The War Scroll

1 And on the shi[el]d of the Prince of all the congregation they shall write his name, [and ]the name of Israel and Levi and Aaron, and the names of the twelve tribes of Israel according to their generations,

2 and the names of the twelve commanders of their tribes. [blank]

3 The rule for arraying the standards of the war, when their host is filled, to complete a front battle-line. At a thousand men the battle-line shall be drawn up, and seven ranks

4 in front for each single battle-line, arranged ⟨drawn up⟩ in the rule of station, man after man. And all of them hold shields of burnished bronze, like the work of

5 a mirror; and the shield is bordered with a plaited rim, and a figure of joined work — the work of a designer — of gold and silver and bronze intertwined,

6 and precious stones, many-coloured embroidery, the work of a skilled craftsman. The length of the shield is two cubits and a half, and its breadth a cubit and a half. And in their hand is a spear

7 and a sword. The length of the spear is seven cubits, of which the socket and the blade are half a cubit. And on the socket are three rings, engraved like the work of

8 a plaited rim, in gold and silver and bronze intertwined, like a designed figure. And the joining of the fi[gu]re on this side and on that of the ring

9 is round about with precious stones, many-coloured embroidery, the work of a skilled craftsman, and an ear of corn. And the socket is grooved between the rings like the work of

10 a designed column. And the blade is of white iron, shining, the work of a skilled craftsman; and an ear of pure gold is set within the blade, with a point toward

11 the head. And the swords are of pure iron, refined in a furnace and whitened like a mirror, the work of a s[ki]lled craftsman; and figures of an ear of

12 pure gold are joined to it on its two sides, and channels running straight to the point, two on this side and two on that. The length of the sword is a cubit

13 and a half, and its breadth four fingers; and the belly is four thumbs, and four handbreadths to the belly. And the belly is fluted, this way

14 and that, five handbreadths. And the hilt of the sword is of choice horn, the work of a designer, a figure of embroidery in gold and in silver and precious stones.

16 And at the standing of the [ … ] they shall array the seven battle-lines, battle-line after battle-line.

17 And a space [ … th]irty by the cubit, where the me[n] shall stand.

18 [ … ] the front shields [ … ]