Dead Sea Scrolls Uncovered - The Preterist Archive

a sabbath; (100) on the tenth (101) of it is the Day (102) of Atonement; (103) on the eleventh (104) of
it is a sabbath; (105) on the fifteenth (106) of it is the Festival (107) of Booths; (108) on the eight-
(109) eenth of it is a sabbath; (110) on the twenty- (111) second (112) of it is the Gathering; (113) on
the twenty(114) fifth (115) of it is a sabbath. (116) On the second (117) of the eighth month (118) is a
sabbath; (119) on the ninth] (120) of it is a sabbath; (121) on the sixteenth (122) of it is a sabbath;
(123) on the twenty(124) third (125) of it is a sabbath; (126) on the th[irt]ieth (127) [of it is a sabbath.
(128) In the ninth month, (129) the seventh (130) is a sabbath; (131) on the fourteenth (132) of it is a
sabbath; (133) on the tw]ent[y-first (134) of it is a sa]bbath; (135) [on the] twenty- (136) eighth (137)
of [it] is a sabbath; (138) after (139) S[unday] and Mond[ay,] (140) [an (extra) Tuesday (141) is
added. (142) In the tenth month] (143) on the [fourth (144) of it is a sabbath;] (145) on the eleventh]
(146) of' it is a sabbath; (147) on the eight- (148) teenth of it is a sabbath; (149) on the twenty- (150)
fifth (151) of it is a sabbath. (152) On the second (153) [of the eleventh] (154) mon[th (155) is a
sabbath. (156) on the ninth (157) of it is a sabbath; (158) on the sixteenth (159) of it is a sabbath;
(160) on the twenty(161) third (162) of it is a sabbath; (163) on the thirtieth (164) of it is a sabbath.
(165-167) In the twelfth month, (168) the seventh (169) is a sabbath; (170) on the fourteenth of it is a
sabbath; on the twenty-first of it is a sabbath; on the twenty- (171) eighth of it] is a sabbath; after
[Sunday and Monday an (extra) Tuesday (172) is addled. Thus the year is complete: three hundred
and [sixty-four] (173) days.
Part 2: Legal Issues (1) These are some of our words concerning [the Law of Go]d, that is, so[me (2)
of the] works that [w]e [reckon (as justifying you; cf. Second Letter, line 34). All] of them have to do
with [holy gifts] (3) and purity issues. Now, [concerning the offering of grain by the [Gentiles, who . .
.] (4) and they tou[c]h it . . . and render it im[pure . . . One is not to eat] (5) any Gentile grain, nor is it
permissible to bring it to the Tem[p]le. [Concerning the sin offering] (6) that is boiled in vessels [of
Gentile copper,] by which means [they (the priests) render impure] (7) the flesh of their offerings, and
(further, that) they b[oi]l in the courtya[rd of the Temple and thereby pollute] it (the Temple) (8) with
the soup they make-(we disagree with these practices). Concerning sacrifices by Gentiles, [we say that
(in reality) they] sacrifice (9) to the i[doll that seduces them; (therefore it is illicit). [Further, regarding
the thank] offering (10) that accompanies peace offer[ings,] that they put aside on one day for the
next, w[e reckon] (11) that the gra[in offering is to be ea]ten with the fat and the flesh on the day that
they are [offer[ed. It is incumbant upon] (12) the priests to assure that care is taken in this matter, so
that [the priests will not (13) brin[g] sin upon the people. Also, with regard to the purity of the heifer
that purifies from sin (i.e., the Red Heifer): (14) he who slaughters it and he who burns it and he who
gathers its ashes and he who sprinkles [the water] (15) (of purification from) sin-all of these are to be
pure with the se[tt]ing of the sun, (16) so that (only) the pure man will be sprinkling upon the impure.
The sons (17) of Aaron must give wa[rning in this matter . . .] (18) [Concerning] the skins of catt[le
and sheep . . .] (19) their [skins] vessels [. . . One is not (20) to bring] them to the Templ[e . . .] (21)
Also, regarding the skin[s and bones of unclean animals-for they are making] (22) [from the bones]
and from the s[kilns handles for ve[ssels-one is not to bring them (i.e., the vessels) to the Temple.
With regard to the ski]n from the carcass (23) of a clean [animal,] he who carries that carcass [must
not touch [holy items] susceptible to impurity. (24) [. . . Al]so concerning . . . that the[y . . . (30) The
members] (31) of the pries[tho]od must [be careful [about] all [these] matters, [so that they will not]
(32) bring sin upon the people. [Con]cerning (the fact) that it is written, ['And he shall slaughter it on
the side of the altar . . .,' they (33) are slaughtering] bulls and [lam]bs and shegoats outside the 'camp.'
On the contrary, the (lawful) pl[ace of slaughter is at the north within the 'camp.' (34) We reckon that
the Temple [is 'the Tent of Witness,' while] Jerusale[m] (35) is the 'camp.' 'Outside the camp' [means