Priests’ Special Status at Meals
3[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 4a priest. And every one shall sit according to his rank before him, and in this way shall they be asked for their counsel in every matter. And when they prepare the table to…
This passage from the Rule of the Community (one of the texts of the Dead Sea Scrolls) illustrates the honored position of priests within the Qumran community and their role in providing guidance to other community members. See also “The Rule of the Community.”
Related Guide
What Are the Dead Sea Scrolls?
Found in caves in the Judean Desert, the Dead Sea Scrolls preserve the writings of an ancient Jewish sect.
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