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וַיַּ֥עַן אַבְרָהָ֖ם וַיֹּאמַ֑ר הִנֵּה־נָ֤א הוֹאַ֙לְתִּי֙ לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל־אֲדֹנָ֔י וְאָנֹכִ֖י עָפָ֥ר וָאֵֽפֶר׃ 28 א֠וּלַי יַחְסְר֞וּן חֲמִשִּׁ֤ים הַצַּדִּיקִם֙ חֲמִשָּׁ֔ה הֲתַשְׁחִ֥ית בַּחֲמִשָּׁ֖ה אֶת־כָּל־הָעִ֑יר וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לֹ֣א אַשְׁחִ֔ית אִם־אֶמְצָ֣א שָׁ֔ם אַרְבָּעִ֖ים וַחֲמִשָּֽׁה׃ 29 וַיֹּ֨סֶף ע֜וֹד לְדַבֵּ֤ר אֵלָיו֙ וַיֹּאמַ֔ר אוּלַ֛י יִמָּצְא֥וּן שָׁ֖ם אַרְבָּעִ֑ים וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לֹ֣א אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֔ה בַּעֲב֖וּר הָאַרְבָּעִֽים׃ 30 וַ֠יֹּאמֶר אַל־נָ֞א יִ֤חַר לַֽאדֹנָי֙ וַאֲדַבֵּ֔רָה אוּלַ֛י יִמָּצְא֥וּן שָׁ֖ם שְׁלֹשִׁ֑ים וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לֹ֣א אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֔ה אִם־אֶמְצָ֥א שָׁ֖ם שְׁלֹשִֽׁים׃

Vocabulary

Verse 27

            יאל  verb (Hiphil perfect 1cs): “undertake” (BDB, 383)

            עפר  “dust”

            אפר  “ashes” (BDB, 68)

Verse 28

            אולי  “if perhaps” (BDB, 19)

            חסר  verb: “lack, be lacking” (BDB, 341)

            שׁחת  verb (Hiphil imperfect 2ms): “ruin, destroy”

Verse 29

            יסף  verb (Qal waw-consecutive imperfect 3ms): “add”

            אולי  “if perhaps” (BDB, 19)

            בעבור  “on account of” (BDB, 721)

Verse 30

            חרה  verb (Qal jussive 3ms): “burn (with anger), be angry” (BDB, 354)

            אולי  “if perhaps” (BDB, 19)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 27

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיַּ֥עַן אַבְרָהָ֖ם): V-S
• Sentence Typology 2 (וַיֹּאמַ֑ר): V-O
• The embedded object clause is an infinitival.
• Embedded Sentence Typology 1 (הִנֵּה־נָ֤א הוֹאַ֙לְתִּי֙ לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל־אֲדֹנָ֔י): V-M
• Embedded Sentence Typology 2 (לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל־אֲדֹנָ֔י): V
• Sentence Typology 3 (וְאָנֹכִ֖י עָפָ֥ר וָאֵֽפֶר): S-P
• This waw + nonverb construction has a disjunctive nature, possibly best rendered by “yet.”
• GKC (141e) notes that a waw copulative connected to a verbal clause always describes a state contemporaneous to the principle action of the verbal clause (Genesis 18:1, 8, 16, 22, 27, 19:1, 25:26; Judges 13:9; 1 Samuel 1:9; 2 Samuel 4:7, 11:4).

Verse 28

• Sentence Typology 1 (א֠וּלַי יַחְסְר֞וּן חֲמִשִּׁ֤ים הַצַּדִּיקִם֙ חֲמִשָּׁ֔ה): V-S-O
• The verb, יַחְסְר֞וּן, ends with a paragogic nun (GKC, 47m).
• Sentence Typology 2 (הֲתַשְׁחִ֥ית בַּחֲמִשָּׁ֖ה אֶת־כָּל־הָעִ֑יר): V-M-O
• The clause is initiated by an interrogative he, הֲתַשְׁחִ֥ית.
• The beth preposition, בַּחֲמִשָּׁ֖ה, is said to be a instrumental beth, or beth instrumenti, understood as “for the sake of,” also see 1 Samuel 3:13 (GKC 119p)
• Sentence Typology 3 (וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙): V-O
• The object of the verb אמר is often a direct quotation.
• Embedded Sentence Typology 1 (לֹ֣א אַשְׁחִ֔ית): V-[O]
• The implied verbal object is עיר.
• The apodosis, לֹ֣א אַשְׁחִ֔ית, of the circumstantial clause is mentioned before the protasis, אִם־אֶמְצָ֣א שָׁ֔ם אַרְבָּעִ֖ים וַחֲמִשָּֽׁה.
• Embedded Sentence Typology 2 (אִם־אֶמְצָ֣א שָׁ֔ם אַרְבָּעִ֖ים וַחֲמִשָּֽׁה): V-M-O
• The implied object is forty-five “righteous men” צדיקים.

