Refining the Reconstruction of Col. 2 of the Temple Scroll (11QT_a): The Turn to Digital Mapping and Historical Syntax

Digital technology significantly expands the resources available to scholars seeking to reconstruct ancient manuscripts and, in combination with conventional philology, contributes to a more accurate reconstruction of both the text and the line breaks of col. 2 of the Temple Scroll. The column's fragmentary condition led Yadin and Qimron to diverge in their reconstructions of the manuscript's line-breaks and its lacunae. The problem is most acute at 2:8-9, where the scroll's composer expanded the base text of Exod 34 with Deut 7:25-26. By employing techniques of digital mapping in conjunction with historical syntax, this article helps reconstruct the column's line-breaks, helps restore the lacunae, and offers a refined reconstruction of the column.