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 וְלֹא־נָשָׂ֥א אֹתָ֛ם הָאָ֖רֶץ לָשֶׁ֣בֶת יַחְדָּ֑ו כִּֽי־הָיָ֤ה רְכוּשָׁם֙ רָ֔ב וְלֹ֥א יָֽכְל֖וּ לָשֶׁ֥בֶת יַחְדָּֽו׃ 7 וַֽיְהִי־רִ֗יב בֵּ֚ין רֹעֵ֣י מִקְנֵֽה־אַבְרָ֔ם וּבֵ֖ין רֹעֵ֣י מִקְנֵה־לֹ֑וט וְהַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙ וְהַפְּרִזִּ֔י אָ֖ז יֹשֵׁ֥ב בָּאָֽרֶץ׃ 8 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אַבְרָ֜ם אֶל־לֹ֗וט אַל־נָ֨א תְהִ֤י מְרִיבָה֙ בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֔יךָ וּבֵ֥ין רֹעַ֖י וּבֵ֣ין רֹעֶ֑יךָ כִּֽי־אֲנָשִׁ֥ים אַחִ֖ים אֲנָֽחְנוּ׃ 9 הֲלֹ֤א כָל־הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ לְפָנֶ֔יךָ הִפָּ֥רֶד נָ֖א מֵעָלָ֑י אִם־הַשְּׂמֹ֣אל וְאֵימִ֔נָה וְאִם־הַיָּמִ֖ין וְאַשְׂמְאִֽילָה׃

Vocabulary

Verse 6

יחדו   “together”

רכושׁ   noun: “property” (BDB, 940)

Verse 7

ריב   noun: “dispute”

רעי  noun (construct plural): “shepherds”

            הַֽכְּנַעֲנִי וְהַפְּרִזִּי  “Canaanites and Perizzites”

Syntax & Miscellaneous

• The first clause, וְלֹא־נָשָׂ֥א אֹתָ֛ם הָאָ֖רֶץ “The land could not bear them,” is an idiom meaning “they could not coexist in the land.”
• The combination of  וּבֵין … בֵּין represents a relationship “between” two groups.
• The last clause of verse seven contains several notable syntactical characteristics.  The disjunctive waw (waw + non-verb) marks a parenthetical comment.  The particle, אָ֖ז, is a temporal marker.
• See comments about the gentilic ending, particularly Genesis 12:16.

Verse 8

נא   particle of entreaty: variously translated (“I pray,” “please”)

Verse 9

          פרד  verb (Niphal): “divide, separate” (BDB, 825)

ימין   verb: “go to the right” (BDB, 412)

אשמאיל   verb: “go to the left” (BDB, 970)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 8

• The negative, אַל, marks the negation of a jussive verbal form.
• The last clause is a verbless clause with the typology P-S.

Verse 9

• The interrogative he, הֲלֹ֤א, marks a question.
• The final clauses demonstrate a chiastic structure (A-B-B’-A’):

