4QExodc ii 30 hwhy ynd) tles.^878
Q174 MT Exod 9:31 ht#phw byb) hr(#h yk
l(bg
SV(3) – 4QExodc has a different
word order to the MT.^879
4QExodc ii 39-40 ]#hw l([
Q175 MT Exod 10:3 omits SV(2) – 4QExodc has an explicat-
4QExodc iii 2 ○○rcmb ing plus.^880
Q176 MT Exod 10:15 K#xtw SV(1) – Lexical interchange.^881
4QExodc iii 18 tx#tw
Q177 MT Exod 10:17 )# SV(1) – Difference in number.^882
4QExodc iii 20 w)#
878
The phrase Myhl) hwhy occurs much less often that the phrase hwhy ynd) in the MT (37 times versus 293
times). In the case of the former many occurrences are found in Genesis, especially in direct address (see
Genesis 15:2, 8; 2 Sam 7). However, the majority of the instances of the latter occur in the prophets, in par-
ticular Ezekiel. This may indicate that the language of the scribe of 4QExodc is less archaising, having
dropped some of these stylistically early forms when compared to the MT. Such is the impression left by
the language in respect of the occasional dropping of the object marker 879 t), the paragogic nun, etc.
The clause in 4QExodc is restored: byb) hr(#hw l(bg ht#ph yk, “because the flax was in bloom and the
barley was headed.” All of the other witnesses agree with the phrase order of the MT against 4QExod 880 c.
4QExodc clarifies the secondary object as Myrcmb, “in Egypt,” thus locating the place in which the narra-
tive action occurs. All of the other witnesses agree with the MT. 881
The phrase in 4QExodc, Cr)h tx#tw, “and the land was ruined,” probably harmonises with the phrasing
in Exod 8:20 which reads: br(h ynpm Cr)h tx#t, “the land was continually ruined on account of the
swarm.” The LXX appears to reflect a similar Vorlage: και εφθαρη η γη, “and the land was ruined,” against
the MT, the SP and 882 Tgs. Cr)h K#xtw, “and the land was darkened.”
4QExodc agrees with the SP and the LXX. Pharaoh addresses both Moses and Aaron in Exod 10:16
where they are referred to in the plural: Mklw Mkyhl) hwhyl yt)+x, “I have sinned toward Yahweh your god
and toward you.” In this context the plural imperative w)# in 10:17, as reflected in 4QExodc , the SP and the
LXX, seems to be the grammatically correct form, against the singular form in the MT: K) yt)+x )n )#
M(ph, “forgive my sin one more time.”