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וְאַבְרָהָ֣ם זָקֵ֔ן בָּ֖א בַּיָּמִ֑ים וַֽיהוָ֛ה בֵּרַ֥ךְ אֶת־אַבְרָהָ֖ם בַּכֹּֽל׃ 2 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אַבְרָהָ֗ם אֶל־עַבְדּוֹ֙ זְקַ֣ן בֵּית֔וֹ הַמֹּשֵׁ֖ל בְּכָל־אֲשֶׁר־ל֑וֹ שִֽׂים־נָ֥א יָדְךָ֖ תַּ֥חַת יְרֵכִֽי׃ 3 וְאַשְׁבִּ֣יעֲךָ֔ בַּֽיהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וֵֽאלֹהֵ֖י הָאָ֑רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־תִקַּ֤ח אִשָּׁה֙ לִבְנִ֔י מִבְּנוֹת֙ הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י יוֹשֵׁ֥ב בְּקִרְבּֽוֹ׃ 4 כִּ֧י אֶל־אַרְצִ֛י וְאֶל־מוֹלַדְתִּ֖י תֵּלֵ֑ךְ וְלָקַחְתָּ֥ אִשָּׁ֖ה לִבְנִ֥י לְיִצְחָֽק׃

Vocabulary

Verse 1

            זקן  verb: “be old” (BDB, 278)

Verse 2

            משׁל  verb (Qal participle ms): “rule”

            ירך  “thigh, loins” (BDB, 437)

Verse 3

            כנעני  name: “Canaanites”

Verse 4

מולדת  “kindred” (BDB, 409)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 1

·        Sentence Typology 1 (): S-P

o       The initial waw is disjunctive (waw + nonverb).

o       The verb represents a state (GKC 142b).

o       The participle, בָּא, is a nominal.

·        Sentence Typology 2 (וַֽיהוָ֛ה בֵּרַ֥ךְ אֶת־אַבְרָהָ֖ם בַּכֹּֽל): S-V-O-M

Verse 2

·        Sentence Typology A (וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אַבְרָהָ֗ם אֶל־עַבְדּוֹ֙ זְקַ֣ן בֵּית֔וֹ הַמֹּשֵׁ֖ל בְּכָל־אֲשֶׁר־ל֑וֹ שִֽׂים־נָ֥א יָדְךָ֖ תַּ֥חַת יְרֵכִֽי): V-S-IO-O

o       The object, עבדו, is followed by two appositional clauses designating to which servant is spoken.

o       The second appositional clause contains the substantival participle, המשׁל “one ruling.”

o       The object is direct speech that continues through the next two verses.

·        Embedded Typology B (שִֽׂים־נָ֥א יָדְךָ֖ תַּ֥חַת יְרֵכִֽי): V-O-M

o       The particle, נָא, is used frequently to soften the force of an imperative; it is sometimes translated as “please” (GKC 110d).

Verse 3

·        Embedded Typology C (וְאַשְׁבִּ֣יעֲךָ֔ בַּֽיהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וֵֽאלֹהֵ֖י הָאָ֑רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־תִקַּ֤ח אִשָּׁה֙ לִבְנִ֔י מִבְּנוֹת֙ הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י יוֹשֵׁ֥ב בְּקִרְבּֽוֹ): V-IO-M-O

o       The appellations, אלהי השׁמים and אלהי הארץ, are in apposition to the divine name.

o       The object is the following clause marked by אשׁר (GKC 165b).

·        Embedded Typology i (לֹֽא־תִקַּ֤ח אִשָּׁה֙ לִבְנִ֔י מִבְּנוֹת֙ הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י יוֹשֵׁ֥ב בְּקִרְבּֽוֹ): V-O-M

o       The lamed preposition shows purpose, לבני “for my son.”

o       The final suffix of כנען is the gentilic ending.

