- [The Comunity Rule 1QS] The Master shall instruct all the sons of light and shall teach them the nature of all the children of men according to the kind of spirit which they possess, the signs identifying their works during their lifetime, their visitation for chastisement, and the time of their reward.
In order to be initiated into Qumran, those in question had to be tested by the senior members of the community. From this testing, the initiates were ranked in order of academic performance to establish a power structure.
- [The Community Rule 1QSV] But when a man enters the Covenant to walk according to all these precepts that he may be joined to the Holy Congregation, they shall examine his spirit in the community with respect to his understanding and practice of the Law, under the authority of the sons of Aaron who have freely pledged themselves in the Community to restore His Covenant and to heed all the precepts commanded by him, and of the multitude of Israel who have freely pledged themselves in the community to return to his Covenant. They shall inscribe them in order, one after another, according to their understanding and their deeds, that every one may obey his companion, the man of lesser rank obeying his superior.
- [4Q256] The when he was completed one year the Community, the Congregation shall deliberate his case with regard to his understanding and observance of the law.
The Qumran community was to have one person per ten, dedicated solely to the study of the law. The rest of the community was to join him in study every night for approximately three or four hours.
- [The Community Rule 1QSVI] And where the ten are, there shall never lack a man among them who shall study the Law continually, day and night, concerning the right conduct of a man with his companion. And the Congregation shall watch in community for a third of every night of the year, to read the Book and to study the Law and to bless together.
Among the community were a group of men well versed in the knowledge of the law who were to bare the standards prescribed.
- [The Community Rule 4Q256VII] In the Council of the Community there shall be twelve men and three Priests, perfectly versed in all that is revealed in the Law, whose works shall be truth, righteousness, justice, loving-kindness and humility. They shall preserve the faith in the Land with steadfastness and meekness and shall atone for sin by the practice of justice by suffering the sorrows of affliction.
Consequences must be paid by those who are not diligent in their studies.
[The Community Rule 4Q256VII] Whoever has lain down during an assembly of the Congregation: thirty days (penance).