For This You Waited 35 Years

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i	[The sixteenth (day) of it (i.e. the second month) is a Sabbath]. The twenty-third of it is a Sabbath. The thirtieth [of it is a Sabbath. The seventh of the third (month) is a Sabbath. The fourteenth of it is a Sabbath. The fifteenth of it is the Festival of Weeks. The twenty-
ii	fi]rst of it is a Sabbath. The twenty-eighth of it is a Sabbath. After it (i.e. the Sabbath), Sunday and Monday, [Tuesday is to be added (to this month). And the season terminates—ninety-one days. The first of the fourth (month) is a Memorial Day. The fourth]
iii	of it [is a Sabbath]. The el[eventh] of it is a Sabbath. The eighteenth of it is a Sabbath. The twenty-fifth of it is a Sabbath. The second of the fif[th (month) is a Sabbath. The third of it is the Festival of the (New) Wine …
iv	The ninth of it is a Sabbath]. The sixteenth of it is a Sabbath. The twenty-third of it is a Sabbath. The thirtieth [of it is a Sabbath. The seventh of the sixth (month) is a Sabbath. The fourteenth of it is a Sabbath. The twenty-first]
v	of it is a Sabbath. The twenty-second of it is the Festival of the (New) Oil, on the day af[ter the Sab]bath. Af[ter it] is [the Wood] Offer[ing …
19	[ … The twenty-eighth of it (i.e. the twelfth month)] is a Sabbath. Unto it (i.e. the twelfth month), after [the] Sab[bath, Sunday and Monday, a day]
20	[is to be ad]ded. And the year is complete—three hundred and [sixty-four]
21	days
1	These are some of our rulings [ … ] which are [some of the rulings according to]
2	[the] precepts (of the Torah) in accordance with [our opinion, and] all of them concern [ … ]
3	and the purity of [the … And concerning the sowed gifts of the] new wheat grains of the [gentiles which they … ]
4	and let their [ … ] touch it and de[file it, and no one should eat]
5	any of the new wheat grains of t[he gen]tiles, [nor] should it be brought into the sanctuary. [And concerning the sacrifice of the purification-offering]
6	that they cook in a [copper] vessel [and that they … ] in it
7	the flesh of their sacrifices, and that they [ … ] in the Temple court (?) [and that they … ] it
8	with the broth of their sacrifices. And concerning the sacrifice of the gentiles: [we are of the opinion that they] sacrifice
9	to the [ … ] that it is like (a woman) who whored with him. [And concerning the cereal-offering] of the sacrifice
10	of well-being which they (the opponents) leave over from one day to the following one: but [it is written]
11	that the cereal-offer[ing is to be ea]ten after the suet and the flesh (are sacrificed), on the day when they are sacri[ficed (i.e. before sunset). For the sons of]
12	the priest[s] should take care concerning this practice so as not to
13	cause the people to bear punishment. And concerning the purity-regulations of the cow of the purification-offering (i.e. the red cow):
14	he who slaughters it and he who burns it and he who gathers its ashes and he who sprinkles the [water of]
15	purification—it is at sun[se]t that all these become pure
16	so that the pure man may sprinkle upon the impure one. For the sons of
17	Aaron should [ … … … … … And]
18	[concerning] the hides of cattle [and sheep that they … … … from]
19	their [hides] vessels [ … … … … … to]
20	[bring] them to the sanctuary [ … … … … … … ]
21	[ … … … … ] And concerning the hi[des and the bones of unclean animals: it is forbidden to make]
22	handles of [vessels from their bones] and hides. [And concerning] the hide of the carcass
23	of a clean [animal]: he who carries such a carcass [shall not] have access to the sacred food … … …
24	[ … ] And concerning the [ … … … ] that they [use to … … … ]
25	[ … … … … … … … … for the sons]
26	of the priests should [take care] concerning all [these] practices, [so as not to]
27	cause the people to bear punishment. [And concerning] that it is written: [if a person slaughters inside the camp, or]
28	[slaughters] outside the camp cattle or sheep or goat: for [ … in] the northern part of the camp.
29	And we are of the opinion that the sanctuary [is the ‘tent of meeting’] and that Jerusalem
30	is the ‘camp’, and that ‘outside the camp’ [is outside Jerusalem], that is, the encampment of
