A Reexamination of the 'Sons of the Pit' in CD 13:14

This paper reexamines the arguments for the reconstruction, “sons of the dawn,“ in CD 13:14 and contends that based on material evidence the former consensus reading, “sons of the pit,“ is more likely. The reading “sons of the dawn“ gained acceptance because of the apparent absence of the necessary stroke for taw and the discovery of a similar phrase in 4Q298. A close examination of a new image of the manuscript, however, reveals the presence of a serif consistent with taw rather than reš and the remnants of ink where one would expect the leg of taw.