4QNum^b LXX vs. MT SP: Evidence for Non-Linear Processes in the Textual Development of the Book of Numbers from a Neglected Variant Pattern

Abstract

This article presents a close study of a special group of text pluses in 4QNum^b: 4QNum^b LXX vs. MT SP. Other than the large-scale expansions shared by SP and 4QNum^b and the general counting of readings with and against MT LXX SP, these cases have been mostly neglected in reconstructing the textual history of the Book of Numbers. They give reason for assuming a less straight and linear development of the versions than that conventionally proposed. A close analysis of this variant pattern reveals that the stemmatic integration of 4QNum^b into the textual history of the Book of Numbers as proposed by Jastram, Lange, and Tov exhibits certain blind spots where this pattern cannot be integrated. Rather, the results of this study indicate a multi-staged and non-linear process of textual transmission, which at some point even does not allow unequivocal reconstruction. Thus, the analysis of the variant pattern 4QNum^b LXX vs. MT SP presented in this paper adds to a deeper understanding of the textual character of 4QNum^b in particular and the textual history of the Book of Numbers in general. It also contributes to methodological and text-historical issues that have proven crucial in recent research: how to integrate textual criticism with literary criticism and redaction history; the "Urtext" question; the text historical significance of harmonizing readings; how to improve categories for text groups or text types among the Dead Sea Scrolls and esp. the textual character of the so-called Pre-Samaritan Scrolls.