SCRIBAL PRACTICES AND APPROACHE S ... - Emanuel Tov

172 Chapter 5: Writing Practices
Plea for Inclusion in Critical Editions,” Textus 19 (1998) 111–25 and idem, “Structure.” In the latter study, p. 25,
Olley remarks that the paragraphoi are irregularly distributed throughout the book. They are clustered especially in
Isa 8:9–9:1; 29:13-24; 41:2-20; 48:17–49:7, while they are sparse in 1:1–8:8; 12:1–29:12; 30:1–41:1; 41:21–48:16;
49:8–66:24. Olley suggests (p. 27) that these paragraphoi do not denote section divisions, but they may delimit a
passage of particular interest, for reading or meditation, or even for skipping in public reading.
Most texts display paragraphos forms of similar shapes (see the list above and fig. 1.3). 1.3 It is
not impossible that these signs were inserted by an individual or a group of users in texts of a
similar nature. A large percentage of liturgical texts among these texts is noticeable, among them
three parallel compositions (4Q414, 4Q503, 4Q512; see E. Eshel’s edition of 4QRitPur A
(4Q414) in DJD XXIX). 226
By the same token, the curved line in 4QPsh marks the end of stanzas in Psalm 119 (this sign
is not used in other manuscripts which recognize in some way the existence of different stanzas:
1QPsa , 4QPsg [illustr. 17a], 17 5QPs, 11QPsa ).
The basic form of the paragraphos such as found in several Qumran texts is also known from
earlier and contemporary sources. The straight paragraphos, as well as the curved shapes, occurs
already in the Aramaic scribal tradition of the fifth century BCE, from where it could have found
its way into the Qumran texts. However, it also occurs in the Greek scribal tradition, which may
have influenced the scribal traditions of the Qumran texts. A sign similar to fig.1.2 1.2 is used in some
manuscripts of SP in the middle of empty lines between sections (see e.g. Anderson, Studies, 16).
In Greek secular literature, the straight-line paragraphos sign occurs regularly, see Schubart, Palaeographie,
173; Turner, Greek Manuscripts, 14; Kenyon, Palaeography, 27; R. Barbis Lupi, “La paragraphos: Analisi di un
segno di lettura,” in A. Bülow-Jacobsen, Proceedings of the 20th International Congress of Papyrologists
Copenhagen, 23–29 August, 1992 (Copenhagen 1994) 414–7; G. Tanzi Mira, “Paragraphoi ornate in papiri letterari
greco-egizi,” Aegyptus 1 (1920) 224–7. According to Gächter, “Zur Textabteilung,” 302–3 the paragraphos sign
occurs in 140 of the 250 Greek literary papyri analyzed by him. The use of this sign was described and prescribed by
Aristotle, Rhet. 3.8.1409a.20. The developed shapes of this paragraphos, such as found at Qumran (groups b–e
above), are not evidenced in the Greek tradition. Another difference is evident in the Greek paragraphoi which are
written more often between the lines, while protruding only slightly into the margin (with the exception of
4QLXXLev a 1 21, written mainly in the margin), while the paragraphoi in the Hebrew and Aramaic Qumran
manuscripts are mainly written in the margin.
Paragraphoi are found in a number of manuscripts of Greek Scripture, from 1 BCE onwards:
4QLXXLev a of Leviticus 26 (late 2 or early 1 BCE) 1 21
4QpapLXXLev b of Leviticus 2–5 (1 BCE) 28 6
P.Fouad 266b (848) of Deuteronomy 10–33 (middle of 1 BCE) in Deut 18:6; 19:11; 20:5 etc. (see Oesch, Petucha
und Setuma, 297–8), above the first letter of the line following each closed and open section
8H≥evXIIgr hand A, before Nah 3:8, etc. (E. Tov, DJD VIII, 10; end of 1 BCE)
P.Oxy. 65.4443 of Esther Add. E and ch. 9 (late 1 or early 2 CE)
P.Chester Beatty VI (963) of Numbers and Deuteronomy (end of 2 CE or beginning of 3 CE)
P.Rendel Harris 166 of Exodus 22–23, after 22:26 (3 CE)
P.Bodmer XXIV of Psalms 17–53, 55–118, hands A and B (3 CE)
P.Berlin 17212 of Jeremiah 2–3 (3 CE)
Pap. W (Freer) of the Minor Prophets, e.g. after Zeph 3:13 (3 CE)
P.Chester Beatty X (967) of Daniel (early 3 CE)
P.Berlin Fol. 66 I/II of Genesis (end 3 BCE), wedge shaped
P.Chester Beatty V (962) of Genesis (end of 3 BCE)
226 The fish-hook sign is probably placed inconsistently in the aforementioned Hebrew and Aramaic texts. On the other
hand, according to Pfann, “4Q298,” 233–4 the sign occurs only in liturgical texts, in Pfann’s words, ‘rules of order,
hymns, prayers, recited Scriptures, blessings or curses.’ Pfann suggests that the sign represents an >ayin (for wrmaw wn[ or
rmaw hn[) in the Cryptic A script referring to an answer expected from the audience. While the label ‘liturgical’ may
indeed be applied to several compositions in this group, the assumption of a response is not applicable to all texts,
certainly not in the case of 4QTest (4Q175) in which the second, third, and fourth sections are indicated with this sign.
Besides, the resemblance of this sign to other forms of the paragraphos signs does not support this hypothesis.