Verse 29

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיֹּ֨סֶף ע֜וֹד לְדַבֵּ֤ר אֵלָיו): V-[M:V-O]
• This clause has a compound verbal idea.  The verb, יסף, sequenced with a second verb (in this case an infinitive) means to do something again.
• Sentence Typology 2 (וַיֹּאמַ֔ר אוּלַ֛י יִמָּצְא֥וּן שָׁ֖ם אַרְבָּעִ֑ים): V-O
• The object clause is an embedded clause.
• Embedded Sentence Typology 1 (אוּלַ֛י יִמָּצְא֥וּן שָׁ֖ם אַרְבָּעִ֑ים): V-M-S
• Sentence Typology 3 (וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לֹ֣א אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֔ה בַּעֲב֖וּר הָאַרְבָּעִֽים): V-O
• The change in speaker require the repetition of אמר.
• The object clause is an embedded clause.
• Embedded Sentence Typology 1 (לֹ֣א אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֔ה בַּעֲב֖וּר הָאַרְבָּעִֽים): V-M-O
• The verb, עשֹה, is inserted for שׁחת used in verse 28.

Verse 30

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַ֠יֹּאמֶר אַל־נָ֞א יִ֤חַר לַֽאדֹנָי֙ וַאֲדַבֵּ֔רָה אוּלַ֛י יִמָּצְא֥וּן שָׁ֖ם שְׁלֹשִׁ֑ים): V-O
• The object clause is an embedded clause.
• Embedded Sentence Typology 1 (אַל־נָ֞א יִ֤חַר לַֽאדֹנָי֙): V-M
• The negative participle, אַל, is used with a jussive.
• The verb, חרה, is apocopated losing its final root he.
• Embedded Sentence Typology 2 (וַאֲדַבֵּ֔רָה): V
• The form and function of the verb is cohortative: “If I might speak.”
• The disjunctive accent, zaqeph parvum, links this word with the previous clause.
• Embedded Sentence Typology 3 (אוּלַ֛י יִמָּצְא֥וּן שָׁ֖ם שְׁלֹשִׁ֑ים): V-M-S
• The Niphal verb, יִמָּצְא֥וּן, is functioning as a passive wherein the agent is God.
• The verb ends with a paragogic nun.
• Sentence Typology 2 (וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לֹ֣א אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֔ה אִם־אֶמְצָ֥א שָׁ֖ם שְׁלֹשִֽׁים): V-O
• The object clause is an embedded clause.
• Embedded Sentence Typology 1 (לֹ֣א אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֔ה): V
• The verb, עשֹה, is inserted for שׁחת used in verse 28.
• As in verse 28, the apodosis, לֹ֣א אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֔ה, of the circumstantial clause is mentioned before the protasis, אִם־אֶמְצָ֥א שָׁ֖ם שְׁלֹשִֽׁים.
• Embedded Sentence Typology 2 (אִם־אֶמְצָ֥א שָׁ֖ם שְׁלֹשִֽׁים): V-M-O

וַיִּגַּ֥שׁ אַבְרָהָ֖ם וַיֹּאמַ֑ר הַאַ֣ף תִּסְפֶּ֔ה צַדִּ֖יק עִם־רָשָֽׁע׃ 24 אוּלַ֥י יֵ֛שׁ חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים צַדִּיקִ֖ם בְּת֣וֹךְ הָעִ֑יר הַאַ֤ף תִּסְפֶּה֙ וְלֹא־תִשָּׂ֣א לַמָּק֔וֹם לְמַ֛עַן חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים הַצַּדִּיקִ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּקִרְבָּֽהּ׃ 25 חָלִ֨לָה לְּךָ֜ מֵעֲשֹׂ֣ת ׀ כַּדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֗ה לְהָמִ֤ית צַדִּיק֙ עִם־רָשָׁ֔ע וְהָיָ֥ה כַצַּדִּ֖יק כָּרָשָׁ֑ע חָלִ֣לָה לָּ֔ךְ הֲשֹׁפֵט֙ כָּל־הָאָ֔רֶץ לֹ֥א יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה מִשְׁפָּֽט׃ 26 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוָ֔ה אִם־אֶמְצָ֥א בִסְדֹ֛ם חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים צַדִּיקִ֖ם בְּת֣וֹךְ הָעִ֑יר וְנָשָׂ֥אתִי לְכָל־הַמָּק֖וֹם בַּעֲבוּרָֽם׃

