MMT - Some Works of the Law

MMT — Some Works of the Law

[Text missing]

On the fourth day of the week, on the twenty-eighth day of the month, there is a sabbath. After it, the first day, the second day, and the third day are added. Thus the year is completed: three hundred and sixty-four days.

[Fragment breaks here]

These are some of our rulings concerning the law of God. They are among the matters we have examined, and they concern offerings, purity, and the proper ordering of Israel.

Concerning the grain-offering of the nations: we say that it must not be accepted among the sacred offerings, for what belongs to those who do not belong to the covenant must not be mingled with the holy portion of Israel.

Concerning the grain-offering of the priests: after it has been prepared, they must eat it in purity, and none of it is to remain until morning. The priestly portion is holy and must not be treated as common food.

Concerning sacrifices offered by the wicked: they must not be brought near as though their hands were clean. An offering does not make acceptable the one who continues in rebellion.

Concerning the hides of animals: the hide of a clean animal whose flesh may be eaten may be used in purity, but the hide of an unclean carcass conveys impurity. Sacred things must not be touched by one who carries such a carcass.

Concerning bones: the bones of an unclean animal are not to be regarded as clean merely because the flesh has fallen away. The impurity of the carcass remains with them.

Concerning the slaughter of sacred animals: they must be slaughtered within the appointed place, and their blood must be poured out according to the commandment. They must not be slaughtered outside the boundary of the sanctuary and afterward brought in as though the command had been fulfilled.

Concerning a pregnant animal: the mother and its offspring must not be slaughtered together on the same day. The life within the mother is not to be treated as though it were separate from her.

Concerning the flesh of offerings: what belongs to the priest must be eaten by the priestly household in purity. What belongs to the altar must not be eaten, and what is holy must not be allowed to become common.

Concerning those of Ammon and Moab: they must not enter the assembly of Israel. Their daughters must not be joined to the sons of Israel, for the prohibition concerns both the men and the women of those peoples.

Concerning forbidden unions: the people must not profane the holy seed by joining themselves to those whom the law excludes. Israel is set apart, and the priestly seed is set apart within Israel.

Concerning the blind and the deaf: they must not approach the purity of the sanctuary, for one who cannot see or hear cannot discern every commandment required for the handling of sacred things.

Concerning the one whose impurity has ended: he is not clean for sacred food until the sun has set. Washing alone does not complete the purification; the appointed time must also pass.

Concerning the red cow of purification: the one who slaughters it, the one who burns it, the one who gathers its ashes, and the one who sprinkles the water of purification must wait until sunset before being regarded as clean. The clean one must sprinkle the unclean.

Concerning streams of liquid: we say that they do not separate the pure from the impure. A flowing stream between vessels does not prevent impurity from passing through the liquid from one vessel to the other.

Concerning lepers: they must not touch the sacred food. They are to remain apart until the days of their purification are complete and all that is commanded concerning them has been performed.

Concerning the bones of the dead: they convey impurity, and one who touches them must purify himself. They must not be treated as common material for tools or vessels.

Concerning dogs in Jerusalem: they must not be brought into the holy city, for they may eat the flesh attached to bones from the sanctuary and so profane what is holy.

Concerning the fruit of the fourth year: it is holy and belongs to the priests. It must not be eaten as ordinary produce, for its first use is set apart to God.

Concerning the tithe of cattle and flock: it belongs to the priests, as do the first portions and the holy gifts. These must not be withheld or given to those who are not entitled to them.

Concerning the skin and flesh of animals that die of themselves or are torn: no sacred thing may be touched after contact with them until purification has been completed.

Concerning vessels of skin and woven material: when impurity enters them, they must be treated according to the law. A vessel made from what is impure cannot be made fit merely by washing its surface.

Concerning the purity of the sanctuary: no one who bears impurity may enter it, and no one may bring impurity into the holy city. The sanctuary, the city, and the camp of Israel must be guarded according to their degrees of holiness.

Concerning the place of the sanctuary: it is the chosen place, and the people must not establish other altars for themselves. Sacrifice is to be offered only where God has caused His name to dwell.

Concerning the priests: they must distinguish between holy and common, between clean and unclean, and they must teach Israel all the statutes. A priest who does not keep purity brings guilt upon the people.

Concerning the people: they must separate from every impurity and from every forbidden union. They must not bring guilt upon the land by doing what was commanded against.

[Line damaged]

We have separated ourselves from the multitude of the people because of all these matters, and because they mingle with impurity and do not keep the holy things according to the commandment.

You know that we have withdrawn from them and from sharing in these matters, for we cannot take part in practices by which the sanctuary is defiled.

[Text missing]

Remember David, who was a man of works, and who was delivered from many afflictions and forgiven. We have found that he was kept from sin except in the matter of Uriah, and that God forgave him because he humbled himself.

Consider the kings of Israel. When they did what was right, blessing came upon them; when they turned aside, calamity overtook them. All this is written in the book of Moses and in the books of the Prophets and in David.

Remember the blessings and the curses, and all that came upon Israel. At the end of days, when you return to Him with all your heart and all your soul, He will gather you and show mercy to you.

It is written that when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, and you take them to heart among the nations where He has driven you, and you return to Him, then He will restore you and gather you.

We have written to you some of the works of the law which we considered good for you and for your people, because we have seen that you possess understanding and knowledge of the law.

Consider all these matters and ask Him to make your counsel upright and to remove from you evil thought and the counsel of Belial.

Then you will rejoice at the end of time when you find that our words are true.

It will be counted as righteousness for you when you do what is right and good before Him, for your own good and for the good of Israel.

[Text missing]