SCRIBAL PRACTICES AND APPROACHE S ... - Emanuel Tov

Scribal Practices and Approaches Reflected in the Texts from the Judean Desert 193
A relatively large number of zayins are recognizable (figs. 10.6
11.2, 11.2 12.1). 12.1
10.6, 10.7 [2x], 10.12, 10.12 11, 11 11.1, 11.1
Several signs appear at the beginning of new sections to which they refer as a whole: figs. 5.5
10.3, 10.5, 10.5 10.9, 10.9 10.10, 10.10 11.1, 11.1 11.2. 11.2 Other signs are written above single words: figs. 10.4
10.2, 10.2 10.3
10.6 (2x), 10.7 (2x).
5.5,
10.4,
On the difficulty concerning the distinction between the Cryptic A script and paleo-Hebrew
letters, see further below, § 4.
1QIsa a scribes A and B: Several signs in the margin (rarely in the text itself) of this manuscript reflect letters in
the Cryptic A script, without any recognizable pattern 250 and, with one exception, not occurring more than once.
That the signs described below are probably not related to a paragraphing system is evident from the sign in VIII 9,
which occurs in conjunction with a paragraphos sign.
VII, between lines 7 and 8 (Isa 7:20; Trever in Burrows, The Dead Sea Scrolls, fig. 2), at the beginning of a
new section (fig. 10 . 1a), 1 possibly reflecting a prolonged form of the resh in the Cryptic A script (fig.
1 0. 1b). 1
VIII 9 (Isa 8:16; Trever, fig. 3); cf. the h≥eth in the Cryptic A script (fig. 1 0. 2a 2 –b).
XI 4 (Isa 11:15; Trever, fig. 4), at the beginning of a new section (fig. 1 0. 3a); 3 cf. the qoph in the Cryptic A
script of 4QcryptA Words of the Maskil (4Q298, fig. 10 . 3b) 3 or a bet (beta) of 4QHoroscope (4Q186).
XVII 1 (Isa 21:16; Trever, fig. 5) above çwlç. This sign (fig. 10 . 4a) 4 possibly indicates the lack of çwlç in
MT; cf. the kaph in the Cryptic A script or an >ayin in the paleo-Hebrew script (fig. 10 . 4c). 4 A similar sign
occurs in XXVIII 18 (Isa 34:17; fig. 1 0 .4b), .4 as well as in 4QInstrc (4Q417) 2 ii 23 (with a different
function?; see below), in 4QCantb I 7 (see below), and as part of a paragraph sign in 1QIsaa (fig. 1. 6; 6 e.g.
XXVIII 29 [illustr. 6]; XXXII 29; XXXV 22). Cf. also XXVIII 18 (Isa 34:17; Trever, fig. 5). The circular
sign probably indicates a long missing stretch of text in the original text of the scroll, which was
subsequently added by a later hand.
XXI 23 (Isa 27:13; Trever, fig. 6), at the beginning of a new section (fig. 1 0. 5a); 5 cf. the s≥ade in the Cryptic
A script (fig. 1 0. 5b). 5
XXVII 21 (Isa 33:19; Trever, fig. 8). This sign (fig. 1 0. 6a), 6 written above wart, differing from hart of MT,
may reflect the notation of a variant reading; cf. the zayin in the Cryptic A script (fig. 10 . 6b) 6 or a paleo-
Hebrew zayin (fig. 1 0 . 6c). 6
XXXIII 1 (Isa 40:2; Trever, fig. 8), 251 is written above µylpk (fig. 1 0. 7a), 7 cf. the zayin in the Cryptic A script
or in the paleo-Hebrew script (figs. 10 . 6b–c). 6 Note also the similar paleo-Hebrew zayin in the margin of
4QShir b (4Q511) 18 iii 8 (see below). Cf. also:
XL 19 (Isa 48:14), above lbbb (fig. 1 0. 7b). 7
4QExod k : For the sign in the upper right corner (fig. 10 .1 1a 1 ), above the center of the first word, cf. the lamed in
the Cryptic A script of 4QcryptA Lunisolar Calendar (4Q317; fig. 1 0. 1 1b). 1 The positioning of the sign could reflect
a numbering system of sheets, on which see below § 8.
4QCantb I 7 (line-filler?; fig. 1 2. 2 and illustr. 8a) at the end of the line; cf. Cryptic A kaph (fig. 10 . 4c) 4 or paleo-
Hebrew Æayin.
4QpPsb (4Q173) frg. 5 (which probably does not belong to this manuscript) 4 lal written in unusual letters.
The letters resemble Greek and Latin characters in mirror writing with Hebrew values (a = a and L = l), and
therefore resemble the Cryptic A script of 4QHoroscope (4Q186), which includes a few Greek letters. See fig. 28. 28 J.
Allegro named these letters ‘some cryptic form’ (DJD V, 53), while Skehan, “The Divine Name,” 27 speaks of
‘distorted, unnatural paleohebrew lettering.’ For the writing of the divine name in special ways, see § 5d below and
ch. 6b2.
4QpapTob a ar (4Q196; fig. 1 0. 8b) 8 35 (fragmentary; the sign may have been written in the margin between the
columns); cf. the Cryptic A letter kaph (fig. 1 0 .4c). .4
250It is difficult to know whether the paragraphs indicated by the signs are of any specific sectarian importance. Martin,
Scribal Character, I.184, notes that fig. 10 . 1, 1 referring to Isa 7:20, pertains to Babylon and Egypt, often mentioned in
the Qumran writings, for example, in 1QM. An explanation of this kind is probably behind some of these signs in
1QIsaa , but it is hard to press this point, as the passages which are most central to the Qumran community are not
indicated in this way. Another possibility that comes to mind is that some of the signs could be cross-references to the
pesharim of Isaiah, but this hypothesis cannot be examined as the relevant sections of the pesharim have not been
preserved.
251Trever incorrectly combines his transcription of three similar shapes into one sign.