31	their settlements. It is ‘outside the c[amp’ where one should … the purification-offering and] take out the ashes of
32	[the] altar and bu[rn the purification-offering. For Jerusalem] is the place which
33	[He has chosen] from among all the tribes [of Israel … … … … ]
34	[ ]
35	[ … … … … … … ] they do [not] slaughter in the sanctuary.
36	[And concerning pregnant (animals)] we are of the opin[ion that] the mother and its fetus [may not be sacrificed] on the same day
37	[ … … … … And concerning] eating (a fetus): we are of the opinion that the fetus
38	[found in its (dead) mother’s womb may be eaten (only) after it has been ritually slaughtered. And you know that it is] so, namely that the ruling refers (to) a pregnant animal.
39	[And concerning the Ammonite] and the Moabite and the mamzer [and him whose testicles] have been crushed [and him] whose male member [has been cut off], who (nevertheless) enter
40	the congregation [and … … … … … and] take [wives to be]come one bone
41	[and enter the sanctuary … … … … … … … ]
42	[ … … … ] impurities. And we are of the opinion
43	[that one must not … … … and one must not coha]bit with them,
44	[ … … … and] one must not let them be united (with an Israelite) and make them
45	[one bone … … … and one must not] let them en[ter]
46	[the sanctuary. And you know that] some of the people
47	[ … … … ] and become uni[ted.]
48	[For all the sons of Israel should beware] of any forbidden unions
49	and be full of reverence for the sanctuary. [And concerning] the blind
50	who cannot see so as to beware of all mixture and cannot see a mixture that incurs
51	[reparation]-offering;
52	and concerning the deaf who have not heard the laws and the judgements and the purity regulations, and have not
53	heard the ordinances of Israel, since he who has not seen or heard
54	does not know how to obey (the law): nevertheless they have access to the sacred food.
55	And concerning liquid streams: we are of the opinion that they are not
56	pure, and that these streams do not act as a separative between impure
57	and pure (liquids). For the liquid of streams and (that) of (the vessel) which receives them are alike, (being)
58	a single liquid. And one must not let dogs enter the holy camp, since they
59	may eat some of the bones of the sanctuary while the flesh is (still) on them. For
60	Jerusalem is the camp of holiness, and is the place
61	which He has chosen from among all the tribes of Israel. For Jerusalem is the capital of the
62	camps of Israel. And concerning (the fruits of) the trees for food planted
63	in the Land of Israel: they are to be dealt with like first fruits belonging to the priests. And (likewise) the tithe of the herd
64	and the flock should be given to the priests. And concerning (healed) lepers we
65	are [of the opinion that they may not] enter (any place) containing sacred food but should be isolated
66	[(and) outside any house]. And it is (indeed) written that after he (i.e. the leper) shaves and washes he should dwell outside
67	[his tent seven] days; but now while their impurity is (still) with them
68	le[pers enter] into a house containing sacred food. And you know
69	[that if someone violates a prohibitive commandment unintentionally], and the fact escapes him, he should bring
70	a purification offering; [and concerning him who purposely transgresses the precepts it is writ]ten that he ‘despises and blasphemes’.
71	[Moreover, since they have the] impurity of leprosy, one should not let them (the lepers) eat of the sacred food
72	until sunset on the eighth day. And concerning [the impurity] of
73	the [dead] person we are of the opinion that every bone, [whether it]
74	has its flesh on it or [not], should be (treated) according to the law of the dead or the slain.
75	And concerning the practice of illegal marriage that exists among the people: (this practice exists) despite their being so[ns] of holy [seed],
76	as is written, Israel is holy. And concerning his (i.e. Israel’s) [clean ani]mal,
77	it is written that one must not let it mate with another species; and concerning his clothes [it is written that they should not]
78	be of mixed stuff; and he must not sow his field and vine[yard with mixed specie]s.
79	Because they (Israel) are holy, and the sons of Aaron are [most holy.]
