Inconsistent gender identifications:

 This has been one of the most difficult pages thus far to catalog the differences between the Q and M texts due to the Q scribe's inconsistent and indiscriminate use of masc. and fem suffixes. The whole page is thus written. Previously one of the consistent spellings found thus far is that 2ms suf will often have a "he" added and 2fs suf will have a yod added to distinguish them from each other. The same is true for verb pf 3fs and 2ms which end in a tau in an unpointed text. The M pointed text places a scheva in the fem tau and a qamets in the masc tau. In Q a "he" is added to masc and a yod to fem endings to distinguish them. This page has completely inconsistent agreement with gender in M and with itself. This can be seen in the first 10 lines especially in lines 5 to 7 and is a source of confusion here on this page. See note under Variations re: line 5.

 Physical Characteristics:

This is the first page of the 15th strip of leather that makes up the scroll. the seam to the right is very good with some loss of stitching but all material is still in good shape. There is not as much discoloration with just a small amount of chipping away of the bottom portion of the page well away from the text area. There is a slight fading of the ink in the text in the bottom left portion of the page. No fold lines are apparent on this page.

 Paragraphs and Spatiums:

Line 1 ends a paragraph and line 2 begins a new paragraph with vs 57:3; the next paragraph begins on line 14 with vs 57:14; and the 3rd paragraph on this page is the beginning of chapter 58 on line 22.
There is a fairly large spatium in line 13 which divides vs 57:13 into two parts. The 2nd part is like a short memory verse: "he who trusts in me shall divide the earth and inherit my holy mountain," Spatiums mark the beginnings of vss 57:15; and 58:4,5,and 6.

 Editorial marks:

There is only one editorial mark in the left margin. The X's in the left margin as a rule emphasize the text to the right of the X.. In this case however the X extends between the line of the next page as well as between the line of this page. And since the adjacent passages on the next page are highlighted by horizontal marks, perhaps a second editor also marked the same passage as a previous editor. The passage here on this page is descriptive of Israel's having neglected YHWH while the next page contains an exhortation to keep the Sabbath.

Editorial additions to the text:

 In line 5 a waw is edited above the 6th word to vocalize a syllable that is not vocalized in M. A lamed is added where it was omitted in "kol" (all) in line 25, next to last word. And a yod is edited over the next to last word on the page in line 29. This word then ends in a double yod. The word is an adverb whose root ends in yod ("chophshiy") and the yod is added to make certain that the ending is identified as masc plug.

. Q Scribal Spelling:

 "my" spelled with final aleph in line 2 : 10th and 13th words. Substituting "he" for aleph is in line 19: 1st word. Aleph is omitted from line 19: 9th word. Aleph added to the end of " 'Amy' " (my people) in line 14: 9th word; and line 22: 9th word:; Find "he" added to 2ms suf "ka" > "kA" see line 22: 7th word. Suf 3mpl with "he" appended: "am" "hem" line 22 10th word and line 23: 1st word; "am" "Amax." Examples of 2mpl suf "em" as "Kaman" is found in line 25: 4th from last and last words, and the 1st word in line 27. An example of adding "he" to pf 2ms sufformative is in line 25: 2nd word. The pronoun 2mpl "ate" is "heth" in line 2: 1st word and line 3: 5th word:; The 2ms Q ending "Tao" would be "ti" in Q for 2fs. In line 2: 8th word, a pos. Aramaic spelling of imp 3fs.

 Variations in Q from the Masoretic Text:

 Line 1: last word: Q = "nikochah" n + suf 3fs (her uprightness) and M = "nikocho" n + 3ms (his uprightness).
Line 2: 3rd word: Q = "hineh" and M = "hen." 8th word: Q = "ve-tizno" (from zonah)to play the harlot and M = "ve-tizneh" cj + v imp 3fs 3rd from last word Q = waw cj not in M.
Line 4: 7th word: Q = "se'iphey" spelled with sin instead of M = same . Last word: Q = extra word "shaman" (there)
Line 5: words 2, 4, 5 and 7: Q = addition of final "he" to these words contrary to all former syntax since all these should be fem and a different method of marking fem has been used to here. Yod has usually been added to 2fs verb endings and suffixes. The confusion is continued through verse 7 but the rule is followed in the last word and 3rd from last word in line 10.
Line 9: last word: Q = "mat's" pf 2fs (you find) Aleph is omitted from the spelling of this word.
Line 10: 8th word: Q = "ve-tir'iyniiy" imp 2fs + suf 1cs (and shall you fear me?) and M = "tiyr'iy" imp 2fs (have your feared). next to last word: Q = waw cj not in M.
Line 11: 1st word: Q = " 'elah" (these) not found in M.
Line 12: 5th word: Q = a word not found in M . Q = "qobetsayik" (your gatherings). This word is repeated properly in the correct position 3 words further on. There it follows a word that has the same basic configuration as the 4th word preceding this 5th word. Thus the mistake would indicate a lapse of attention and a copiest who was not cognitive of the content of what he was copying. Rote copying is probably responsible for most of lapses and errors.
Line 14: 4th word: Q = an extra interpretive word: Q = "ha-maslah" (that which is cast up). 10th word: Q = " 'amiy' " (my people) spelled with final aleph.
Line 15: 8th and 9th words: Q = addition of beth (prep in) to both words. 10th word: Q = "yishkon" imp 3ms (he dwells) and M = " 'eshkon" imp 1cs (I dwell).
Line 16: 1st and 4th words: Q = lack of article "he" found in M in both words.
Line 17: 11th word: Q = "ve- 'ehesether: cj + 5th stem imp 1cs (I hide) and M = "hoster" 5th stem inf. (hiding) Last word: Q = addition of a final "he" unneeded. This "he" and the aleph of line 14: 10th word: add syllables to words that suggest an Aramaic "accent."
Line 18: 8th word: Q = lacks a word that appears in M. M = "ve 'anechahu" (and I will lead him) 10th word: Q = "tenachumiym" this is probably a misspelling and "menachumiym" mpl part (comforters) is meant; this form is found in (Heb) Ps 69:21 and M = "nichumiym" nmpl (comforts). Another possibility is that the tau is a simple mistake and then without it the forms are the same, although this is less likely.
Line 19: 1st word: Q = "be-boreh" prep + part. (in creating) and M = "bore' " part (creating). 2nd word Q = M qerey not kituv. 4th word: Q = only one "shalom" M = 2. 9th word: Q = omit medial aleph from spelling of this word, Q = "ve-rephateyhu" and M = "ve-reph'atayv."
Line 20: 1st word: Q = "nigrashu" 2 stem pf 3mpl (they are troubled) and M = "nigrash" 2nd stem part. (troubled). 3rd word: Q = "le- 'eshqot" possibly a misspelled infinitive form with idiosyncratic aleph added. (to quiet) and M = "hashqet" 5th stem infinitive (to cause quiet). 6th word: Q = "ve-yithgareshu" verb 7th stem imp 3mpl (and they shall cast out) and M = "yigreshu" qal imp 3mpl (they shall cast out).
Line 23: 5th word and line 24: 10th word:: M = euphonic nun not in Q.
Line 24: 2nd word: Q = " 'elohu" noun ms + suf 3ms (his god) and M = " 'elohayv" noun mpl + suf 3ms (his God).
Line 25: 4th word: Q = "naphshoteynu" noun mpl + suf 1cpl (our souls) and M = "naphshenu"noun ms + suf 1cpl. (our soul).
Line 26: 4th word: Q = prep lamed not in M. 7th word: Q = an aleph missing from the spelling of this word..

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