the way to court, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the warden, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 I tell you the truth, you will never get out of there until you have paid the last penny!

70–90 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Matthew

References

"... Is it possible that Jesus was simply being hyperbolic? Perhaps, but if that is the case, then it is odd that he would invoke an actual law that was tried in Jewish courts in verse 21. Such an interpretation leaves us in the difficult position of understanding that "liability to judgment" in verse 22 means something entirely different than it means in verse 21. Keener, similar to Derrett, has argued that Matthew 5:22 refers to the heavenly court, rather than 'the Sanhedrin,' that is, the Jerusalem governing body. His argument, too, is mostly based on very late rabbinic evidence, which speaks of a heavenly Sanhedrin. It is also important to note that verses 23-26 quite clearly depicts a human court. If verse 22 does not, then it is odd that it is surrounded by verses that do envision a human justice system. Moreover, Keener's argument leaves aside altogether the possibility that neither a heavenly court nor the Jewish governing body known as 'the Sanhedrin' are in view in this passage, but rather, a local synagogue council. I suggest that this third option is preferable, and best reflects the historical setting of Jesus's rural Galilee, where trials were held in synagogue settings. How could an earthly court be expected to judge anger? This problem has not gone unnoticed by interpreters. Some scholars have, however, noted some potential parallels in the sectarian documents at Qumran. 1QS 6:24-27, 7:1-5 contains [parallel] rules and penalties ..."

Jordan J. Ryan, The Role of the Synagogue in the Aims of Jesus (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2017), 157–159.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

Column 7

1QS11 chapters

Compare 1QS 7:8 and Matthew 5:22

Summary

Passages

1QS 7:8

Matthew 5:22

References

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