Influence of a So-Called P-Redaction in the ‘Major Expansions’ of Exodus 7-11? Finding Oneself at the Crossroads of Textual and Literary Criticism

Abstract

This chapter proposes a synergetic link between textual criticism and literary criticism, and more particularly even with so-called diachronic redaction criticism. It presents a particular textual characteristic with regard to the mentioning of Aaron in the so-called 'major expansions' of SamP, 4QpaleoExod m and 4QExod j within the ?Plague Narrative' of Exodus 7:14-11:10. The expansions function in the context of the harmonization of command to execution and vice versa. They mainly consist of the precise copying of existing verses from the immediate context in their source-text/ Vorlage . In this respect, it is striking that Aaron is introduced in almost all major expansions, whereas this character seems to be absent in the preceding or subsequent text that served as the source for each harmonizing expansion. Keywords:Exodus; literary criticism; textual criticism