·        Embedded Typology α (אָנֹכִ֖י יוֹשֵׁ֥ב בְּקִרְבּֽוֹ): S-V-M

o       This periphrastic verbal construction omits (or implies) היה.

o       The 3ms final suffix refers to הכנעני.

Verse 4

·        Embedded Typology ii (כִּ֧י אֶל־אַרְצִ֛י וְאֶל־מוֹלַדְתִּ֖י תֵּלֵ֑ךְ): M-V

o       The particle, כִּי, demonstrates the purpose for the action required by the previous clause.

o       GKC notes “When the nota accusativi (אֵת, אֶת־) or a preposition precedes the first substantive, it may be repeated before the noun in apposition (131h).

·        Embedded Typology iii (וְלָקַחְתָּ֥ אִשָּׁ֖ה לִבְנִ֥י לְיִצְחָֽק): V-O-IO

o       The waw-consecutive perfect (GKC 112q) followed by two appositional substantives with repeated prepositions forms a chiastic structure—ABBA—with the first clause (ii).

We can all thank Ben Myers at Faith and Theology for initiating this meme. I thought I dogged a bullet until I saw that Tyler tagged me.  So here it is:

1. One book that changed your life:
The Bible

2. One book that you’ve read more than once:
::amazon(0802808689,God in the Dock)::, a wonderful collection of C.S. Lewis’ essays (I particularly recommend, “On the Reading of Old Books” and “Xmas and Christmas”)

3. One book you’d want on a desert island:
::amazon(3438052504,This one)::

4. One book that made you laugh:
Any of the ::amazon(0836251822,Dilbert):: books by Scott Adams

5. One book that made you cry:
N/A

6. One book that you wish had been written:

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Comparative Semitic Grammar

7. One book that you wish had never been written:
It is actually a love/hate emotion: Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica by Sir Isaac Newton

8. One book you’re currently reading:
::amazon(0788502484,The Representation of Speech in Biblical Hebrew Narrative):: by Cynthia Miller.

9. One book you’ve been meaning to read:
::amazon(1565632559,Mikra)::: Text, Translation, Reading and Interpretation of the Hebrew Bible in Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity edited by Martin Mulder (I have started this volume several times; class work, however, has gotten in the way of learning)

10. Now tag five people:

I will save you all from having to continue this meme.  Let it end with me!

וַיְהִי בִּשְׁנַת אַרְבַּע לְדָרְיָוֶשׁ הַמֶּלֶךְ הָיָה דְבַר־יְהוָה אֶל־זְכַרְיָה בְּאַרְבָּעָה לַחֹדֶשׁ הַתְּשִׁעִי בְּכִסְלֵו׃ 2 וַיִּשְׁלַח בֵּית־אֵל שַׂר־אֶצֶר וְרֶגֶם מֶלֶךְ וַאֲנָשָׁיו לְחַלּוֹת אֶת־פְּנֵי יְהוָה׃ 3 לֵאמֹר אֶל־הַכֹּהֲנִים אֲשֶׁר לְבֵית־יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת וְאֶל־הַנְּבִיאִים לֵאמֹר הַאֶבְכֶּה בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַחֲמִשִׁי הִנָּזֵר כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתִי זֶה כַּמֶּה שָׁנִים׃   פ

Vocabulary

Verse 1

            דריושׁ  name: “Darius”

            זכריה  name: “Zechariah”

            תשׁיעי  ordinal: “ninth”

            כסלו  name (ninth month): “Chislev”

Verse 2

            שֹר־אצר  name: “Sharezer”

            רגם מלך  name: “Regem-melech”

            חלה  verb (Piel infinitive construct): “appease”

Verse 3

            בכה  verb: “weep”

            חמשׁי  ordinal: “fifth”

            נזר  verb (Niphal infinitive absolute): “consecrating oneself [by fasting]”

            כמה  “how many/often!”

