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וַיּוֹצֵ֨א הָעֶ֜בֶד כְּלֵי־כֶ֨סֶף וּכְלֵ֤י זָהָב֙ וּבְגָדִ֔ים וַיִּתֵּ֖ן לְרִבְקָ֑ה וּמִ֨גְדָּנֹ֔ת נָתַ֥ן לְאָחִ֖יהָ וּלְאִמָּֽהּ׃ 54 וַיֹּאכְל֣וּ וַיִּשְׁתּ֗וּ ה֛וּא וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים אֲשֶׁר־עִמּ֖וֹ וַיָּלִ֑ינוּ וַיָּק֣וּמוּ בַבֹּ֔קֶר וַיֹּ֖אמֶר שַׁלְּחֻ֥נִי לַֽאדֹנִֽי׃ 55 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אָחִ֙יהָ֙ וְאִמָּ֔הּ תֵּשֵׁ֨ב הַנַּעֲרָ֥ אִתָּ֛נוּ יָמִ֖ים א֣וֹ עָשׂ֑וֹר אַחַ֖ר תֵּלֵֽךְ׃ 56 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ אַל־תְּאַחֲר֣וּ אֹתִ֔י וַֽיהוָ֖ה הִצְלִ֣יחַ דַּרְכִּ֑י שַׁלְּח֕וּנִי וְאֵלְכָ֖ה לַֽאדֹנִֽי׃

Vocabulary

Verse 53

            בגד  “garment”

            רבקה  name: “Rebekah”

            מגדנה  “choice thing” (BDB, 550)

Verse 54

            לין  verb: “spend the night”

Verse 55

            נער  noun (feminine singular): “girl, young woman”

            עשור  “ten days” (BDB, 797)

Verse 56

            אחר  verb: “keep back” (BDB, 29)

            צלח  verb (Hiphil perfect 3ms): “prosper, give success”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 53

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיּוֹצֵ֨א הָעֶ֜בֶד כְּלֵי־כֶ֨סֶף וּכְלֵ֤י זָהָב֙ וּבְגָדִ֔ים): V-S-O
• The verb, יצא, is intransitive (“go out”) in the Qal, but the Hiphil is transitive (“bring x out”).
• The compound object includes three noun phrases.
• Sentence Typology 2 (וַיִּתֵּ֖ן לְרִבְקָ֑ה): V-IO-[O]
• The implied object is carried over from the previous clause.
• Sentence Typology 3 (וּמִ֨גְדָּנֹ֔ת נָתַ֥ן לְאָחִ֖יהָ וּלְאִמָּֽהּ): O-V-IO
• The 3fs pronominal suffixes on both אח and אם refer to Rebekah.

Verse 54

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיֹּאכְל֣וּ): V
• The first two verbs of this verse form a verbal hendiadys with the subject found in the second clause.
• Sentence Typology 2 (וַיִּשְׁתּ֗וּ ה֛וּא וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים אֲשֶׁר־עִמּ֖וֹ): V-S
• The pronoun, הוא, refers to עבד.
• Sentence Typology 3 (וַיָּלִ֑ינוּ): V
• Clause three and four may be also considered jointly as hendiadys.
• Sentence Typology 4 (וַיָּק֣וּמוּ בַבֹּ֔קֶר): V-M
• Sentence Typology 5 (וַיֹּ֖אמֶר שַׁלְּחֻ֥נִי לַֽאדֹנִֽי): V-O
• The object is direct speech.
• Embedded Typology A (שַׁלְּחֻ֥נִי לַֽאדֹנִֽ): V-O-M
• The lamed preposition functions like אל to imply motion towards someone/something.

Verse 55

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אָחִ֙יהָ֙ וְאִמָּ֔הּ תֵּשֵׁ֨ב הַנַּעֲרָ֥ אִתָּ֛נוּ יָמִ֖ים א֣וֹ עָשׂ֑וֹר אַחַ֖ר תֵּלֵֽךְ): V-S-O
• The object is direct speech.
• Embedded Typology A (תֵּשֵׁ֨ב הַנַּעֲרָ֥ אִתָּ֛נוּ יָמִ֖ים א֣וֹ עָשׂ֑וֹר): V-S-M
• The first position prefixed verb is jussive—“let her return.”
• The noun, הַנַּעֲרָ, is pointed as feminine (הנערה).
• The word, אתנו, is a composite of the preposition, את, and the 1cpl suffix.
• Words in the plural for time can indicate the idea of a few or sometimes, ימים “a few days” (GKC 134h).
• Embedded Typology B (אַחַ֖ר תֵּלֵֽךְ): V
• The modal verbal idea continues into this clause—“she may go.”

