Q139 MT Exod 2:16 omits SV(2) – 4QExodb has an expan-
4QExodb 3 i-4 18 t[w](wr sive plus.^857
Q140 MT Exod 2:16 omits SV(1) – The MT lacks the object
4QExodb 3 i-4 19 t) marker.
Q141 MT Exod 3:13 Mhl SV(1) – Interchange of preposi-
4QExodb 3 ii, 5-6 i 1 Mhyl[ tions.^858
Q142 MT Exod 3:15 Myhl) dw( SV(3) – 4QExodb has a different
4QExodb 3 ii, 5-6 i 4 dw( Myhwl) word order to the MT.^859
Q143 MT Exod 3:15 qxcy OV(l) – Possible difference in
4QExodb 3 ii, 5-6 i 5 qx#y pronunciation.^860
Q144 MT Exod 3:16 tps)w OV(l) – Possible difference in
4QExodb 3 ii, 5-6 i 6 htps)w pronunciation.
Q145 MT Exod 3:16 omits SV(2) – The MT lacks the mascu-
line plural construct noun √Nb,
“son.”^861
4QExodb 3 ii, 5-6 i 6 ynb
857
The feminine plural participle in 4QExodb describes the daughters of the “Priest of Midian.” The phrase
is restored as tw(wr twnb (b#, “seven daughters (who were) shepherds,” and agrees with the feminine plural
present participle in the LXX 858 ποιμαινουσαι, “shepherds.”
859 The form in 4QExodb is restored Mhyl).
The adverbial particle dw(, “further,” follows the verb directly in the MT and most other witnesses, but
in 4QExodb and some Greek manuscripts the subject of the verb Myhl) interrupts the sequence. The syntax
in MT Exod 3:15 is more common, appearing about 12 times in the Pentateuch where the adverb stands
directly between the verb and its object. This is against four occurrences in the MT where the adverb stands
after the verb and its object. One instance of this unusual syntax occurs in Exod 4:6, which, due to its prox-
imity to the current verse, may be the exemplar towards which the scribe of 4QExodb harmonised the pre-
sent passage. Note, however, that there seems to be little difference between the uses of each syntax, as is
demonstrated in Gen 37:9 where both arrangements of verb, object and adverb occur in the very same
verse: dw( Mwlx ytmlx hnh rm)yw wyx)l wt) rpsyw rx) Mwlx dw( Mlxyw, “and he dreamed again another
dream, and he recounted it to his brothers, and he said, ‘behold, I have again dreamed a dream.’” 860
The MT has the spelling qxcy 108 times, used consistently 98 times in the Pentateuch. In contrast the
spelling qx#y occurs only four times in the MT, in Jer 33:26, Amos 7:9 and 7:16, and Ps 105:9. See also
Q148 below.