Column 8

1 In the council of the community there shall be twelve men and three priests, perfect in all that has been revealed from all 2 the Torah, to practice truth and righteousness and justice and loving kindness and walking modestly, each with his fellow, 3 to keep faithfulness in the land with a steadfast inclination and a broken spirit, and to pay off iniquity by doing justice 4 and by the distress of refining, and to walk with all by the measure of truth and by the rule of the time. When these are in Israel,⁠a 5 the council of the community is established in truth, as an eternal planting, a holy house for Israel and a most holy 6 assembly for Aaron, true witnesses for judgment and chosen by his will, to atone for the land and to repay 7 the wicked their reward. It is the tested wall, the precious cornerstone; 8 its foundations shall not shake or move from their place. It is a most holy dwelling 9 for Aaron, with everlasting knowledge, for a covenant of justice, and to offer a pleasing aroma; and a house of perfection and truth in Israel, 10 to establish … a covenant for eternal statutes. And they shall be accepted to atone for the land and to decide the judgment of wickedness, in perfection of way, and there shall be no iniquity. When these have been established in the foundation of the community for two years in perfection of way, 11 they shall be set apart as holy in the midst of the council of the men of the community. And every matter hidden from Israel and found by the man 12 who seeks, he shall not hide it from these out of fear of a backsliding spirit. And when these are a community in Israel 13 according to these rules, they shall separate from the midst of the dwelling of the men of iniquity to go to the wilderness, to prepare there the way of him, 14 as it is written: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” 15 This is the study of the Torah,⁠b which he commanded by the hand of Moses, to do according to all that has been revealed time by time, 16 and as the prophets revealed by his holy spirit. And every man of the men of the community, the covenant of 17 the community, who turns aside from any commandment in anything, with a high hand, shall not touch the purity of the men of holiness 18 or know any of their counsel until his works are purified from all iniquity, to walk in perfection of way. And they shall bring him near 19 in the council at the word of the many, and afterward he shall be written in his rank. And according to this judgment for everyone who is added to the community. 20 And these are the judgments by which the men of perfect holiness shall walk, each with his fellow. 21 Everyone who enters the holy council, those who walk in perfection of way as he commanded: every man of them 22 who transgresses a word of the Torah of Moses with a high hand or by deceit, they shall send him away from the council of the community, 23 and he shall not return again. And no one of the men of holiness shall share in his property or in his counsel in any 24 matter. But if he acts in error, he shall be separated from the purity and from the council, and they shall study the judgment: 25 that he shall not judge anyone and shall not be asked for any counsel for two years. If his way is perfect 26 in the session, in study, and in council, at the word of the many, if he has not erred again until two years are complete for him. 27 …