The Organization of "The Community of God"

1. Requirements For Entry

2. The Organization of Congregations

3. Privileges of Membership

4. The Council of the Community

5. The Council of Holiness

6. The Master

7. The Priests and Levites

8. The Secretariat

9. Courts of Law

10. The National Assembly

1. Requirements For Entry

The family was responsible for "instructing everyman born in Israel in the Book of Meditation and teaching him the precepts of the Covenant." He was educated in these statutes for ten years

At age twenty, if deemed acceptable and sound in mind and body, he was welcomed as a member, becoming one of the 'sons of light' in the Community of God. Converts to Judaism were also welcomed as members (proselytes).

2. The Organization of Congregations

Ten judges, four of which were priests or Levites, and six lay members were in charge of each congregation.

3. Privileges of Membership

Any member "could be called upon to witness judgment of the law and could assist at the hearing of judgments."

At age thirty, members became eligible "to participate in law suits and judgments". 

From heads of families age thirty or older, the priests selected these to fill the positions of "judges, officers, and clan chiefs of the 1000's, 100's, 50's, and 10's of their tribe".

At age 25 or older, unmarried, Israeli born members who wished to become officials in the Community of God and "to work in the service of its members" could apply for admittance to the Council of the Community.

4. The Council of the Community

If found satisfactory after a two year probationary period and surrendering his wealth to the Community, the candidate became a full member of the Council.

Members were distributed throughout the county to serve the congregations by "answering any questions concerning any council or matter coming before the congregations" and "providing counsel in all things to the priests." They could also be called upon to serve as judges in the law courts.

These members "skilled in the Law of Moses" became known as scribes.

The marked similarities between the entry requirements and the lifestyle of the members and those of the first group of the Sect of the Essenes described by Josephus in "Wars" provide one of the principle reasons for assuming the Scrolls were written by early Essenes.

At any time within the Council there were ten exceptional men who had been selected to undergo a further three years of study and instructions. If found worthy, they were then welcomed as members of the Council of Holiness.

5. The Council of Holiness

On entering the Council, members "separated from the habitation of unjust men and went into the wilderness to prepare the way of Him...the path was the study of the Law: that they might do all that had been revealed from age to age, and as the Prophets had revealed by His Holy Spirit".

Qumran is in the "wilderness of Judah" so it seems reasonable to presume its inhabitants were the men of this Council. The nature of the contents of the Scrolls lends support to this assumption.

The Council bears a marked resemblance to the second group of Essenes described by Josephus in "Wars" who "foretell things to come by reading the holy books and using several forms of purification and being perpetually conversant in the discourses of the prophets".

The members of the Council became known as teachers of rabbis.

At the head of the Council is the "Master."

6. The Master

The Master "measures out all the knowledge described throughout the ages." "He shall teach the saints (see etymology of Essene) to live according to the Book of the Community Rule that they may seek God with a whole heart and soul and do what is good and right before Him."

7. The Priests and Levites

• Sons of Zadoc--This is the High Priest always a descendant of Zadoc at the time this scroll was written. The High Priest selected the Secretariat to serve him.

• The Sons of Aaron--These are the priests who served in the synagogues and "determined every rule concerning the men of the Community"

• The Levites--They were responsible for organizing "the going and comings of each man in his rank". 

• Members in this group could, and were expected to, marry and comprise the third group of the Sect described by Josephus in "Wars."

8. The Secretariat

Members were chosen by the High Priest to advise and carry out his orders. This body was to become known as the "Sanhedrim".

9. Courts of Law

"Under the authority of the High Priest, the priests and members of the Council of the Community (scribes) take part in the trial and judgment and condemnation of all lay members who transgress the precept and every decision concerning doctrine, property and justice shall be determined by them".

When scribes or priests transgress the precept concerning doctrine, they are tried before a court of at least 100 of their peers, while the priests command in matters of justice and property.

10. The National Assembly

"When the whole assembly is summoned for judgment or for a Council of the Community of for war" "these are the men who shall be called to the Council-all the wise men of the congregation, the learned and the intelligent whose way is perfect and men of ability together with the tribal chiefs and all the judges and officers and the chiefs of the 1000's, 100's, 50's, and 10's and the the Levites; these are the men of renown, the members of the assembly summoned to the Council of the Community in Israel before the Sons of Zadoc, the priests."