Syntax & Miscellaneous

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיְהִי בִּשְׁנַת אַרְבַּע לְדָרְיָוֶשׁ הַמֶּלֶךְ): V-M
• This may well be classified as an introductory temporal clause.
• Sentence Typology 2 (הָיָה דְבַר־יְהוָה אֶל־זְכַרְיָה בְּאַרְבָּעָה לַחֹדֶשׁ הַתְּשִׁעִי בְּכִסְלֵו): S-V-M
• Ordinal numbers are always used with months (GKC 134p).

Verse 2

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיִּשְׁלַח בֵּית־אֵל שַׂר־אֶצֶר וְרֶגֶם מֶלֶךְ וַאֲנָשָׁיו לְחַלּוֹת אֶת־פְּנֵי יְהוָה): V-S-O-M
• The subject is the personification of Bethel (meaning: “[the people of] Bethel).
• The compound object includes three members.
• The infinitive clause modifies the finite verb, שׁלח.
• Embedded Typology A (לְחַלּוֹת אֶת־פְּנֵי יְהוָה): V-O

Verse 3

• Embedded Typology i (לֵאמֹר אֶל־הַכֹּהֲנִים אֲשֶׁר לְבֵית־יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת וְאֶל־הַנְּבִיאִים): V-IO-O
• The two infinitives, לאמר, to modify the previous infinitive, לחלות.
• The indirect object is compound.
• The use of the lamed preposition to describe the relationship of the priests (הכהנים) to the house of the Lord (בית־יהוה) is that they “belong to” the temple.
• The object (i.e. direct speech) follows the second לאמר.
• Embedded Typology ii (הַאֶבְכֶּה בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַחֲמִשִׁי הִנָּזֵר): V-M
• The initial he is an interrogative he.
• The beth preposition marks a temporal phrase.
• The reflexive verb, הנזר, serves to designate the attendant circumstances of the verb, אבכה (GKC 113h).  In English, a participle may best translate this constituent.
• Embedded Typology iii (כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתִי זֶה כַּמֶּה שָׁנִים): V-O-M
• The final phrase, כמה שׁנים “so many years,” is an adverbial modifier.

וַיָּ֣קָם ׀ שְׂדֵ֣ה עֶפְר֗וֹן אֲשֶׁר֙ בַּמַּכְפֵּלָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר לִפְנֵ֣י מַמְרֵ֑א הַשָּׂדֶה֙ וְהַמְּעָרָ֣ה אֲשֶׁר־בּ֔וֹ וְכָל־הָעֵץ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּכָל־גְּבֻל֖וֹ סָבִֽיב׃ 18 לְאַבְרָהָ֥ם לְמִקְנָ֖ה לְעֵינֵ֣י בְנֵי־חֵ֑ת בְּכֹ֖ל בָּאֵ֥י שַֽׁעַר־עִירֽוֹ׃ 19 וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵן֩ קָבַ֨ר אַבְרָהָ֜ם אֶת־שָׂרָ֣ה אִשְׁתּ֗וֹ אֶל־מְעָרַ֞ת שְׂדֵ֧ה הַמַּכְפֵּלָ֛ה עַל־פְּנֵ֥י מַמְרֵ֖א הִ֣וא חֶבְר֑וֹן בְּאֶ֖רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן׃ 20 וַיָּ֨קָם הַשָּׂדֶ֜ה וְהַמְּעָרָ֧ה אֲשֶׁר־בּ֛וֹ לְאַבְרָהָ֖ם לַאֲחֻזַּת־קָ֑בֶר מֵאֵ֖ת בְּנֵי־חֵֽת׃ ס

Vocabulary

Verse 17

            עפרון  name: “Ephron”

            מלכלה  name: “Machpelah”

            ממרא  name: “Mamre”

            מערה  noun: “cave” (BDB, 792)

            גבול  “territory, border”

Verse 18

            מקנה  “possession” (BDB, 889)

Verse 19

            שֹרה  name: “Sarah”

