DailyHebrew.com

וָאָבֹ֥א הַיּ֖וֹם אֶל־הָעָ֑יִן וָאֹמַ֗ר יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֔ם אִם־יֶשְׁךָ־נָּא֙ מַצְלִ֣יחַ דַּרְכִּ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י הֹלֵ֥ךְ עָלֶֽיהָ׃ 43 הִנֵּ֛ה אָנֹכִ֥י נִצָּ֖ב עַל־עֵ֣ין הַמָּ֑יִם וְהָיָ֤ה הָֽעַלְמָה֙ הַיֹּצֵ֣את לִשְׁאֹ֔ב וְאָמַרְתִּ֣י אֵלֶ֔יהָ הַשְׁקִֽינִי־נָ֥א מְעַט־מַ֖יִם מִכַּדֵּֽךְ׃ 44 וְאָמְרָ֤ה אֵלַי֙ גַּם־אַתָּ֣ה שְׁתֵ֔ה וְגַ֥ם לִגְמַלֶּ֖יךָ אֶשְׁאָ֑ב הִ֣וא הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־הֹכִ֥יחַ יְהוָ֖ה לְבֶן־אֲדֹנִֽי׃

Vocabulary

Verse 42

            עין  noun: “spring”

            צלח  verb (Hiphil participle ms): “make successful”

Verse 43

            נצב  verb (Niphal participle ms): “(take one’s) stand”

            עלמה  “young woman” (BDB, 761)

            שׁאב  verb (Qal infinitive construct): “draw” (BDB, 980)

            שׁקה  verb (Hiphil imperative fs with 1cs suffix): “give a drink to”

            כד  “jar” (BDB, 461)

Verse 44

            גמל  “camel”

            שׁאב  verb: “draw” (BDB, 980)

            יכח  verb (Hiphil perfect 3ms): “decide”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 42

• Sentence Typology 1 (וָאָבֹ֥א הַיּ֖וֹם אֶל־הָעָ֑יִן): V-M
• The article with יום indicates “this day” or “today.”
• Sentence Typology 2 (וָאֹמַ֗ר יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֔ם אִם־יֶשְׁךָ־נָּא֙ מַצְלִ֣יחַ דַּרְכִּ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י הֹלֵ֥ךְ עָלֶֽיהָ): V-O
• The object is direct speech.
• Embedded Typology A (יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֔ם אִם־יֶשְׁךָ־נָּא֙ מַצְלִ֣יחַ דַּרְכִּ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י הֹלֵ֥ךְ עָלֶֽיהָ): M-V-S-V-O-M
• The particle, אם, begins the protasis of a conditional sentence; the apodosis is found in the following verse.
• GKC states: “In Genesis 24:42f the condition is expressed in a more humble form by the addition of נָא” (159v).
• The initial phrase, יהיה אלהי אדני אברהם, is the object of address referred to later by the 2ms suffix attached to substantive, ישׁ (cf. GKC 141k).
• Embedded Typology i (אָנֹכִ֖י הֹלֵ֥ךְ עָלֶֽיהָ): S-V-M
• The Qal participle, הלך, functions as a finite (periphrastic) verb.

Verse 43

• Embedded Typology B (הִנֵּ֛ה אָנֹכִ֥י נִצָּ֖ב עַל־עֵ֣ין הַמָּ֑יִם): S-V-M
• The lack of a connection waw is peculiar, however does occur intermittently in direct speech.
• Embedded Typology C (וְהָיָ֤ה הָֽעַלְמָה֙ הַיֹּצֵ֣את לִשְׁאֹ֔ב): V-SC-M
• This clause completes the conditional (cf. A): “If … then, let there be…”
• The substantival participle functions as an adjective agreeing in person, number and definiteness.
• Embedded Typology D (וְאָמַרְתִּ֣י אֵלֶ֔יהָ הַשְׁקִֽינִי־נָ֥א מְעַט־מַ֖יִם מִכַּדֵּֽךְ): V-IO-O
• The waw-consecutive perfect indicates future action (GKC 112t).
• The object is direct speech.
• Embedded Typology i (הַשְׁקִֽינִי־נָ֥א מְעַט־מַ֖יִם מִכַּדֵּֽךְ): V-O-M
• This is a second level of direct speech (i.e. a quotation embedded in another quotation).
• See note above (v. 42 A n.2) concerning the use of נָא.

