Damascus Document

Laws on lost property; communal discipline; the camp

1Every man who puts under the ban a man [amongst men] according to the ordinances of the Gentiles is to be put to death:

2And as for that which He hath said: ‘Thou shalt not take vengeance nor bear a grudge against the children of thy people,’ every man of those who have entered into the covenant, who brings a charge against his neighbour whom he had not rebuked before witnesses, and yet brings it in his fierce wrath or recounts (it) to his elders in order to bring him into contempt, 3 is taking vengeance and bearing a grudge. But naught is written save that, ‘He taketh vengeance 4

3And as for anything that is lost, should it not be known who has stolen it from the property of the‏

43 2,13 1] he shall be caught again before another, his judgement shall be executed. And if they are two and they witness against him (each) on a different thing the man shall be only excluded from the Purity, provided that they are trustworthy, and that on the day on which they have seen the 14man they make it known to the Censor. And according to the statute (they shall) accept two 15 trustworthy witnesses, and not one to exclude the Purityt. And there shall arise no witness before the judges to cause a man to be put to death at his mouth, whose days have not been fulfilled so as 16 to pass over unto those that are numbered (and who is not) a man who fears God. None shall be believed as a witness against his neighbour who transgresses a word of the commandment with a high hand until they are cleansed through repentance.