Column XXXII

The Great Isaiah Scroll 38:8 to 40:2

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Physical Characteristics:

There are no physical anomalies on this page which is the medial page of three on the 10th strip of leather in the scroll.

 Paragraphs, Spatiums and Scribal Marks

 The first paragraph on the page is in line 20 at vs 39:3 and the next paragraph begins in line 24 at vs 39:5. Chapter 40 is marked in 2 ways, one by a paragraph in line 29 and in the margin is a scribal mark that sets off important divisions in Isaiah. This mark is explained in detail on page 28, which see. Here it marks the most important change in the thought content of the book. There is another mark on this page like a misshapen "s" at the bottom margin which is unexplained.

 Insertion of Letters:

 A waw is inserted above the line after the 3rd word of line 2 which does not seem to fit the context. It is unnecessary. A waw is written over the name of Hezekiah in line 24. "he" as an article is written to complete "ha-melek") in line 20

Scribal Characteristics:

 The confusion and multitude of careless errors that began in page 28 are continued here with repeated verses and omissions. Isaiah's name appears 4 times on this page spelled once as "yisa'yahu" as it appears always in M and 3 times as "yis'ayah" as the Q scribe usually writes his name. The former is in line 14: 4th word. and the latter in lines 20: 2nd 24: 2nd and 27: next to last. There is also great variety of spelling of Hezekiah's name in Q. See page 28 for a detailed discussion of the various spellings of Hezekiah.

 Variations in Q from the Masoretic Text

 Line 1: 8th word: illustrates Q scribe's superfluous use of vowels. For the M "bachalotho" (in his sickness) Q = "bacholayothoy" having inserted yod waw after lamed and ending with waw yod. It is difficult to see how the addition of these vowels would have helped pronunciation.
Line 3: 2nd word: Q = "yah" and M = "yah, yah". 4th word: Q = "chayiym" and M = "he-chayiym."
Line 4: 1st word: Q = "yakolah" (it is completed) and M = "ve-niglah" (it is rolled away) 5th word: Q = "saphartiy" ( I have numbered or taken account of) and m = "qaphadtiy" (I have cut off).
Line 5: 1st word M = shivvutiy (I reckoned) Q = a different word which is probably a misspelling of shaphat (judge) with the teth left out before the tau or tiy of the 1cs verb ending. Euphonically it sounds the same "shaphatiy" (I judged)
Line 7: 1st word: Q = conj. waw not in M. 5th word: Q = 'liy' " (to me written with aleph) and "liy' " repeated again as 8th word not in M.
Line 8: 1st word Q = 'nephshiy' " (my soul) with appended aleph. 6th word: Q = "ba-hemah" prep + 2mpl (in them) and M = "ba-hen" prep + 2fpl (in them).
Line 9: 1st word Q = "he:n" ans M = "hinne:y." words 3 to 5: Q = "mar liy' me'odah" (I am very bitter) and M = "mar liy mar" (I am very bitter).
Line 12: after the 4th word: Q = after the first two words in vs 20 all of verse 19 is repeated as well as repeating the first two words in verse 20 again extending into line 13. But there is variation between copying the verse 2 times. In the second transcription (line 13, 1st word) "yodeyah" has a waw conj + art. preformed and the next 2 words in 19 are " 'el 'emethekah" (to your truth) but in the 2nd transcription it is " 'eloh 'emetheka" In Q the whole phrase is "ve-ha-yodeya' 'eloh 'emetheka."
Line 14: 6th word: Q = an omission of the next word in M. M = "yis'u" ( they shall place) Last word: Q = omission of the last word in the verse and all of verse 22. The omission is written in the margin vertically in a different hand and a different spelling as well. (kiy is spelled "kiy" without the aleph that is consistently used otherwise. Also in the margin Hezekiah's name is spelled simply "hzqh" and a yod is written above as an after thought. For discussion of the various spellings of the name Hezekiah with and without the addition of a waw to indicate "i" sound see page 28.
Line 16: 5th word: Q = "ve-yechayeh: (and he lived) and M = "ve=yechazaq" (and he regained strength).
Line 19: Last word Q = mamlakto (his kingdom) and M = memshelato (his state or government)
Line 25: last word: Q = "va-bo'u" (and they shall come) is an extra word not found in M.
Line 26: 4th from last word, Q = "mi me 'e kah" (from your bowels or inward parts) M = "mi me ka" (from you).
Line 29; last word: Q = 3fs suf spelled with "he" aleph. The use of aleph here is to make the reading of a final syllable certain. Other wise it might be read as " 'eloh" instead of " 'eleyha."

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