When the first edition of this work, published in 1979, ran out it seemed like a good opportunity to prepare a second edition, revised and brought up to date. Every field of biblical research, but particularly the history of the biblical text, has undergone profound changes over the last twenty years as a result of the new information provided by the documents from Qumran. In addition, recent studies on the Septuagint as a literary work have helped to give vital stimulus to study of the