Abstract
Among the various Dead Sea Scrolls appears a document that was discovered in the first
Qumran cave, commonly referred to as the Community Rule. Within that document appears
the following rather positive passage:
In the Community Council [there shall be] twelve men and three priests, perfect in
everything that has been revealed about all the law to implement truth, justice,
judgment, compassionate love and unassuming behaviour of each person to his
fellow to preserve faithfulness on the earth with firm purpose and repentant spirit in
order to atone for sin, doing justice and undergoing trials in order to walk with
everyone in the measure of truth and the regulation of time ...