אִם־הַשְּׂמֹ֣אל וְאֵימִ֔נָה

וְאִם־הַיָּמִ֖ין וְאַשְׂמְאִֽילָה

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וַיְהִי֙ לִתְקֻפֹ֣ות הַיָּמִ֔ים וַתַּ֥הַר חַנָּ֖ה וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֑ן וַתִּקְרָ֤א אֶת־שְׁמֹו֙ שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל כִּ֥י מֵיְהוָ֖ה שְׁאִלְתִּֽיו׃ 21 וַיַּ֛עַל הָאִ֥ישׁ אֶלְקָנָ֖ה וְכָל־בֵּיתֹ֑ו לִזְבֹּ֧חַ לַֽיהוָ֛ה אֶת־זֶ֥בַח הַיָּמִ֖ים וְאֶת־נִדְרֹֽו׃ 22 וְחַנָּ֖ה לֹ֣א עָלָ֑תָה כִּֽי־אָמְרָ֣ה לְאִישָׁ֗הּ עַ֣ד יִגָּמֵ֤ל הַנַּ֙עַר֙ וַהֲבִאֹתִ֗יו וְנִרְאָה֙ אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וְיָ֥שַׁב שָׁ֖ם עַד־עֹולָֽם׃ 23 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהּ֩ אֶלְקָנָ֨ה אִישָׁ֜הּ עֲשִׂ֧י הַטֹּ֣וב בְּעֵינַ֗יִךְ שְׁבִי֙ עַד־גָּמְלֵ֣ךְ אֹתֹ֔ו אַ֛ךְ יָקֵ֥ם יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־דְּבָרֹ֑ו וַתֵּ֤שֶׁב הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ וַתֵּ֣ינֶק אֶת־בְּנָ֔הּ עַד־גָמְלָ֖הּ אֹתֹֽו׃ 24 וַתַּעֲלֵ֨הוּ עִמָּ֜הּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר גְּמָלַ֗תּוּ בְּפָרִ֤ים שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ וְאֵיפָ֨ה אַחַ֥ת קֶ֙מַח֙ וְנֵ֣בֶל יַ֔יִן וַתְּבִאֵ֥הוּ בֵית־יְהוָ֖ה שִׁלֹ֑ו וְהַנַּ֖עַר נָֽעַר׃ 25 וַֽיִּשְׁחֲט֖וּ אֶת־הַפָּ֑ר וַיָּבִ֥יאוּ אֶת־הַנַּ֖עַר אֶל־עֵלִֽי׃

Vocabulary

Verse 20

תקפות  noun: “circuit” (BDB, 880)

הרה  verb: “conceive” (BDB, 247)

שׁמואל  name: “Samuel”

שׁאל  verb: “ask, inquire”

Verse 21

אלקנה  name: “Elkanah”

נדר  noun: “vow”

Syntax & Miscellaneous

• The compound noun phrase, אֶלְקָנָ֖ה וְכָל־בֵּיתֹ֑ו, is in apposition to the subject of the first clause הָאִ֥ישׁ.
• The noun phrase, זֶ֥בַח הַיָּמִ֖ים, refers to a regular sacrifice (most likely the yearly sacrifice).  The second noun is functioning as an adverbial idiom (“daily” = “regular”).

Vocabulary

Verse 22

גמל  verb (Niphal imperfect 3ms):  “be weaned”

בא  verb (Hiphil waw-consecutive perfect 1cs with 3ms suffix): “cause to go, bring”

Verse 23

שׁבי  verb: “stay, remain”

גמל  verb:  “wean (a baby/child)”

אך  “only”

יָקֵם  verb (Hiphil jussive 3ms): “carry out”

הינק  verb (Hiphil): “nurse” (BDB, 413)

Verse 24

פר  noun: “bull”

קמח  איפה  noun: “ephah (of flour)” (BDB, 35)

יין  נבל  noun: “skin (of wine)”

שׁלו  name (of place): “Shiloh”

Verse 25

שׁחט  verb: “sacrifice”

עלי  name: “Eli”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 22

• The disjunctive waw (waw + non-verb) indicates a parenthetical, or background, remark.

Verse 23

• The repetition of אֶלְקָנָ֨ה אִישָׁ֜הּ “Elkanah, her husband” is notable.  Not only this, but he is subordinated to the final position in the first clause (V-O-S).  One would expect  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶלְקָנָה לָהּand not the present order.

Verse 24

• The last two words of verse 24, וְהַנַּ֖עַר נָֽעַר, form a verbless clause.  The subject is marked by the article.  This example has the typology S-P.

