The Bible and the Dead Sea Scrolls: The ... - josephprestonkirk

330 ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND NONRETALIATION
as an offering to God (cf. 1QS 9.3–9); in this way the community redefines
the sacrificial system as such. 36
The process toward full membership and full “mingling” of one’s
property is depicted as a rigorous two-year process (1QS 6.13–23; cf.
7.18–21; 8.16–19). 37 The achievement of greater levels of purity entails a
greater level of mingling of property. Following an examination before
“the Overseer at the head of the Many,” one’s initial case is to be decided
by the Many (6.13–17). Then, following a successful examination after a
one-year probationary period (postulancy) in which “he shall not mingle
in the property of the Many” (6.17), the prospective member can “touch
the Purity.” Furthermore, “his property (Nwh) and also his business
(wtk)lm, or ‘craft, labor, possessions, earnings’) shall be handed over to
the Examiner for the Business of the Many; and he shall register it to his
account and he shall not spend it for the Many” (6.19–20). 38 Presumably,
property was returned to those who quit before attaining full membership.
After a successful second probationary year in the community (as
novice), the new member may “touch the Drink of the Many” and shall
fully “mingle his property” (6.20–22). We assume that among the oaths
accompanying full entry into the covenant was a full disclosure of
assets. 39 This would be the likely backdrop to the penalty of “one year”
for the member who “lies in matters of property (Nwhb) intentionally (lit.,
‘and he knows [the deception]’)” (6.24–25), the first item in the penal
code (6.24–7.25). The penal code also includes penalties when a member
“is negligent with the property of the Community, causing its loss.” In
that case, he is obligated “to reimburse its original value,” 40 and if unable
to do so, then he is “punished for sixty days” (7.6–8).
36. Murphy, Wealth in the DSS, 141–53.
37. The process of “mingling” is expressed especially with the hithpa‘el of br(. On
this usage, see Black, Scrolls, 32–39. Cf. Josephus, J.W. 2.122, “They have a law that
new members on admission to the sect (ai3resin) shall confiscate their property (th_n
ou)si/an) to the order …; the individual’s possessions join the common stock
(kthma&twn a)namemigme/nwn) and all, like brothers, enjoy a single patrimony” (mi/an
a#pasin ou)si/an ei]nai; LCL). Josephus also provides an account of a two-stage admission
process (one plus two years), although he does not specifically refer to the stages
in the process of “mingling” property (J.W. 2.137–38).
38. Two ostraca discovered at Qumran in 1996 may be records of such a transaction.
See Frank M. Cross and Esther Eshel, “Ostraca from Khirbet Qumran,” IEJ 47
(1997): 17–28.
39. Josephus, J.W. 2.137–39; cf. CD 15.4–16; 1QS 5.7–11; 1QH a 6.17–21.
40. Precisely how the lost property was to be restored is unclear, since members
presumably had already given up their own property. It might be guessed that this
rule refers to postulants or novices; or that extra work was assigned.