4QNumb XVI 23-26
12
hkl)w cal form.^1086Q511 MT Num 23:3 hwhy SV(1) – Interchange of divine ti-
4QNumb XVI 23-26 tles.
12
Myhwl)Q512 MT Num 23:3 omits SV(2) – 4QNumb has an expan-
4QNumb XVI 23-26 sive plus.^1087
13-14
]M(lbw ... bcytw Kly[Q513 MT Num 23:4 M(lb l) Myhl) rqyw SV(2) – Difference in expres-
4QNumb XVI 23-26 sion.^1088
14
M(l[ ]yhwl)[ ]lm[Q514 MT Num 23:27 Myhl)h SV(1) – 4QNumb lacks the defi-
4QNumb XVII 24 ii, nite article.
27-30, 9
Myhwl)Q515 MT Num 24:1 My#xn SV(1) – The MT lacks the definite
4QNumb XVII 24 ii, article.
27-30 13
]xnh1086
The imperfect form in 4QNumb is in contrast with the cohortative form in the MT. While some Greek
manuscripts agree with 4QNumb, the MT finds support in the major editions of the LXX, and in the SP. See
note above. 1087
4QNumb preserves a description of Balak’s actions following the speech of Balaam in Num 23:3. The
description comes between the final two words of the verse as preserved in the MT. Where the MT has the
phrase yp# Klyw, “and he (Balaam) went to a bare hill” (on the translation of yp# as “bare hill” or “barren
high plain” see the discussion in HALOT, 1628; or alternatively “quietly” for which see M. Sokoloff, Dic-
tionary of Jewish Palestinian Aramaic, 563, and the LXX ευθειαν, from ευθυς, “directly, honestly”),
against the restored reading in 4QNumb: yp# Klyw Myhwl) l) hrqn M(lbw wtlw( l( bcytyw Klyw, “and he
(Balak) went and stood by his sacrifice, and Balaam went and encountered God, and he went to a bare hill.”
See E. Ulrich and F.M. Cross, Qumran Cave 4. VII, 235, where the evidence that points to the support of
the LXX for this reconstructed text of 4QNum 1088 b is given.
The clause in the MT reads: M(lb l) Myhl) hrqyw, “And God encountered Balaam,” against the re-
stored reading in 4QNumb: M(lb t) Myhwl) K)lm )cmyw, “And a messenger of God found Balaam.” The
divergent reading in 4QNumb finds support in the SP. The theological implications of the variant reading
are clear, in that 4QNumb assigns the role of contact with Balaam to a divine messenger rather than to the
deity directly. In addition the verb is made active, the Qal 3ms √)cm, “to find,” in place of the Niph‘al 3ms
√hrq, “to encounter, meet.”