וַתֵּ֤רֶד בַּת־פַּרְעֹה֙ לִרְחֹ֣ץ עַל־הַיְאֹ֔ר וְנַעֲרֹתֶ֥יהָ הֹלְכֹ֖ת עַל־יַ֣ד הַיְאֹ֑ר וַתֵּ֤רֶא אֶת־הַתֵּבָה֙ בְּתֹ֣וךְ הַסּ֔וּף וַתִּשְׁלַ֥ח אֶת־אֲמָתָ֖הּ וַתִּקָּחֶֽהָ׃ 6 וַתִּפְתַּח֙ וַתִּרְאֵ֣הוּ אֶת־הַיֶּ֔לֶד וְהִנֵּה־נַ֖עַר בֹּכֶ֑ה וַתַּחְמֹ֣ל עָלָ֔יו וַתֹּ֕אמֶר מִיַּלְדֵ֥י הָֽעִבְרִ֖ים זֶֽה׃ 7 וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֲחֹתֹו֮ אֶל־בַּת־פַּרְעֹה֒ הַאֵלֵ֗ךְ וְקָרָ֤אתִי לָךְ֙ אִשָּׁ֣ה מֵינֶ֔קֶת מִ֖ן הָעִבְרִיֹּ֑ת וְתֵינִ֥ק לָ֖ךְ אֶת־הַיָּֽלֶד׃ 8 וַתֹּֽאמֶר־לָ֥הּ בַּת־פַּרְעֹ֖ה לֵ֑כִי וַתֵּ֙לֶךְ֙ הָֽעַלְמָ֔ה וַתִּקְרָ֖א אֶת־אֵ֥ם הַיָּֽלֶד׃ 9 וַתֹּ֧אמֶר לָ֣הּ בַּת־פַּרְעֹ֗ה הֵילִ֜יכִי אֶת־הַיֶּ֤לֶד הַזֶּה֙ וְהֵינִקִ֣הוּ לִ֔י וַאֲנִ֖י אֶתֵּ֣ן אֶת־שְׂכָרֵ֑ךְ וַתִּקַּ֧ח הָאִשָּׁ֛ה הַיֶּ֖לֶד וַתְּנִיקֵֽהוּ׃ 10 וַיִגְדַּ֣ל הַיֶּ֗לֶד וַתְּבִאֵ֙הוּ֙ לְבַת־פַּרְעֹ֔ה וַֽיְהִי־לָ֖הּ לְבֵ֑ן וַתִּקְרָ֤א שְׁמֹו֙ מֹשֶׁ֔ה וַתֹּ֕אמֶר כִּ֥י מִן־הַמַּ֖יִם מְשִׁיתִֽהוּ׃

Vocabulary

Verse 5

פרעה name: “Pharaoh”

רחץ  verb: “wash”

יאר  noun: “river”

תבה noun: “ark” (BDB, 1061)

סוף noun: “reeds, papyrus” (BDB, 693)

אמת noun: “maid, female servant”

Verse 6

פתח  verb: “open”

בכה  verb: “weep, cry”

חמל  verb: “spare, have compassion” (BDB, 328)

עברים  name: “Hebrews”

Syntax & Miscellaneous

• The prepositional phrase, עַל־יַ֣ד הַיְאֹ֑ר, can be understood idiomatically as “by the hand (i.e. side) of the river.” 
• Anyone want to try their hand at the parsing of וַתִּקָּחֶֽהָ?
• The final clause of verse six is a quotation, מִיַּלְדֵ֥י הָֽעִבְרִ֖ים זֶֽה.  This verbless clause follows the typical order S-P “This is one from the children of the Hebrews.”
• What is the purpose of the article with the name Hebrews?

Vocabulary

Verse 7

הינק  verb (Hiphil): “nurse” (BDB, 413)

Verse 8

עלמה  noun: “young woman” (BDB, 761)

Verse 9

שׂכר  noun: “wages” (BDB, 969)

Verse 10

מֹשֶׁה  name: “Moses”

משׁה  verb: “draw” (BDB, 602)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 7-8

• The recipient of the quotation can be marked by several different prepositions.  In verse 7, it is marked by אֶל and in verse 8 by ל.

