4QExodb 3 ii, 5-6 i
21
wyl) tions.^870Q159 MT Exod 4:8 )l M) hyhw SV(1) – Interchange of preposi-
4QExodb 3 ii, 5-6 i tions.^871
23
N(mlQ160 MT Exod 5:4 w(yrpt SV(1) – Lexical interchange.^872
4QExodb 6 ii 2 wdyrpt
Q161 MT Exod 5:8 Myq(c SV(1) – The MT lacks the definite
4QExodb 6 ii 7 M[yq(]ch article.
Q162 MT Exod 5:9 w#(yw SV(1) – Lexical interchange.^873
4QExodb 6 ii 8 w(#yw
Q163 MT Exod 5:10 wrm)yw SV(1) – Lexical interchange.^874
4QExodb 6 ii 9 wrbdyw
Q164 MT Exod 5:11 wxq SV(1) – The MT lacks the con-
870
871 The form in 4QExodb is possibly harmonised with the expression in Exod 4:2, 11 and 15.
The compound preposition N(ml in 4QExodb is most likely harmonised with the same form in Exod 4:5.
Both Exod 4:5 and 8 are difficult syntactically in that the apparent direct speech of Yahweh is not intro-
duced by the usual form rm)yw, although reading these verses as direct speech is mandated by the context.
The MT has two different prepositional phrases introducing each of these verses. The former is introduced
by the compound preposition N(ml, “so that,” while the latter is introduced by the prepositional phrase )l
M) hyhw, “and it will be if not.” 4QExodb certainly seems to have a propensity to harmonise various parts of
the text that in the MT are divergent, as demonstrated in Q142, Q149, Q156, Q157 and Q158 above. It is
likely that here also 4QExodb harmonises the prepositions that introduce the direct speech of Yahweh in
Exod 4:5 and 8. 872
The verb √drp, which in Hiph‘il has the meaning “to separate,” is unusual in 4QExodb. The verb √(rp,
“to loosen,” in Hiph‘il meaning “to let off duties,” appears also in Exodus 32:25 (twice) in the MT and in
the SP. Here the SP agrees with 4QExodb against the MT. If the general tendency is for 4QExodb to harmo-
nise unique syntactic and linguistic forms towards more common ones (see note above) we should not ex-
pect to find a form here that does not appear elsewhere in Exodus. However the form that we encounter
here in 4QExod 873 b appears elsewhere in the Pentateuch only in Genesis and Deuteronomy.
The reading in 4QExodb is supported by the SP. The LXX has the 3pl present active imperative verb
μεριμνατωσαν, “let them be concerned,” twice in this verse, where as the MT has once √h#(, “to do,” and
once √h(#, “to look at, give attention.” It is conceivable that the textual tradition behind the MT has suf-
fered metathesis, or paronomasia as suggested in E. Ulrich and F.M. Cross, 874 Qumran Cave 4. VII, 95.
4QExodb agrees with the SP against the MT and the Tgs.