Dead Sea Scrolls Uncovered - The Preterist Archive

'outside Jerusalem.'] (It refers to) the 'camp (36) of their cities,' outside the 'ca[mp' (which i]s
[Jer]u[salem.) Regarding the si]n offering, they are to remove the offal of (37) [the] altar and bur[n it
outside Jerusalem, for] it is the place that (38) [He chose] from among all the tri[bes of Israel, to
establish His Name there as a dwelling . . .] (43) . . . they are [no]t slaughtering in the Temple. (44)
[Regarding pregnant animals, we maintain that one must not slaughter (both)] the mother and the fetus
on any one day. (45) [. . . Also, concerning anyone eating the fetus, w]e maintain that he may eat the
fetus (46) [that is in its mother's womb (only) after its (separate) slaughter. You know that th]is is the
proper view, since the matter stands written, 'A pregnant animal . . .' (47) [With respect to the
Ammonite and the Moabite and the bastard and the man with cru[shed testicles and the man with a
damaged male organ who are entering (48) the assembly . . . and taking [wives, to make them 'one
(49) bone' . . . (50) polluted. We also reckon (51) [that one must not . . . and one must not have
inter]course with them (52) [. . . And one must not integrate them and make them (53) ['one bone' . . .
And one must not bring] them in (54) [. . . And you know that so]me of the people (55) [. . .
integr]ating (56) [. . . For the sons of Israel must guard against] all illicit marriage (57) and (thus)
properly revere the Temple. [In addition, concerning the bli[n]d, (58) who cannot see so as to avoid
polluting mingl[ing,] and to whom [sinful (59) mingling is invisible-(60) as well as the deaf, who hear
neither law, nor statute, nor purity regulation, and do not (61) hear the statutes of Israel-for 'He who
cannot see and cannot hear does not (62) know how to perform (the Law)'-these people are trespassing
on the purity of the Temple! (63) Concerning poured liquids, we say that they possess no (64) intrinsic
[pu]rity. Poured liquids do not (properly) separate between the impure (65) and the pure (i.e. vessels),
because the fluid of poured liquids and that of a receptacle used with them (66) is one and the same
(i.e., the pollution travels between the vessels along the path of the fluid). One is not to bring dogs
into the H[ol]y 'camp' because they (67) eat some of the bones in the Te[m]ple while the flesh is (still)
on them. Because (68) Jerusalem is the Holy 'camp'-the place (69) that He chose from among all the
tribes of Israel. Thus Jerusalem is the foremost of (70) the 'ca[m]ps of Israel.' Regarding trees planted
for food (71) in the land of Israel, (the fruit of the fourth year) is analogous to a first fruit offering and
belongs to the priests. Likewise the tithe of cattle (72) and sheep belongs to the priests. In the matter
of those suffering from a skin disease, we (73) s[ay that they should not dome with holy items
susceptible to impurity. Rather, they (74) must stay alone [outside the camps. And] it is also written,
'From the time when he shaves and bathes, let him [st]ay outside (75) [his tent seven d]ays.' But at
present, while they are still impure, (76) those suffering from a skin disease are coming] home [w]ith
holy items susceptible to impurity. You know (77) [that anyone who sins by inadvertence, who breaks
a commandment] and is forgiven for it, must bring (78) a sin offering (but they are not doing so). [As
for the intentionally disobedient, it is written, 'He is a despiser and a blasphemer.' (79) [While th]e[y
suffer impurities caused by [s]kin diseases, they are not to be fed with ho[ly] food (80) until the sun
rises on the eighth day (after they are cured). Concerning [impurity caused by contact with a dead]
(81) person, we say that every (human) bone, whether it is [skeleton] (82) or still covered (with flesh),
is governed by the statute for the dead person or those slain in battle. (83) As for the fornication taking
place among the people, they are (supposed to be) a (84) Holy People, as it is written, 'Israel is Holy'
(therefore, it is forbidden). Concerning a man's cloth[es, it is written, 'They are not] (85) to be of
mixed fabric;' and no one should plant his field or [his vineyard with mixed crop]s. (86) (Mixing is
forbidden) because (the people) is Holy, and the sons of Aaron are H[oly of Holy](87) [nevertheless,
as y]ou know, some of the priests and the [people are mixing (intermarrying).] (88) [They] are
intermarrying and (thereby) polluting the [holly seed, [as well as] (89) their own [see]d, with
fornication . . .