80	But you know that some of the priests and [the laity mingle with each other] [as well as]
81	[And they] unite with each other and pollute the [holy] seed [as well as]
82	their own [seed] with women whom they are forbidden to marry. Since [the sons of Aaron should … ]
1	[ … … … … … ]
2	[ … … … … … ] that they will come [ ]
3	And who will [ … … … ] he will [ ]
4	And concerning the women [ … … … the malice] and the treachery [ … ]
5	for in these [ … because of] malice and the fornication [some]
6	places were destroyed. [And it is] written [in the book of Moses] that you should [not] bring any abomination [into your home, since]
7	abomination is a hateful thing. [And you know that] we have separated ourselves from the multitude of the people [and from all their impurity]
8	and from being involved with these matters and from participating with [them] in these things. And you [know that no]
9	treachery or deceit or evil can be found in our hand (i.e. in us), since for [these things] we give [ … And]
10	we have [written] to you so that you may study (carefully) the book of Moses and the books of the Prophets and (the writings of) David [and the]
11	[events of] ages past. And in the book (of Moses) it is written [ … … … ] not
12	[ … ] and former days [ … ] And it is written that [you will stray] from the path (of the Torah) and that calamity will meet [you]. And it is written
13	‘and it shall come to pass, when
14	all these things [be]fall you’, at the end of days, the blessings
15	and the curses, [‘then you will take] it to hea[rt] and you will return unto Him with all your heart
16	and with all your soul’, at the end [of time, so that you may live … … ]
17	[It is written in the book] of Moses [and in the books of the Prophets] that there will come [ … ]
18	[the blessings have (already) befallen in … ] in the days of Solomon the son of David. And the curses
19	[that] have (already) befallen from the days of Jeroboam the son of Nebat and up to when Jerusalem and Zedekiah King of Judah went into captivity
20	that He will bring them [ … ]. And we know that some of the blessings and the curses have (already) been fulfilled
21	as it is written in the bo[ok of Mo]ses. And this is at the end of days when they will return to Isra[el]
22	[forever … ] and not be cancelled, but the wicked will act wickedly, and [ … ]
23	and [ … ]. Think of the kings of Israel and contemplate their deeds: whoever among them
24	feared [the To]rah was delivered from troubles; and these were the seekers of the Torah
25	whose transgressions were [for]given. Think of David who was a man of righteous deeds and
26	who was (therefore) delivered from many troubles and was forgiven. We have (indeed) sent you
27	some of the precepts of the Torah according to our decision, for your welfare and the welfare of your people. For we have seen (that)
28	you have wisdom and knowledge of the Torah. Consider all these things and ask Him that He strengthen
29	your will and remove from you the plans of evil and the device of Belial
30	so that you may rejoice at the end of time, finding that some of our practices are correct.
31	And this will be counted as a virtuous deed of yours, since you will be doing what is righteous and good in His eyes, for you own welfare and
32	for the welfare of Israel.

Reprinted from Elisha Qimron and John Strugnell, Qumran Cave 4•V, Miqsat Ma‘ase HaTorah, Discoveries in the Judaean Desert, vol. X (Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press, 1994), by permission of Oxford University Press.

i [The sixteenth (day) of it (i.e. the second month) is a Sabbath]. The twenty-third of it is a Sabbath. The thirtieth [of it is a Sabbath. The seventh of the third (month) is a Sabbath. The fourteenth of it is a Sabbath. The fifteenth of it is the Festival of Weeks. The twenty- ii fi]rst of it is a Sabbath. The twenty-eighth of it is a Sabbath. After it (i.e. the Sabbath), Sunday and Monday, [Tuesday is to be added (to this month). And the season terminates—ninety-one days. The first of the fourth (month) is a Memorial […]

Dead Sea Scrolls

For This You Waited 35 Years

MMT as reconstructed by Elisha Qimron and John Strugnell

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