Q132 MT Exod 2:7 qnytw OV(l) – Difference in grammati-
4QExodb 3 i-4 6 hqnyh cal form.^851
Q133 MT Exod 2:11 omits SV(2) – 4QExodb has an expan-
4QExodb 3 i-4 12 Mybr[ sive plus.^852
Q134 MT Exod 2:13 omits SV(2) – 4QExodb has an expan-
4QExodb 3 i-4 14 )ryw sive plus.^853
Q135 MT Exod 2:13 K(r SV(1) – The MT lacks the object
4QExodb 3 i-4 15 K(r t[ marker.
Q136 MT Exod 2:14 omits SV(2) – 4QExodb has an explicat-
4QExodb 3 i-4 15 wl ing plus.^854
Q137 MT Exod 2:14 +p#w SV(1) – The MT lacks the redun-
4QExodb 3 i-4 15 +pw#lw dant preposition l.^855
Q138 MT Exod 2:14 omits SV(2) – 4QExodb has an addi-
tional adverb describing the verb
√)ry, “to fear.”^856
4QExodb 3 i-4 16 hd)wm
851
The form of √qny, “to suck,” in 4QExodb is Hiph‘il 3fs perfect against Hiph‘il 3fs imperfect plus waw
consecutive in the MT. Both the SP and the 852 Tgs. agree with the MT in the form of the verb.
The additional adjective in 4QExodb may well be secondary in “anticipation of the same expression in
2:23” (E. Ulrich and F.M. Cross, Qumran Cave 4. VII, 89). The phrase in 4QExodb, Mhh Mybrh Mymyb yhyw,
seems to reflect the LXX 853 εγενετο δε εν ταις ημεραις ταις πολλαις, “and it came to pass in those many days.”
An extra verb drives the narrative in 4QExodb, which is restored: Mycn Myrb( My#n) yn# hnhw )ryw, “and
he saw, and behold, two Hebrew men were fighting.” The verb √h)r, “to see,” is lacking in all of the other
witnesses. The occurrence here is difficult as the phrase only appears elsewhere in Exodus in 3:2 in refer-
ence to the burning bush, and a total of eight times in Genesis. 854
The preposition l plus dative pronominal suffix in 4QExodb clarifies the character (Moses) to whom the
statement is directed: wnyl( +pw#lw r# Km# ym wl rm)wyw, “who made you a ruler and for a judge over us?”
The reading in 4QExodb is found also in some Greek manuscripts and in the Peshitta (see E. Ulrich and
F.M. Cross, 855 Qumran Cave 4. VII, 89).
The reading in 4QExodb agrees with the SP but is considered secondary in E. Ulrich and F.M. Cross,
Qumran Cave 4. VII 856 , 89.
On the unusual form of the adverb d)m, “very,” with final heh see E. Qimron, Hebrew of the Dead Sea
Scrolls, 69 and 117. The final heh is considered locative in origin but retains no syntactic function in Qum-
ran Hebrew.