            מערה  noun: “cave” (BDB, 792)

            חברון  name: “Hebron”

            כנען  name: “Canaan”

Verse 20

            מערה  noun: “cave” (BDB, 792)

            אחזה  noun: “possession”

            קבר  noun: “burial site, grave”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 17-18

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיָּ֣קָם ׀ שְׂדֵ֣ה עֶפְר֗וֹן אֲשֶׁר֙ בַּמַּכְפֵּלָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר לִפְנֵ֣י מַמְרֵ֑א הַשָּׂדֶה֙ וְהַמְּעָרָ֣ה אֲשֶׁר־בּ֔וֹ וְכָל־הָעֵץ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּכָל־גְּבֻל֖וֹ סָבִֽיב לְאַבְרָהָ֥ם לְמִקְנָ֖ה לְעֵינֵ֣י בְנֵי־חֵ֑ת בְּכֹ֖ל בָּאֵ֥י שַֽׁעַר־עִירֽוֹ): V-S-O-M
• The verbal idea of קום is used to express assurance of a purchase.
• Even though the relative clause, אֲשֶׁר֙ בַּמַּכְפֵּלָ֔ה, follows the latter member of the construct phrase, it is meant to modify the former.
• The subject is expanded in the later half of the verse with the reiteration of השֹדה.  The resulting compound subject contains three elements—שֹדה, מערה and כל־העץ.
• The object and modifying phrases are found in verse 18.
• Each of the three lamed prepositions in verse 18 functions in different capacities.  The first is sequenced with the verb to mark its object, אברהם.  Second designates purpose “for a possession,” and the last marks location “before the Hittites.”
• Embedded Typology 1 (בַּמַּכְפֵּלָ֔ה): P
• Embedded Typology 2 (לִפְנֵ֣י מַמְרֵ֑א): P
• Embedded Typology 1 (בּ֔וֹ): P
• The ms referent of the pronominal suffix is the original subject, שֹדה.
• Embedded Typology 1 (בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה): P
• Sentence Typology 2 (בְּכָל־גְּבֻל֖וֹ סָבִֽיב): P
• The ms referent of the pronominal suffix is שֹדה.

Verse 19

• Sentence Typology 1 (וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵן֩ קָבַ֨ר אַבְרָהָ֜ם אֶת־שָׂרָ֣ה אִשְׁתּ֗וֹ אֶל־מְעָרַ֞ת שְׂדֵ֧ה הַמַּכְפֵּלָ֛ה עַל־פְּנֵ֥י מַמְרֵ֖א): M-V-S-M
• The particle, כֵּן, may function as a demonstrative referring to a previous event or action.
• The familial designation, אשׁתו, is in apposition to the proper name, שֹרה.
• The phrase, מְעָרַ֞ת שְׂדֵ֧ה הַמַּכְפֵּלָ֛ה, is a three member construct phrase.
• Sentence Typology 2 (הִ֣וא חֶבְר֑וֹן בְּאֶ֖רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן): S-P
• The asyndetic, verbless clause designates the location of the cave as near Hebron.

Verse 20

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיָּ֨קָם הַשָּׂדֶ֜ה וְהַמְּעָרָ֧ה אֲשֶׁר־בּ֛וֹ לְאַבְרָהָ֖ם לַאֲחֻזַּת־קָ֑בֶר מֵאֵ֖ת בְּנֵי־חֵֽת): V-S-O-M
• This final clause serves as a summation of the property exchange with the sons of Heth (GKC 111k).
• Embedded Typology 1 (בּ֛וֹ): P
• The relative clause designates the relationship of המערה “the cave” to the pronominal antecedent, השֹדה “the field.”

