Vorkosigan

Does the Rule of the Congregation (Messianic Rule) end with the line

Therefore, the Messiah of Israel shall extend his hand over the bread {and} all the Congreation of the Community {shall utter a } blessing {each man in the order} of his dignity.

??

Geoff Hudson

This is not quite the last line in either Vermes or Martinez. But I think you may have typed 'Therefore' for the 'Thereafter' in Vermes. The point was that the Messiah of Israel was to defer to the Priest Messiah in the order of blessing the bread at the holy meal.

Martinez has the Messiahs finally blessing all the congregation, in order of dignity, whereas Vermes has all the congregation uttering a blessing in order of dignity. According to Vermes, the scroll was carelessly written and in a bad state of preservation.

Geoff

Haran

As Geoff said, this is not the last line. Why?

Vermes: "It is according to this statute that they shall proceed at every me{eal at which} at least ten men are gathered together.

Martinez: "And in accordance with this precept one shall act at each me{eal, when} at least ten me{n are gat}hered.Blank"

Geoff Hudson

Logically, Martinez is correct. The bread would be blessed once by the most senior present at the time. There would not be a sequence of blessings involving hungry people just returned from a days work in the fields.

Geoff