The use of matres lectionis, in which consonant letters are used not as consonants but as vowel markers, is attested at a very early stage of Hebrew. It is arguably (!) in evidence in pre-exilic Hebrew inscriptions, but seems to become more fully developed during the Persian Era. It is widely attested at Qumran.
GEORGE ATHAS Dean of Research, Moore Theological College (moore.edu.au) Sydney, Australia
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