Deuteronomy 19:15–19 in the Damascus Document and Early Midrash

Damascus Document 9:16–10:3—the sectarian rule of testimony—presents serious difficulties that have challenged scholars for years. In light of the evidence from Qumran Cave 4, we suggest an emendation and a new reading of the passage. This reading reflects an understanding of the pentateuchal laws of testimony in Deut 19:15–19, which is markedly different from the conventional reading of this biblical pericope and the established halakhah. A similar understanding of the biblical passage is also echoed in early rabbinic sources.