Scribal Practices and Approaches Reflected in the Texts Found in the Judean Desert, Revised Second Edition

Emanuel Tov, Ph.D. (1974), Hebrew University, is the J.L. Magnes Professor emeritus of Bible at that university. He has published many monographs on textual criticism, the Septuagint, and the Dead Sea Scrolls, including Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible (4th edition, Fortress, 2022).

• PrefaceList of TablesAbbreviationsJudean Desert TextsBibliography 2004–1 Introductiona Purpose and Nature of the Descriptionb Text Corporac Sources for the Analysisd Background of the Documents2 Scribesa Identity, Nature, and Statusb Learning Scribal Skillsc Production of Scrolls in the Judean Desert?d Characteristic Features of Individual Scribese Identification of Scribal Handsf Background of Scribal Traditionsg Approaches of Scribes to Their Vorlagenh Autographs?i Identification of the Vorlagen of the Judean Desert Scrolls?j Different Levels of Scribal Skills3 Material Culture: Writing and Writing Materialsa Papyrusb Treated Skinsc Sheetsd Scrollse Texts Written on Papyrusf Inkg Writing Implements4 Technical Aspects of Scroll Writinga Ruling, Guide Dots/Strokesb Opisthographs and Palimpsestsc Length and Scope of Scrollsd Dimensions of Sheets, Number of Columns per Sheete Dimensions of Columns and Marginsf The Written Text vis-à-vis Horizontal and Vertical Rulingg Conventions Used at the Beginnings and Ends of Scrollsh Titles of Compositions and Headers of Sectionsi Uneven Surface, Damage, Repair Stitching, and Patchingj Deluxe Editionsk Relation between Scrolls and Compositionsl Scroll Manufacturers and Scribes5 Writing Practicesa Divisions between Words, Small Text Units (Stichs and Verses), Sections, Poetical Units, and Booksb Poetic Layout and Superscriptionsc Scribal Marks and Proceduresd Divine Names: Different Approaches and Writing Procedures in the Qumran Scrollse Errorsf Scribal Intervention Techniquesg Mixture of Final and Nonfinal Lettersh Notation of Variant Readings and Glosses?i Abbreviationsj Consistencyk Appendix: Implications for Literary Criticism of Hebrew Scripture6 Scriptsa Square (Jewish) Scriptb Writing in the Paleo-Hebrew Script and Its Backgroundc Cryptic Scriptsd Mixture of Scripts7 Special Scribal Characteristics of Some Groups of Textsa Scripture Textsb Scripture Texts Written in the Paleo-Hebrew Scriptc Tefillin and Mezuzotd Texts Written on Papyruse Texts Written in Greekf Pesharimg Texts Written in Cryptic Scriptsh Texts Written in Aramaic8 Scribal Traditionsa Possible Text Groupsb Continuation of Scribal Traditionsc Possible Influence from Greek Scribal Practicesd Scribal Practices Mentioned in Rabbinic SourcesAppendix 1: Characteristic Scribal Features of the Qumran Scribal PracticeAppendix 2: Papyrus Texts from the Judean DesertAppendix 3: Opisthographs from the Judean DesertAppendix 4: The Greek Texts from the Judean DesertAppendix 5: Scribal Features of Early Witnesses of Greek ScriptureAppendix 6: The Texts from MasadaAppendix 7: Scope and Spacing of the Units in the Scripture Text Quoted in the PesharimAppendix 8: Some Textual Features of Scripture ManuscriptsAppendix 9: Orthographic and Morphological Features of Texts Written in the Qumran Scribal PracticeBibliographyFiguresIllustrations