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1QSa

Rule of the Congregation

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Column 2

1 and of fifties and of tens, and the Levites, each within the [division] of his service. These are 2 the men of renown, those summoned to the assembly, who are appointed to the council of the community in Israel 3 before the sons of Zadok, the priests. And any man afflicted with any one of all the impurities of 4 a human shall not enter the assembly of these. And any man afflicted with these, so as not 5 to hold a position in the midst of the congregation; and anyone afflicted in his flesh, crippled in feet or 6 hands, lame or blind or deaf or mute, or afflicted in his flesh with a blemish 7 visible to the eyes; or a stumbling old man who cannot hold himself up in the midst of the congregation: 8 these shall not enter to take their place in the midst of the congregation of the men of renown, for holy⁠ 9 angels are [in] their [congregation]. And if [one of] these has something to say to the holy council, 10 they shall inquire of him from his own mouth, but into the midst [of the congregation] the man shall [not] enter, for he is 11 afflicted. [This is the] sitting of the men of renown, [summoned] to the assembly for the council of the community, when [God] 12 fathers the Messiah with them. [The priest] shall enter at the head of all the congregation of Israel, and all 13 [the fathers of the sons of] Aaron, the priests, [summoned] to the assembly, the men of renown. And they shall sit 14 [before him, each] according to his honor. And afterward the Messiah of Israel [shall sit],⁠ and before him shall sit the heads of 15 [the thousands of Israel, each] according to his honor, according to [his position] in their camps and on their marches. And all 16 the heads of the [fathers of the] congregation, with the wise men [of the holy congregation], shall sit before them, each according to 17 his honor. And [if] they gather [at the] table of the community [or to drink the] new wine, and the table of the community is set⁠ 18 [and the] new wine [is mixed] for drinking, no one [shall stretch out] his hand to the first portion of 19 the bread and [the new wine] before the priest, for [he] blesses the first portion of the bread 20 and the new wine, [and stretches out] his hand to the bread first. And afterward the Messiah of Israel stretches out his hands 21 to the bread. [And afterward] all the congregation of the community [shall bless], each [according to] his honor. And by this statute they shall act 22 at every meal [when] at least ten men are gathered.

Texts in conversation

Compare 1QSa 2:8 and 1 Corinthians 11:10

Dead Sea Scrolls, Sectarian and Community Texts · New Testament

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Summary

The Dead Sea Scrolls community did not allow people with physical impairments to become leaders because they believed angels joined their assemblies. In 1 Corinthians, Paul uses similar language to connect conduct in worship with the presence of angels.

Passages

1QSa 2:8

Dead Sea Scrolls, Sectarian and Community Texts · Rule of the Congregation
3 before the sons of Zadok, the priests. And any man afflicted with any one of all the impurities of 4 a human shall not enter the assembly of these. And any man afflicted with these, so as not 5 to hold a position in the midst of the congregation; and anyone afflicted in his flesh, crippled in feet or 6 hands, lame or blind or deaf or mute, or afflicted in his flesh with a blemish 7 visible to the eyes; or a stumbling old man who cannot hold himself up in the midst of the congregation: 8 these shall not enter to take their place in the midst of the congregation of the men of renown, for holy 9 angels are [in] their [congregation]. And if [one of] these has something to say to the holy council, 10 they shall inquire of him from his own mouth, but into the midst [of the congregation] the man shall [not] enter, for he is
160–100 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in 1QSa

1 Corinthians 11:10

New Testament
6 For if a woman will not cover her head, she should cut off her hair. But if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, she should cover her head. 7 For a man should not have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God. But the woman is the glory of the man. 8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man. 9 Neither was man created for the sake of woman, but woman for man. 10 For this reason a woman should have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11 In any case, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.
55–57 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in 1 Corinthians

References

"... In terms of form, these texts provide a list, inspired by Leviticus 21:18-23, of categories of men who are not allowed to participate in the community, whether it be in the eschatological war (as in the War Rule) or the worshiping, eschatological assembly (as in the Rule of the Congregation Damascus Document and Florilegium). Of particular interest, notes Fitzmyer, is the explanatory formula 'for the angels of holiness shall be with' of which the construction διά plus the accusative τους αγγέλους in 1 Corinthians 11:10 is reminiscent. Taken together, the texts strengthen the view that the presence of angels was considered to have significant ramifications for the observance of purity regulations in the Qumran community ..."
Joseph A. Fitzmyer, “A Feature of Qumran Angelology and the Angels of 1 Cor. XI. 10,” NTS 4.1 (1957): 48–58.

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

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1QSa 2:8 and 1 Corinthians 11:10

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