1 to incur a sin for his fault. And in addition, no-one should raise a matter against his fellow in front of the Many unless it is with reproof in the presence of witnesses. In this way
2 shall they behave in all their places of residence. Whenever one fellow meets another, the junior shall obey the senior in work and in money. They shall eat together,
3 together 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 a priest missing amongst them.
4 And when they prepare the table to dine or the new wine
5 for drinking, the priest shall stretch out his hand as the first to bless the first fruits of the bread {or the new wine for drinking, the priest shall stretch out his hand as the first
6 to bless the first fruits of the bread} and of the new wine. And in the place in which the Ten assemble there should not be missing a man to interpret the law day and night,
7 always, each man relieving his fellow. And the Many shall be on watch together for a third of each night of the year in order to read the book, explain the regulation,
8 and bless together. Blank This is the Rule for the session of the Many. Each one by his rank: the priests will sit down first, the elders next and the remainder of
9 all the people will sit down in order of rank. And following the same system they shall be questioned with regard to the judgment, the counsel and any matter referred to the Many, so that each can impart his wisdom
10 to the council of the Community. No-one should talk during the speech of his fellow before his brother has finished speaking. And neither should he speak before one whose rank is listed
11 before his own. Whoever is questioned should speak in his turn. And in the session of the Many no-one should utter anything without the consent of the Many. And if the
12 Examiner of the Many prevents someone having something to say to the Many but he is not in the position of one who is asking questions to the Community council,
13 that man should stand up and say: ‘I have something to say to the Many’. If they tell him to, he should speak. And to any in Israel who freely volunteers
14 to enrol in the council of the Community, the Instructor who is at the head of the Many shall test him with regard to his insight and his deeds. If he suits the discipline he shall introduce him
15 into the covenant so that he can revert to the truth and shun all sin, and he shall teach him all the precepts of the Community. And then, when he comes in to stand in front of the Many, they shall be questioned,
16 all of them, concerning his duties. And depending on the outcome of the lot in the council of the Many he shall be included or excluded. If he is included in the Community council, he must not touch the pure food of
17 the Many while they test him about his spirit and about his deeds until he has completed a full year; neither should he share in the possession of the Many.
18 When he has completed a year within the Community, the Many will be questioned about his duties, concerning his insight and his deeds in connection with the law. And if the lot results in him
19 joining the foundations of the Community according to the priests and the majority of the men of the covenant, his wealth and his belongings will also be included at the hands of the
20 Inspector of the belongings of the Many. And they shall be entered into the ledger in his hand but they shall not use them for the Many. He must not touch the drink of the Many until
21 he completes a second year among the men of the Community. And when this second year is complete he will be examined by command of the Many. And if
22 the lot results in him joining the Community, they shall enter him in the Rule according to his rank among his brothers for the law, for the judgment, for purity and for the placing of his possessions in common. And his advice will be
23 for the Community as will his judgment. Blank
24 Blank And these are the regulations by which they shall judge him in the scrutiny of the Community depending on the case. If one is found among them who has lied
25 knowingly concerning goods, he shall be excluded from the pure food of the Many for a year and shall be sentenced to a quarter of his bread. And whoever retorts to
26 his fellow with stubbornness and speaks with brusqueness, ruining the footing he has with him, defying the authority of his fellow who is enrolled ahead of him,
27 he has taken the law into his own hands; he will be punished for a year [. . . J Whoever enunciates the Name (which is) honoured above all [. . .]
