A New Hebrew Word (zlq "lightning") and Other New Readings in the Hebrew Manuscripts of Ben Sira (MS B: MS heb.e.62 and T-S 16.313)

Three new readings in the medieval Hebrew manuscripts of Ben Sira (Ms B: MS heb.e.62 and T-S 16.313) are described in this article. The first, זלק 'lightning (flash/bolt)' in Sir 43:13, is otherwise unknown in Hebrew and likely reflects secondary influence on the Ben Sira text from Syriac. The second, צי 'desert-dweller' or 'ship' in Sir 36:8-9, also seems likely to be secondary to the text; in this case, the word contributes to the eschatological/apocalyptic tone of its poem. The third new reading, סוגרת in Sir 36:23, is much harder to explain, but may reflect a new sense for the verb סגר , similar to that of מלא in the piel, namely, 'fill, satisfy'.