Verse 44

• Embedded Typology E (וְאָמְרָ֤ה אֵלַי֙ גַּם־אַתָּ֣ה שְׁתֵ֔ה וְגַ֥ם לִגְמַלֶּ֖יךָ אֶשְׁאָ֑ב הִ֣וא הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־הֹכִ֥יחַ יְהוָ֖ה לְבֶן־אֲדֹנִֽי): V-IO-O
• The object is direct speech.
• Embedded Typology i (גַּם־אַתָּ֣ה שְׁתֵ֔ה): S-V
• As in clause D above, this is the second level of direct speech.
• The sequencing of וגם … גם connotes the idea of “both…and…” (GKC 162b).
• The pronoun, אתה, is redundant.
• Embedded Typology ii (וְגַ֥ם לִגְמַלֶּ֖יךָ אֶשְׁאָ֑ב): M-V
• Embedded Typology F (הִ֣וא הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־הֹכִ֥יחַ יְהוָ֖ה לְבֶן־אֲדֹנִֽי): S-P
• The Kethib Qere perpetuum, הִוא, should be understood as הִיא (cf. GKC 17c).
• Embedded Typology i (הֹכִ֥יחַ יְהוָ֖ה לְבֶן־אֲדֹנִֽי): V-S-M
• The lamed preposition is sequenced with יכח to designate who benefits from the action (also Isaiah 2:4 וְהוֹכִ֖יחַ לְעַמִּ֣ים רַבִּ֑ים “He will judge the many peoples,” Isaiah 11:4 וְהוֹכִ֥יחַ בְּמִישׁ֖וֹר לְעַנְוֵי־אָ֑רֶץ “He will arbitrate with fairness for the poor of the earth”).

After a brief hiatus and crashing the host server, DailyHebrew.com is back.  Hopefully, the posts will be uninterrupted at least until the Fall term begins next month.  Thanks for the notes of concern!

Blessings

The city of Cairo is in the process of moving a 138 ton Ramses II statue from the center of the city to the Grand Egyptian Museum (Gulf News, NewKerala).  According to the Google Blog, the statue will follow a route to its new home planned by engineers using Google Earth. The Friday, August 25 itinerary can be viewed with Google Earth by downloading this KML file.

וַיַּשְׁבִּעֵ֥נִי אֲדֹנִ֖י לֵאמֹ֑ר לֹא־תִקַּ֤ח אִשָּׁה֙ לִבְנִ֔י מִבְּנוֹת֙ הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י יֹשֵׁ֥ב בְּאַרְצֽוֹ׃ 38 אִם־לֹ֧א אֶל־בֵּית־אָבִ֛י תֵּלֵ֖ךְ וְאֶל־מִשְׁפַּחְתִּ֑י וְלָקַחְתָּ֥ אִשָּׁ֖ה לִבְנִֽי׃ 39 וָאֹמַ֖ר אֶל־אֲדֹנִ֑י אֻלַ֛י לֹא־תֵלֵ֥ךְ הָאִשָּׁ֖ה אַחֲרָֽי׃ 40 וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֵלָ֑י יְהוָ֞ה אֲשֶׁר־הִתְהַלַּ֣כְתִּי לְפָנָ֗יו יִשְׁלַ֨ח מַלְאָכ֤וֹ אִתָּךְ֙ וְהִצְלִ֣יחַ דַּרְכֶּ֔ךָ וְלָקַחְתָּ֤ אִשָּׁה֙ לִבְנִ֔י מִמִּשְׁפַּחְתִּ֖י וּמִבֵּ֥ית אָבִֽי׃ 41 אָ֤ז תִּנָּקֶה֙ מֵאָ֣לָתִ֔י כִּ֥י תָב֖וֹא אֶל־מִשְׁפַּחְתִּ֑י וְאִם־לֹ֤א יִתְּנוּ֙ לָ֔ךְ וְהָיִ֥יתָ נָקִ֖י מֵאָלָתִֽי׃

Vocabulary

Verse 37

            כנעני  name: “Canaanites”

Verse 38

            משׁפח  “family group [clan]”

Verse 39

            אולי  “perhaps’ (BDB, 19)

Verse 40

            צלח  verb (Hiphil waw-consecutive perfect 3ms): “make prosperous”

Verse 41

            נקה  verb: “be free” (BDB, 667)

            אלה  “oath” (BDB, 46)

            נקי  “free from” (BDB, 667)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 37