Vocabulary

Verse 23

            נגשׁ  verb: “draw near”

            אף  “indeed”

            ספה  verb (Qal imperfect 2ms): “sweep away” (BDB, 705)

Verse 24

            אולי  “perhaps” (BDB, 19)

            ספה  verb: “sweep away” (BDB, 705)

            למען  “for the sake of”

Verse 25

            חלילה  “far be it” (BDB, 321)

            מות  verb (Hiphil infinitive construct): “kill”

Verse 26

            סדם  name: “Sodom”

            בעבור  (with 3mpl suffix): “on account of” (BDB, 721)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 23

• The quotation is initiated by an interrogative ה and the interjection/particle אַף.

Verse 24

• The word, יֵשׁ, is called a predicator of existence translated “there is” or “there are.”  It can also serve merely as a copulative verb.
• The plural form of חמשׁ “five” is חמשׁים “fifty.”
• The verbal idea of נָשָׂא לְ for נָשָׂא עָוֹן לְ “to take away any one’s sin,” i.e. to forgive (GKC, 117g)
• The 3fs suffix, בְּקִרְבָּֽהּ, refers back to the city.

Verse 25

• The word, דָּבָר, can mean “matter, deed, thing” (cf. BDB, 183 IV)
• GKC (161c) notes concerning the sequence of כְּ‍—כְּ‍ “when used in correspondence with one another, as—so (e.g. Leviticus 7:7; Judges 8:18; Isaiah 24:2; Hosea 4:9; also so—as, Genesis 18:25, 44:18; Deuteronomy 1:17; 1 Kings 22:4).”
• The interrogative ה is used in conjunction with the participle, הֲשֹׁפֵט֙.
• The final asyndetic clause is explanative, לֹ֥א יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה מִשְׁפָּֽט “but not do justice.”

Verse 26

• The overall structure is a circumstantial clause marked by אִם וְ “if…then.”
• The repetition of בִסְדֹ֛ם and בְּת֣וֹךְ הָעִ֑יר is interesting, any ideas?
• The sequencing of נָשָׂא לְ means “to forgive” (see note on verse 24).

Dagesh

The diacritical point, dagesh, serves to distinguish a letter in two ways:

1.  Dagesh lene

The “hardening” of a consonant, or pronunciation without aspiration, is marked by a dagesh lene.  Because it distinguishes between plosive and fricative consonants, it is sometimes called dagesh plosive. 

Dagesh lene is associated with the six begadkephath letters (בְּגַדְכְּפַת) and occurs at the beginning of words (cf. בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית בָּרָ֣א Genesis 1:1) and after closed syllables (cf. וְיִרְדּוּ֩ Genesis 1:26).[1]

2.  Dagesh forte

Dagesh forte is used to “strengthen” a letter.  This strengthening typically marks doubling in which the consonant closes the previous syllable as well as begins the following one (צַדִּיק < צַדדִיק*).

This doubling dagesh occurs with assimilation (English: in + measurable > immeasurable; Hebrew: יִתֵּן < יִנְתֵן*).  Also, some grammatical forms (i.e. Piel, Pual) necessitate the doubling of the second root radical (R2).

Dagesh may be used for euphonic reasons:

1. Dagesh conjunctive, or forte conjunctivum

In a situation in which two words are joined, or closely linked, in pronunciation and an open, unaccented final syllable (usually qames, qames he or seghol he) is followed by an accented first syllable, a dagesh conjunctive is commonly used. 

            Examples:

לְכָה־נָּא Numbers 22:6; יְצַוֶּה־לָּךְ Psalm 91:11; and וּמִֽשְׁנֶה־כֶּ֫סֶף Genesis 43:15 (GKC, 20c)

1. Dagesh disjunctive

In syllables with the vowel shewa, dagesh distinguishes a vocal instead of silent shewa (called also dagesh dirimens).[2]

Example:

