Rule of the Congregation

The order of the whole congregation of Israel in the latter days — the assembly of all the children of the covenant, by ages and by ranks, that they may walk according to the law of the sons of Zadok the priests.

1And this is the rule for all the congregation of Israel in the latter days — when they shall join themselves unto the Community to walk according to the law of the sons of Zadok the priests, and the men of their covenant, that have turned aside from walking in the way of the people. These are the men of His counsel that have kept His covenant in the midst of wickedness — to atone for the land.

2When they come, they shall gather all that come — the children, and the women — and they shall read in their ears all the precepts of the covenant, and shall instruct them in all their judgments, lest they err through their unwitting.

3And this is the rule for all the hosts of the congregation, for every native in Israel: from his youth shall he be instructed in the Book of Hagi; and according unto his age, they shall instruct him in the precepts of the covenant; and he shall be disciplined in their judgments for ten years.

4At the age of twenty years he shall pass over unto them which are mustered, that he may enter the lot in the midst of his family — that he may unite himself with the holy congregation. He shall not approach a woman to know her by lying with her, until he be fully twenty years old, when he knoweth good and evil.

5And then shall she be received unto him to bear witness against him concerning the precepts of the law; and to take her place in hearing the judgments.

6And at the age of twenty-five years he shall pass over to take his rank with the foundations of the holy congregation, that he may serve in the service of the congregation. And at the age of thirty years he shall draw nigh to enter into the dispute, and to set himself in order at the head of the thousands of Israel — even of the captains of hundreds, of fifties, of tens, and the judges and the officers of their tribes, in all their families, by the authority of the sons of Aaron the priests.

7And every head of the families of the congregation that is appointed to go out and to come in before the congregation — let him strengthen his loins to do the service of his brethren in the assembly of the holy congregation, that he may stand in his rank according unto his understanding and the perfection of his way.

8Each man, according to his understanding and the perfection of his way, shall strengthen his loins to do his task. And the Levites shall stand each man in his rank by the authority of the sons of Aaron, that they may bring in and bring out all the congregation — each man in his rank, by the authority of the chiefs of the families of the congregation, the captains, the judges, and the officers, according to the number of all their hosts, by the authority of the sons of Zadok the priests, and of all the heads of the families of the congregation.

The rule of the messianic banquet — when the Anointed One of Israel shall come together with the Anointed One of Aaron, and shall preside over the assembly of the elect.

1And no man that is afflicted with any one of the impurities of mankind shall enter the assembly of God. And no man that is afflicted with any one of these shall take his place in the midst of the congregation: every man that is afflicted in his flesh, smitten in his feet or in his hands, lame, or blind, or deaf, or dumb, or smitten in his flesh with a visible blemish, or an old man tottering, that cannot keep himself among the congregation. These shall not come in to take their place in the midst of the congregation of the men of renown — for the angels of holiness are with their congregation.

2And if any man have aught to say, that the holy assembly may hear it — let it be said unto him in his ear, but he shall not enter into the midst of the congregation, for he is smitten.

3And this is the order of the assembly of the men of renown that are called unto the assembly of the Council of the Community, when God hath caused the Anointed One to be born among them. The priest shall come in at the head of all the congregation of Israel; and after him shall enter all the heads of the brothers, the sons of Aaron the priests, the called of the assembly, the men of renown — and they shall sit before him each in his rank.

4And after them shall the Anointed One of Israel come in. And the heads of the thousands of Israel shall sit before him, each man in his rank, according to his standing in their camps and during their marches. And after them shall sit all the heads of the families of the congregation with the wise of the holy congregation, each man in his rank.

5And when they gather together at the table of the Community, or to drink the wine, when the table of the Community is prepared, and when the wine is mixed for drinking — let no man stretch forth his hand over the firstfruits of the bread and of the wine before the priest. For he shall bless the firstfruits of the bread and the wine, and shall stretch forth his hand over the bread first.

6And after that, the Anointed One of Israel shall stretch forth his hand over the bread. And after that, all the congregation of the Community shall give blessing — each man according to his rank.

7And it is according to this rule that they shall act at every meal, when at least ten men are gathered together. So shall they keep the order of the Community, both for council and for the table of the Community — that the Anointed One may preside, and the priest may bless, and the assembly may eat and drink in the presence of the holy ones, in joy and in righteousness for ever.

8Glory be unto the God of Israel — who hath caused the Anointed One to come, and who hath gathered His people in the latter days. Amen, and amen.