CHAPTER 2: METHOD
Creating a Methodology
In formulating our own approach to the comparative analysis of ancient texts we will
adopt those features shared in common from the systems surveyed above in chapter one,
as well as some features specific to certain models that are deemed to suit our purposes.
Most prominent in our system will be the treatment of all variant readings as, prima facie,
alternative readings, unless they are shown to be obviously genetic. Hence we will refer
not to changes, but differences between copies. We may also refer to additions or omis-
sion in a source, or may state that an element is lacking in one source, without this denot-
ing a judgement as to which source preserves the more original reading.
Regarding the textual differences in the Dead Sea Torah scrolls relative to the MT, the
discussion will frequently begin from the point of view of the MT as Haupttext, even
though in reality it is fully realised that the relationship between textual variants is often
complex and difficult to ascertain. In practice maintaining a neutral tone throughout the
entire presentation and discussion of the variants in this regard results in unnecessary
verbosity and clumsily egalitarian phraseology. It is the decision of the writer that it is
better to concede at this early stage that any apparent bias in the language here employed
is purely a means to facilitate ease and efficiency of expression.
Based on the methodologies reviewed above we can begin our present analysis by assert-
ing a series of rules that will apply to each situation in which a difference between two or