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיַּשְׁבִּעֵ֥נִי אֲדֹנִ֖י לֵאמֹ֑ר לֹא־תִקַּ֤ח אִשָּׁה֙ לִבְנִ֔י מִבְּנוֹת֙ הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י יֹשֵׁ֥ב בְּאַרְצֽוֹ): V-IO-S-M-O
• The 1cs suffix attached to the verb, שׁבע, is the indirect object.
• Embedded Typology A (לֹא־תִקַּ֤ח אִשָּׁה֙ לִבְנִ֔י מִבְּנוֹת֙ הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י יֹשֵׁ֥ב בְּאַרְצֽוֹ): V-O-M
• The lamed represents purpose, לבני “for my son.”
• Embedded Typology i (אָנֹכִ֖י יֹשֵׁ֥ב בְּאַרְצֽוֹ): S-V-M
• The verb is a periphrastic construct that omits היה.

Verse 38

• Embedded Typology B (אִם־לֹ֧א אֶל־בֵּית־אָבִ֛י תֵּלֵ֖ךְ וְאֶל־מִשְׁפַּחְתִּ֑י): M-V-M
• The direct speech is continued from verse 37.
• The idiom, אם־לא, is used commonly in sequence with oaths (cf. GKC 149c).
• The verb is placed between the two similar adverbial modifiers.
• Embedded Typology C (וְלָקַחְתָּ֥ אִשָּׁ֖ה לִבְנִֽי): V-O-M
• The waw-consecutive perfect continues the force of the imperfect from the preceding clause.

Verse 39

• Sentence Typology 1 (וָאֹמַ֖ר אֶל־אֲדֹנִ֑י אֻלַ֛י לֹא־תֵלֵ֥ךְ הָאִשָּׁ֖ה אַחֲרָֽי): V-IO-O
• The waw-consecutive imperfect, ואמר, marks the response or answer to the oath.
• The object is direct speech.
• Embedded Typology A (אֻלַ֛י לֹא־תֵלֵ֥ךְ הָאִשָּׁ֖ה אַחֲרָֽי):
• The introductory particle is a defective spelling of אולי “perhaps.”
• Abraham’s servant asks “what if?”

Verse 40

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֵלָ֑י יְהוָ֞ה אֲשֶׁר־הִתְהַלַּ֣כְתִּי לְפָנָ֗יו יִשְׁלַ֨ח מַלְאָכ֤וֹ אִתָּךְ֙ וְהִצְלִ֣יחַ דַּרְכֶּ֔ךָ וְלָקַחְתָּ֤ אִשָּׁה֙ לִבְנִ֔י מִמִּשְׁפַּחְתִּ֖י וּמִבֵּ֥ית אָבִֽי): V-IO-O
• The object is direct speech.
• Embedded Typology A (יְהוָ֞ה אֲשֶׁר־הִתְהַלַּ֣כְתִּי לְפָנָ֗יו יִשְׁלַ֨ח מַלְאָכ֤וֹ אִתָּךְ֙): S-V-O-M
• The following embedded clause (i) modifies the subject.
• The particle, את, is used as a preposition “with.”
• Embedded Typology i (הִתְהַלַּ֣כְתִּי לְפָנָ֗יו): V-M
• The Hithpael stem connotes the idea of continuation of action, i.e. התהלך “walk about = live.”
• Embedded Typology B (וְהִצְלִ֣יחַ דַּרְכֶּ֔ךָ): V-O
• The inexplicit subject of the clause could be יהוה or מלאך.
• Embedded Typology C (וְלָקַחְתָּ֤ אִשָּׁה֙ לִבְנִ֔י מִמִּשְׁפַּחְתִּ֖י וּמִבֵּ֥ית אָבִֽי): V-O-M
• Unlike clause B of verse 38, the adverbial modifiers both follow the verb.

Verse 41

• Embedded Typology D (אָ֤ז תִּנָּקֶה֙ מֵאָ֣לָתִ֔י): V-M
• Pronominal suffixes are attached to the construct noun forms, אלת, although the initial qames normally would be reduced (GKC 95n).
• Embedded Typology E (כִּ֥י תָב֖וֹא אֶל־מִשְׁפַּחְתִּ֑י): V-M
• The particle, כי, functions as a temporal marker, “when.”
• Embedded Typology F (וְאִם־לֹ֤א יִתְּנוּ֙ לָ֔ךְ): V-IO-[O]
• The object, אשׁה, is implied (GKC 117f).
• Embedded Typology G (וְהָיִ֥יתָ נָקִ֖י מֵאָלָתִֽי): V-SC
• The adjective, נקי, is a substantive serving as the subject complement.