וַיַּ֧עַן עֶפְר֛וֹן אֶת־אַבְרָהָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֥ר לֽוֹ׃ 15 אֲדֹנִ֣י שְׁמָעֵ֔נִי אֶרֶץ֩ אַרְבַּ֨ע מֵאֹ֧ת שֶֽׁקֶל־כֶּ֛סֶף בֵּינִ֥י וּבֵֽינְךָ֖ מַה־הִ֑וא וְאֶת־מֵתְךָ֖ קְבֹֽר׃ 16 וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע אַבְרָהָם֮ אֶל־עֶפְרוֹן֒ וַיִּשְׁקֹ֤ל אַבְרָהָם֙ לְעֶפְרֹ֔ן אֶת־הַכֶּ֕סֶף אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֶּ֖ר בְּאָזְנֵ֣י בְנֵי־חֵ֑ת אַרְבַּ֤ע מֵאוֹת֙ שֶׁ֣קֶל כֶּ֔סֶף עֹבֵ֖ר לַסֹּחֵֽר׃

Vocabulary

Verse 14

            עפרון  name: “Ephron”

Verse 15

            שׁקל  noun: “Shekel”

            קבר  verb: “bury”

Verse 16

            שׁקל  verb: “weigh out” (BDB, 1053)

            אזן  noun: “ear”

            חת  name: “Heth”

            סחר  “trader, merchant” (BDB, 695)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 14

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיַּ֧עַן עֶפְר֛וֹן אֶת־אַבְרָהָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֥ר לֽוֹ): V-S-O-M
• Embedded Typology 1 (לֵאמֹ֥ר לֽוֹ): V-IO-[O]
• The object is the direct speech found in the following verse.
• GKC interprets the final particle as לוּ and attaches it to the following imperative as in verse 13 (cf. anacoluthon note on v. 5; GKC 110e).

Verse 15

• Embedded Typology 1 (אֲדֹנִ֣י שְׁמָעֵ֔נִי): V-O
• The appellation, אדני, is vocative.
• Embedded Typology 2 (אֶרֶץ֩ אַרְבַּ֨ע מֵאֹ֧ת שֶֽׁקֶל־כֶּ֛סֶף בֵּינִ֥י וּבֵֽינְךָ֖ מַה־הִ֑וא): M-S-P
• The initial noun phrase, אֶרֶץ֩ אַרְבַּ֨ע מֵאֹ֧ת שֶֽׁקֶל־כֶּ֛סֶף, is left dislocated (i.e. fronted) and is the antecedent of the final pronoun.
• The sequencing of בין … בין is understood as “between this and that.”
• The pronoun, הוא, is pointed as a 3fs pronoun (Kethib Qere perpetuum).
• Embedded Typology 3 (וְאֶת־מֵתְךָ֖ קְבֹֽר): O-V
• The order is reversed from verse 13 thus the waw is disjunctive (waw + nonverb).

Verse 16

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע אַבְרָהָם֮ אֶל־עֶפְרוֹן֒): V-S-M
• Sentence Typology 2 (וַיִּשְׁקֹ֤ל אַבְרָהָם֙ לְעֶפְרֹ֔ן אֶת־הַכֶּ֕סֶף אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֶּ֖ר בְּאָזְנֵ֣י בְנֵי־חֵ֑ת אַרְבַּ֤ע מֵאוֹת֙ שֶׁ֣קֶל כֶּ֔סֶף עֹבֵ֖ר לַסֹּחֵֽר): V-S-IO-O-M-O
• The phrase, בְנֵי־חֵ֑ת אַרְבַּ֤ע מֵאוֹת֙ שֶׁ֣קֶל כֶּ֔סֶף, serves as a continuation of the direct object after the intervening relative clause, אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֶּ֖ר בְּאָזְנֵ֣י בְנֵי־חֵ֑ת.
• The final substantival phrase, עֹבֵ֖ר לַסֹּחֵֽר, is idiomatic for “the current money of the merchant” (BDB, 717).
• Embedded Typology 1 (דִּבֶּ֖ר בְּאָזְנֵ֣י בְנֵי־חֵ֑ת): V-M