Verse 9

• The forms of the verbs הֵילִ֜יכִי and הֵינִקִ֣הוּ are Hiphil imperatives (feminine singular).
• The clause, וַתִּקַּ֧ח הָאִשָּׁ֛ה הַיֶּ֖לֶד, follows the typical Hebrew sentence typology V-S-O.

Verse 10

• The phrase, וַֽיְהִי־לָ֖הּ לְבֵ֑ן, is similar to covenant language.  Are their implications for understanding adoption as a covenantal relationship?

וַֽיַּעֲנ֔וּ אֶת־יְהֹושֻׁ֖עַ לֵאמֹ֑ר כֹּ֤ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוִּיתָ֙נוּ֙ נַֽעֲשֶׂ֔ה וְאֶֽל־כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּשְׁלָחֵ֖נוּ נֵלֵֽךְ׃ 17 כְּכֹ֤ל אֲשֶׁר־שָׁמַ֙עְנוּ֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה כֵּ֖ן נִשְׁמַ֣ע אֵלֶ֑יךָ רַ֠ק יִֽהְיֶ֞ה יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר הָיָ֖ה עִם־מֹשֶֽׁה׃ 18 כָּל־אִ֞ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־יַמְרֶ֣ה אֶת־פִּ֗יךָ וְלֹֽא־יִשְׁמַ֧ע אֶת־דְּבָרֶ֛יךָ לְכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־תְּצַוֶּ֖נּוּ יוּמָ֑ת רַ֖ק חֲזַ֥ק וֶאֱמָֽץ׃ פ

Vocabulary

Verse 16

צִוִּיתָנוּ verb (Piel perfect 2ms with 2mpl pronominal suffix): “you commanded us”

Syntax & Miscellaneous

• The phrase, וְאֶֽל־כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר, can be understood as “and unto everywhere.”
• Clause division is difficult for the beginning student.  Some keys to finding the limits of a clause are:  (1) Look for the finite verbs (each clause will include at most one finite verb), (2)  Determine the grammatical function of each word in the clause (even if you do not know every word in the verse, you can recognize one as a verb and another as a noun), (3) Distinguish between prepositional phrases and basic clauses, (4) Watch for transitional words or phrases, (5) Use your knowledge of the accentual system to break up the verse structure, and (6) Diagram the grammatical structure, or sentence typology, of each verse (even though the verses are not always perfect indicators, let them help you in determining the limits of a clause(s)).

Verse 17

רק  “surely, only”   

Verse 18

מרה  verb: “be rebellious” (BDB, 598)

פה  noun: “mouth” (see note below)

אמץ  verb: “be strong, courageous” (BDB, 54)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 17

• The word, אֲשֶׁר, is translated generally as “which.”  However, it can mark any type of relative clause: “who(m),” “which,” “that,” “what,” or “where.”  BDB describes it as a “sign of relation” (p. 81) that requires to be substituted in the clause with another word “defining its nature more precisely.”

Verse 18

• The word, פה “mouth,” can refer idiomatically to what comes forth from the mouth (i.e. commands). 

Examples:

Genesis 41:40 “You will be over my house, and according to your mouth/command all my people will do homage.”

אַתָּה֙ תִּהְיֶ֣ה עַל־בֵּיתִ֔י וְעַל־פִּ֖יךָ יִשַּׁ֣ק כָּל־עַמִּ֑י

1 Samuel 15:24 “I sinned for I have transgressed the LORD’s mouth/command and your words.”

חָטָ֔אתִי כִּֽי־עָבַ֥רְתִּי אֶת־פִּֽי־יְהוָ֖ה וְאֶת־דְּבָרֶ֑יךָ

Numbers 14:41 “Why, then, are you transgressing the LORD’s mouth/command?”

לָ֥מָּה זֶּ֛ה אַתֶּ֥ם עֹבְרִ֖ים אֶת־פִּ֣י יְהוָ֑ה