Hebrew-English Paleo Exodus: Scripture at the End of the Iron II Period

Exodus lies at the foundation of Judeo-Christian culture and this book presents the original version, the earliest copy. The most important difference occurs in Chapter 20, which is twice as large as the common Masoretic version and contains the extraordinary 10th Commandment, the paragraph which enjoins ...on Mount Gerizim as I command you today. There you shall build an altar to Yahweh your God... On the right hand page is the translation. For the first time this version is easily accessible. Although the Samaritan Pentateuch has been known since the 17th century, it has not been translated and only a few specialists have read it. Now paleo Exodus is available to anyone interested in the venerable epic. The translation has been done clause by clause, governed by the punctuation of the paleo manuscripts. This translation of Exodus is from the original writing and often clarifies obscure passages of the Masoretic version. On the left hand page is the paleo-Hebrew text, featuring the Dead Sea Scroll 4Q22 paleoExodusm. All of its extensive fragments are printed in the Semitic script of the 7th century BCE. Where the scroll is not extant, the square Hebrew text of von Gall's edition is given. This superimposes and highlights 4Q22 as the most prominent manuscript of the critical text of Exodus. The appendices of textual criticism serve to analyze and demonstrate the precise details of the critical paleo text. Appendix A also focuses on key words and phrases of the translation. The method of textual criticism compares all relevant manuscripts comprehensively. Masoretic are given, as are all the agreements of the Qumran scrolls of Exodus with the Samaritan or the Masoretic. The von Gall edition is corrected and accredited. The result is a rigorous resource for scholars using biblical Hebrew as well as a straightforward translation for the general public. It is a significant work for the appreciation of Exodus.