The Masorah Parva of על in Numbers 35:24

Abstract

Although the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (BHS) reproduces the text of the Leningrad Codex faithfully, G. E. Weil exercised considerable free dom in preparing the Masorah, editing extensively to make it more complete and systematic. Although Weil's innovations made the masoretic material easier to use, his editorial techniques also masked problems with interpretations that are clearly open to inquiry. The goal of this critical note is to take issue with one of Weil's interpretations in the Masorah Parva of the Leningrad Codex and to suggest a better alternative. In Num 35:24, the preposition by has the accent merka. The Masorah Parva note for by in BHS is ?en (occurs 8 times with this accent), although in the Leningrad Codex the note is actually ?en * (occurs 11 times with this accent). Presumably, Weil altered the note because he believed the Masorah Parva to be in error. An understanding of the issue in this Masorah Parva note is complicated by the existence of a similar, yet distinctly different rubric for by in Masorah Magna 747 of Weil's Massorah Gedolah.1 In the Masorah Parva, the term merka can refer either to the accent merka or to any conjunctive accent as opposed to maqqeph.2 This latter usage is implied in Masorah Magna 747, which draws together 8 occurrences of by that are merka in the book of Leviticus, only two of which (Lev 2:13, 14:31) bear the actual accent merka3 In BHS, all 8 of these occurrences bear the Masorah Parva note ?en (occurs 8 times with this accentuation in this book), rather imprecise but nonetheless the way in which the note is formulated in the Leningrad Codex.4 The BHS Masorah Parva note for by in Num 35:24 is formulated very similarly, but unlike the usage in Masorah Magna 747 apparently refers to the actual accent merka. This conclusion seems explicit from the BHS Masorah Parva notes in the two cases in Leviticus where by has the accent