Verse 56

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ אַל־תְּאַחֲר֣וּ אֹתִ֔י וַֽיהוָ֖ה הִצְלִ֣יחַ דַּרְכִּ֑י שַׁלְּח֕וּנִי וְאֵלְכָ֖ה לַֽאדֹנִֽי): V-IO-O
• The object is direct speech
• Embedded Typology A (אַל־תְּאַחֲר֣וּ אֹתִ֔י): V-M
• The negative, אַל, is used with jussive verbs only.
• Embedded Typology B (וַֽיהוָ֖ה הִצְלִ֣יחַ דַּרְכִּ֑י): S-V-O
• The waw is used to indicate grounds—“for/since the Lord prospered my way.”
• Embedded Typology C (שַׁלְּח֕וּנִי): V-O
• The object is the attached 1cs suffix.
• Embedded Typology D (וְאֵלְכָ֖ה לַֽאדֹנִֽי): V-O
• Following an imperative (or jussive) the cohortative expresses intention or consequence—“that I may go” (cf. GKC 108d).
• See the above note on the usage of lamed in verse 54.

וַיַּ֨עַן לָבָ֤ן וּבְתוּאֵל֙ וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ מֵיְהוָ֖ה יָצָ֣א הַדָּבָ֑ר לֹ֥א נוּכַ֛ל דַּבֵּ֥ר אֵלֶ֖יךָ רַ֥ע אוֹ־טֽוֹב׃ 51 הִנֵּֽה־רִבְקָ֥ה לְפָנֶ֖יךָ קַ֣ח וָלֵ֑ךְ וּתְהִ֤י אִשָּׁה֙ לְבֶן־אֲדֹנֶ֔יךָ כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהוָֽה׃ 52 וַיְהִ֕י כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁמַ֛ע עֶ֥בֶד אַבְרָהָ֖ם אֶת־דִּבְרֵיהֶ֑ם וַיִּשְׁתַּ֥חוּ אַ֖רְצָה לַֽיהוָֽה׃

Vocabulary

Verse 50

            לבן  name: “Laban”

            בתואל  name: “Bethuel”

            יכל  verb: “be able”

            או  conjunction: “or”

Verse 51

            רבקה  name: “Rebekah”

Verse 52

            שׁחה  verb: “bow down”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 50

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיַּ֨עַן לָבָ֤ן וּבְתוּאֵל֙): V-S
• The first two verbs form a verbal hendiadys meaning “respond.”
• The compound subject, לבן ובתואל, takes a singular in the first clause whereas the second verb is plural with the same two subjects (cf. GKC 146f).
• Sentence Typology 2 (וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ מֵיְהוָ֖ה יָצָ֣א הַדָּבָ֑ר לֹ֥א נוּכַ֛ל דַּבֵּ֥ר אֵלֶ֖יךָ רַ֥ע אוֹ־טֽוֹב): V-O
• The object is direct speech.
• Embedded Typology A (מֵיְהוָ֖ה יָצָ֣א הַדָּבָ֑ר): M-V-S
• The מן preposition designates origins—“from the Lord.”
• Embedded Typology B (לֹ֥א נוּכַ֛ל דַּבֵּ֥ר אֵלֶ֖יךָ רַ֥ע אוֹ־טֽוֹב): V-M
• The imperfect, נוכל, expresses present time (GKC 107f).
• The verbs, such as יכל, אבה, יסף and חלל, regularly take an infinitive (i.e. verbal compliment) to complete the verbal action .
• The infinitive construct, דבר, is used here without the preposition lamed (cf. GKC 114m).
• Embedded Typology i (דַּבֵּ֥ר אֵלֶ֖יךָ רַ֥ע אוֹ־טֽוֹב): V-IO-O
• The infinitival object is compound.

