The Great Isaiah Scroll 29:21 to 30:20
Physical Characteristics:
This is almost a perfect page as far as text is concerned and there is only minimal fading of a few letters which however can still be easily read.Paragraphs and Spatiums:
Paragraphs and spatiums correspond with current versification. Paragraphs: Line 2 = 29:22; line 6 = 30:1; line 12 = 30:6; line 20 = 30:12; line 25 = 30:15. There is only one spatium in line 30 = 30:19.Additions to the text by an editor:
Editorial marks set off verses 29:22 to 29:24 as a special section by marks in the right margin in lines 1 and 5.
Line 7: 9th word: Editor supplied a tau needed to complete a mistaken spelling omission.
Line 15: 4th word: A euphonic waw is added by editor. same word Aleph is appended on the end of this word to make certain that the "he" will be pronounced as if it has epenthetic pathah. The "he" is a 3fs suf on the verb "katav" ("write" and with the suf. it is "write it") and it will be pronounced "katav-ha." This is a good example of using aleph as a symbol of an open syllable and therefore as a semi vowel. The waw edited above the line is also a good example of waw being used as a semi vowel for any vowel sound, here it stands for a qamets or "a" sound See the introduction for use of waw as a semi vowel for any vowel sound.
Line 21: 7th word: A rare kind of correction: the offending letter is ink scratched out and the correction written above the error. The later editors rarely did this, if ever. thus this may be an attempt by the scribe to set his error right. Later editors left the text as found and put dots under wrong letters or just wrote the correction above with out changing the text (with exceptions of course.) Here the scribe misspelled "he-'avon" (the evil). Perhaps he wrote a "he" and scratched it out and wrote "waw waw" above the word to correct it.
Line 23: 2nd word: a euphonic waw is added. This is discussed below under variations which see.
Line 25: 3rd word: "Adonay" is written above YHWH. M has 'adonay."Variations in Q from the Masoretic Text
Line 6: 9th word: (30:1) Q = "mimeniy" and M = "miniy"
Line 9: 5th word: (30:3) Q = "le-kemah" prep + 3mpl (for you) and M = "lekelemah" prep + nfs (disgrace) 7th word Q = "hayah" (3ms) and M = "hayu" (3mpl)
Line 10: 2nd and 3rd words: (30:5) scribal copy mistake in Q = "kolah bi'sh" and M = "kol ha-bi'sh" 8th word: Q added a final "he" to "le-'azer" (to help). 10th word: Q = "to'iyl" and M = "le-ho'iyl."
Line 12: 6th word: (30:6) Q has an extra word not found in M. It is either "ve-tsiyah" or more likely "yitsiyah" (a going out) referring to the exodus. Last 2 words: a different reading: Q = "ve-'e:yn mayim" (and there is no water) and M = "me:hem" (from them).
Line 13: 4th word: (30:40) Q = "yis'a" (3ms) and M - "yis'u" (3mpl). 7th word: Q = "cheylem" and M = "cheylehem." Same word and form with a different spelling for the 3mpl suffix.. (Q = "m" and M = "hem").
Line 14: 8th word: (30:7) Q = "la-ken" (therefore) but the scribe wrote a medial nun and an attempt was made by an editor to make the nun as a final letter. Hence the dark stroke in the word. Last word Q = "rahab-a-m" This is written as one word as though "rahab" has a 3mpl suf. However the reading requires that "hem" be a separate word or 3mpl pronoun "hem" and is the subject of the next word (sit). and M = ""rahab hem"
Line 15: 4th word: (30:8) Q has a superfluous "aleph" at the end of "katavh'a" (write it) This is a good example of adding aleph to show the he is a suffix and adds an extra sylable. Aramaic influence is also a probable reason. See introductory page on addition of Aleph to the end of words as an Aramaic "accent." A waw is also edited above the line after kaph.
Line 18: 4th word: (30:10) a misspelling. There is a missing "he" in Q = "mataloth" and M = "mahetaloth;" both words are from the same root and refer to deceptions. 5th word: (30:11) Q = "tesuru" and M = "suru."
Line 20: 7th word: misspelling. Q = "mahaskem" ("he") and M = "ma'askem" ('aleph")
Line 21: 1st word: (30:12) a mistake and confused spelling. Q = "ve-ta'aloz" v. 2ms (with "ayin") from 'aloz, to exult and M = (no "ayin") = "ve-naloz." a niphal part. of loz = to turn aside or perverse 7th word: Q = a word with perhaps misspelling scratched out and the correct letters 2 waws edited above the word. It looks as though the letters scratched out are also 2 waws. Since this is not ordinarily done it may have been the original scribe. See above under Additions to the text.
Line 23: 2nd word: (30:14) Q = an omitted waw is added by an editor above the line to euphonically match the word as it is in M = "yachmol" (3ms). In Q it is "yachmelu" (3mpl) without the edited waw. But a transposition of (supposed) waw is also possible.
Line 24: (30:14) Q = "migbah" (final letter "he") and M = "migba'" (final letter "aleph"). It bears repeating that the Q scribe often alternates aleph for he and he for aleph.
Line 26: 8th word: (30:16) Q = " 'el" to (aleph) and M = " 'al" upon (ayin).
Line 27: 1st: (30:16) same as the last entry; Q = "ve-'el" and M = "ve-'al."
Line 28: 9th word: (30:17) Q = "har" (mountain) and M = "ha-har" (the mountain).
Line 29: 3rd word: (30:18) Q= "le-chonekem" and M = "le-chanankem"
Line 31: 1st word: (30:19) Q = "tibki" and M = "tibkah." 4th word: Q = YHWH not in M.