4QpaleoExodm VIII
28
rm)y MT appears as a paragraph
marker in 4QpaleoExodm.^949Q291 MT Exod 12:6 wt) SV(1) – Difference in number.^950
4QpaleoExodm IX 6 Mtw)
Q292 MT Exod 16:34 h#m l) SV(1) – Interchange of preposi-
4QpaleoExodm XVII tions.^951
4
]m t[Q293 MT Exod 17:2 hm SV(1) – The MT lacks the con-
4QpaleoExodm XVII junction.
11
hmwQ294 MT Exod 17:12 yhyw SV(1) – Difference in number.^952
4QpaleoExodm XVII
29
wyhywQ295 MT Exod 17:13 omits SV(2) – 4QpaleoExodm has an
949
The writing of paleo-Hebrew waw in the margin of the scroll is identified in E. Tov, Scribal Practices
and Approaches Reflected in the Texts Found in the Judean Desert (Leiden: Brill, 2004) 185, as signifying
a paragraph break.The difference is arguably asthetic, given that where the marginal waw occurs the adjes-
cent verb form typically lacks the waw consecutive that is read in the MT. It is conceivable that the waw
marks a paragraph break and also functions in the text as marking the consecutive imperfect. See also P.W.
Skehan, E. Ulrich, and J.E. Sanderson, 950 Qumran Cave 4. IV, 58.
4QpaleoExodm is unique in reading a plural pronominal object suffix here, against the singular in all of
the other witnesses. The plural suffix seems to refer incorrectly to the singular object hn# Nb rkz Mymt h#,
“a lamb, pure, male, one year old.” 951
4QpaleoExodm can be restored h#m t), in agreement with the SP and the Tgs. Either reading is accept-
able: r#)k h#m t) / l) hwhy hwc, “as Yahweh commanded (to) Moses.” The construction with the object
marker is used with √hwc approximately 75 times in the MT. The construction with l) occurs only seven
times. It might be argued that the preposition l) should mark the indirect object of the verb √hwc, as in
Exod 25:22: 952 l)r#y ynb l) Ktw) hwc) r#) lk, “all that I will command you for the sons of Israel.”
The singular verb in the MT refers the plural noun wydy, “his hands.” 4QpaleoExodm agrees with the SP
and the LXX in referring to the noun with the plural verb. If, however, the singular verb refers instead to
the noun hnwm), “steadfastness, fidelity,” (read as a substantive: “remained steadfast” – cf. W. Gesenius, E.
Kautzsch, and A.E. Cowley, Hebrew Grammar, 451, §141b), then the disagreement of gender between the
verb and the noun may echo a similar disagreement of gender in the first half of the verse: Mydbk h#m ydyw,
“ And Moses’ hands (feminine) were heavy (masculine).” Note the similar use of the substantive as predi-
cate in both phrases. The form in the MT may then represent a stylistic choice that was dropped in the other
witnesses.