וַיִּישֶׂם לְפָנָיו֙ לֶאֱכֹ֔ל וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לֹ֣א אֹכַ֔ל עַ֥ד אִם־דִּבַּ֖רְתִּי דְּבָרָ֑י וַיֹּ֖אמֶר דַּבֵּֽר׃ 34 וַיֹּאמַ֑ר עֶ֥בֶד אַבְרָהָ֖ם אָנֹֽכִי׃ 35 וַיהוָ֞ה בֵּרַ֧ךְ אֶת־אֲדֹנִ֛י מְאֹ֖ד וַיִּגְדָּ֑ל וַיִּתֶּן־ל֞וֹ צֹ֤אן וּבָקָר֙ וְכֶ֣סֶף וְזָהָ֔ב וַעֲבָדִם֙ וּשְׁפָחֹ֔ת וּגְמַלִּ֖ים וַחֲמֹרִֽים׃ 36 וַתֵּ֡לֶד שָׂרָה֩ אֵ֨שֶׁת אֲדֹנִ֥י בֵן֙ לַֽאדֹנִ֔י אַחֲרֵ֖י זִקְנָתָ֑הּ וַיִּתֶּן־לּ֖וֹ אֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־לֽוֹ׃

Vocabulary

Verse 33

            שׁים  verb (Q. Hophal waw-consecutive imperfect 3ms): “set, place”

            עד אם  “until”

Verse 35

            שׁפחה  “maid-servant”

            גמל  “camel”

            חמר  “donkey”

Verse 36

            שֹרה  “”

            זקנה  noun: “old age” (BDB, 279)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 33

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיִּישֶׂם לְפָנָיו֙ לֶאֱכֹ֔ל): V-M
• Qere: וַיּוּשַׂ֤ם.  Some have suggested that the Kethib form is a Qal passive (cf. GKC 73f).
• Sentence Typology 2 (וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לֹ֣א אֹכַ֔ל עַ֥ד אִם־דִּבַּ֖רְתִּי דְּבָרָ֑י): V-O
• The object is direct speech.
• Embedded Typology A (לֹ֣א אֹכַ֔ל): V
• The imperfect, אכל, represents the future—“I will not eat.”
• Embedded Typology B (עַ֥ד אִם־דִּבַּ֖רְתִּי דְּבָרָ֑י): V-O
• Sentence Typology 3 (וַיֹּ֖אמֶר דַּבֵּֽר): V-O
• The object is direct speech.
• Embedded Typology A (דַּבֵּֽר): V
• The command is given by Laban to the servant.

Verse 34

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיֹּאמַ֑ר עֶ֥בֶד אַבְרָהָ֖ם אָנֹֽכִי): V-O
• The object is direct speech.
• Embedded Typology A (עֶ֥בֶד אַבְרָהָ֖ם אָנֹֽכִי): P-S
• The predicate of the verbless clause is the construct phrase, עבד אברהם.

Verse 35

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיהוָ֞ה בֵּרַ֧ךְ אֶת־אֲדֹנִ֛י מְאֹ֖ד): S-V-O-M
• The final suffix of אדן is a 1cs suffix.
• Sentence Typology 2 (וַיִּגְדָּ֑ל): V
• The first two verbs are linked in meaning and function.  Sometimes considered as a verbal hendiadys. 
• Sentence Typology 3 (וַיִּתֶּן־ל֞וֹ צֹ֤אן וּבָקָר֙ וְכֶ֣סֶף וְזָהָ֔ב וַעֲבָדִם֙ וּשְׁפָחֹ֔ת וּגְמַלִּ֖ים וַחֲמֹרִֽים): V-IO-O
• The direct object includes the list beginning with צאן.

Verse 36

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַתֵּ֡לֶד שָׂרָה֩ אֵ֨שֶׁת אֲדֹנִ֥י בֵן֙ לַֽאדֹנִ֔י אַחֲרֵ֖י זִקְנָתָ֑הּ): V-S-O-M
• The noun phrase, אשׁת אדני, is in apposition to the proper name, שֹרה.
• The preposition, אחרי, serves as a temporal marker, “after.”
• The 3fs pronominal suffix is attached to the construct form of זקנה.
• Sentence Typology 2 (וַיִּתֶּן־לּ֖וֹ אֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־לֽוֹ): V-IO-O-M
• The final relative may be analyzed as an embedded [S]-P clause.