בְּחַלְּקֵי Isaiah 57:6 is b^e-ha-l^e-ke and not b^e-hal-ke

 וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלַ֖י הֲרָאִ֣יתָ בֶן־אָדָ֑ם ע֣וֹד תָּשׁ֥וּב תִּרְאֶ֛ה תּוֹעֵב֥וֹת גְּדֹל֖וֹת מֵאֵֽלֶּה׃ 16 וַיָּבֵ֣א אֹתִ֗י אֶל־חֲצַ֣ר בֵּית־יְהוָה֮ הַפְּנִימִית֒ וְהִנֵּה־פֶ֜תַח הֵיכַ֣ל יְהוָ֗ה בֵּ֤ין הָֽאוּלָם֙ וּבֵ֣ין הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ כְּעֶשְׂרִ֥ים וַחֲמִשָּׁ֖ה אִ֑ישׁ אֲחֹ֨רֵיהֶ֜ם אֶל־הֵיכַ֤ל יְהוָה֙ וּפְנֵיהֶ֣ם קֵ֔דְמָה וְהֵ֛מָּה מִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתֶ֥ם קֵ֖דְמָה לַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ 17 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַי֮ הֲרָאִ֣יתָ בֶן־אָדָם֒ הֲנָקֵל֙ לְבֵ֣ית יְהוּדָ֔ה מֵעֲשׂ֕וֹת אֶת־הַתּוֹעֵב֖וֹת אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָֽשׂוּ־פֹ֑ה כִּֽי־מָלְא֨וּ אֶת־הָאָ֜רֶץ חָמָ֗ס וַיָּשֻׁ֙בוּ֙ לְהַכְעִיסֵ֔נִי וְהִנָּ֛ם שֹׁלְחִ֥ים אֶת־הַזְּמוֹרָ֖ה אֶל־אַפָּֽם׃ 18 וְגַם־אֲנִי֙ אֶעֱשֶׂ֣ה בְחֵמָ֔ה לֹֽא־תָח֥וֹס עֵינִ֖י וְלֹ֣א אֶחְמֹ֑ל וְקָרְא֤וּ בְאָזְנַי֙ ק֣וֹל גָּד֔וֹל וְלֹ֥א אֶשְׁמַ֖ע אוֹתָֽם׃

Vocabulary

Verse 15

            תועבה  “abomination”

Syntax & Miscellaneous

• The מִן preposition is used as the comparative—“more than.”

Vocabulary

Verse 16

            חצר  “courtyard”

            פנימי  “inner” (BDB, 819)

            פתה  “door, opening”

            אולם  “porch” (BDB, 17)

            אחור  “back” (BDB, 30)

            קדם  “eastward” (BDB, 870)

            שׁמשׁ  “sun”

Verse 17

            קלל  verb (Niphal perfect 3ms): “too slight, too small” (sequenced with מִן)

            יהודה  name: “Judah”

            תועבה  “abomination”

            פה  “here” (BDB, 805)

            חמס  “violence”

כעס  verb (Hiphil infinitive construct w/ 1cs suffix): “be vexed, provoked to anger”

            זמורה  “small branch” (BDB, 274)

Verse 18

            חמה  noun: “wrath”

            חוס  verb (Qal imperfect 3fs): “look upon with compassion, pity” (BDB, 299)

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

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 16

• The adjective, הַפְּנִימִית֒, is modifying חצר.  Adjectives must agree in gender, number and definiteness.  חצר is mostly feminine in the MT, each is singular and it is considered definite because it is in construct with a proper noun בית־יהוה.
• The sequencing of בין …בין is used to mark between … and ….
• The meaning of the word, אולם “porch,” is obscure.  The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament says it “occurs mainly in 1 Kings and Ezekiel as part of a temple or palace. Apparently it was an enclosed porch or entrance hall, since it could have windows (Ezekiel 41:26) and is compared to a palace (1 Kings 7:8)” (Harris, et al., TWOT, 45j).
• The kaf inseparable preposition can function to give approximate numbers, כְּעֶשְׂרִ֥ים וַחֲמִשָּׁ֖ה אִ֑ישׁ “about twenty-five men.”
• The final clause, וְהֵ֛מָּה מִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתֶ֥ם קֵ֖דְמָה לַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ, is periphrastic without an extant, finite היה verb.  קדמה is functioning adverbial demonstrating to what direction they are bowing down in worship.

Verse 17

• An interrogative he is prefixed to the verb, הֲנָקֵל֙.
• The final clause is periphrastic without an extant היה verb.
• The expression, שֹׁלְחִ֥ים אֶת־הַזְּמוֹרָ֖ה אֶל־אַפָּֽם, probably indicates some type of idolatrous worship rite.

Verse 18

• The subject of the verb חוס is the feminine noun, עין.
• The phrase, ק֣וֹל גָּד֔וֹל, is functioning adverbially “with a great voice.”

On the right you will notice a DH Poll through which I would like regular Daily Hebrew readers to give some feedback about what daily readings they would like to continue over the summer.

It is much easier for me to post from one book than it is to rotate each day. In fact most of the time I complete an entire chapter of readings at a time to attempt to keep some consistency. As I will be moving this summer and traveling a bit (my wife and I will be in Norway for the first couple weeks of June), it would be easier to switch to one book.

What do you think? Your feedback will help me decide how to continue for the next few months.

UPDATE:

Don’t forget to vote before the end of the week!!!