Guide
Texts from Qumran on the Priesthood
By Carol Bakhos
The Qumran sect appears to have been formed in response to what its founders viewed as corruption in the Hasmonean priesthood (see “The Corruption of the Temple” and ESSENES AND QUMRAN). Within the sect, priests occupied an honored position and were expected to offer counsel to the other members.
Related Primary Sources
Primary Source
Zadokite Priests as the Chosen of Israel
[ . . . ] The priests and the levites and the sons of
…
Primary Source
Priests’ Special Status at Meals
[T]ogether they shall bless and together they shall take counsel. In every place where there are ten men of the Community council, there should not be missing amongst them a priest. And every one…
Primary Source
Priests in the Political Leadership
In the Community council (there shall be) twelve men and three priests, perfect in everything that has been revealed from all the law to implement truth, justice, judgment, compassionate love and…
Primary Source
The Priest at the Head of the Community
Rule of the assembly of all the camps. All of them shall be enlisted by their names: the priests first, the levites second, the children of Israel third, and the proselyte fourth; and they shall be…
Primary Source
The Origin of the Levitical Priesthood
There I again saw the vision as formerly, after we had been there seventy days. And I saw seven men in white clothing, who were saying to me, “Arise, put on the vestments of the priesthood, the…