The princes' main role was to represent the sect in dealing with the authorities, as well as with the Rabbinitess. According to the historical evidence, David ben Boaz was the first Karaite prince in Jerusalem. He was engaged in literary activity - some of his commentaries on the Pentateuch and on Ecclesiastes have survived. Based on later chroniclers, it seems that David ben Boaz held office toward the end of the tenth century CE.