Hebrew: Serekh ha Yachad
Most important non-canonical ms. discovered
in cave 1 at Qumran
(1947). It was originally purchased by the
Syrian Orthodox archbishop of Jerusalem but later acquired by the state of
Israel (1954). It was first published in
English as the Manual of Discipline (1951).
Fragments of 10 other copies were later found in Cave 4 & another in Cave 5.
1QS is a six
foot scroll [11 columns] of a communal handbook that was found almost
intact [beginning & bottom edge missing], containing instructions
for initiates into a hierarchical covenant community [yachad] of
the "sons of light" led by Zadokite priests who separated from
the "sons of darkness" to purify themselves in preparation for
impending last judgment. It ends with a long hymn by a penitent
celebrating the purification of the elect & their union with
"the sons of Heaven."
Parallels between the contents
of this community rule & Josephus' descriptions of the Essenes are
largely responsible for the modern scholarly consensus that the authors of
the Dead Sea Scrolls were Essenes.
Other
resources on line:
Other important Dead Sea Scrolls
Perspective on the
World of Jesus