Verse 51

• Embedded Typology C (הִנֵּֽה־רִבְקָ֥ה לְפָנֶ֖יךָ קַ֣ח): O-M-V
• The verb, לקח, acts in many ways like a R1 nun (I-נ) verb.  The imperative is formed by dropping the first root radical, hence קח.
• Embedded Typology D (וָלֵ֑ךְ): V
• The verb, ילך, also drops the first root radical to form the imperative.
• Embedded Typology E (וּתְהִ֤י אִשָּׁה֙ לְבֶן־אֲדֹנֶ֔יךָ כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהוָֽה): V
• Following the two imperatives is a jussive in first position, ותהי “let her be” (GKC 109f)
• The kaf preposition may be understood as “according to.”
• Embedded Typology i (דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהוָֽה): V-S

Verse 52

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיְהִ֕י כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁמַ֛ע עֶ֥בֶד אַבְרָהָ֖ם אֶת־דִּבְרֵיהֶ֑ם): V
• The traditional understanding of ויהי כאשׁר is “and it happened.”
• Embedded Typology 1 (שָׁמַ֛ע עֶ֥בֶד אַבְרָהָ֖ם אֶת־דִּבְרֵיהֶ֑ם): V-S –O
• The subject is the construct phrase, עבד אברהם “the servant of Abraham.”
• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיִּשְׁתַּ֥חוּ אַ֖רְצָה לַֽיהוָֽה): V-M
• The final he of ישׁתחוה apocopates because of the retraction of stress with the addition of the waw-consecutive.
• The final he of ארץ is the directive he.

וָאֶקֹּ֥ד וָֽאֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֖ה לַיהוָ֑ה וָאֲבָרֵ֗ךְ אֶת־יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר הִנְחַ֨נִי֙ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ אֱמֶ֔ת לָקַ֛חַת אֶת־בַּת־אֲחִ֥י אֲדֹנִ֖י לִבְנֹֽו׃  49 וְ֠עַתָּה אִם־יֶשְׁכֶ֨ם עֹשִׂ֜ים חֶ֧סֶד וֶֽאֱמֶ֛ת אֶת־אֲדֹנִ֖י הַגִּ֣ידוּ לִ֑י וְאִם־לֹ֕א הַגִּ֣ידוּ לִ֔י וְאֶפְנֶ֥ה עַל־יָמִ֖ין א֥וֹ עַל־שְׂמֹֽאל׃

Vocabulary

Verse 48

            קדד  verb (Qal waw-consecutive imperfect 1cs): “bow down” (BDB, 869)

            נחה  verb (Hiphil perfect 3ms w/ 1cs suffix): “lead, guide” (BDB, 634)

Verse 49

            פנה  verb: “turn”

            ימין  noun: “right”

            שֹמאל  noun: “left”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 48

• Embedded Typology U (וָאֶקֹּ֥ד): V
• The servant’s monologue continues through these final two verses continued in this clause with a waw-consecutive.
• Embedded Typology V (וָֽאֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֖ה לַיהוָ֑ה): V-M
• The final he of a first person waw-consecutive occasionally lacks apocopation (cf. GKC 75s).
• Embedded Typology W (וָאֲבָרֵ֗ךְ אֶת־יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר הִנְחַ֨נִי֙ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ אֱמֶ֔ת לָקַ֛חַת אֶת־בַּת־אֲחִ֥י אֲדֹנִ֖י לִבְנֹֽו): V-O
• The title, אלהי אדני אברהם, is in apposition to the divine name.
• Embedded Typology i (הִנְחַ֨נִי֙ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ אֱמֶ֔ת לָקַ֛חַת אֶת־בַּת־אֲחִ֥י אֲדֹנִ֖י לִבְנֹֽו): V-O-M
• The construct and absolute form of the segholate noun דרך are identical; however, the accents indicate a construct relationship with the following word, אמת “truth.”
• Embedded Typology a (לָקַ֛חַת אֶת־בַּת־אֲחִ֥י אֲדֹנִ֖י לִבְנֹֽו): V-O-M
• The infinitive, לקח, sequenced with lamed connotes “taking in marriage for another” (cf. Genesis 21:21; Jeremiah 29:6) or reflexively “for oneself” (with lamed: Genesis 4:19, 6:2, 11:29, 12:19; without lamed: Genesis 20:2).

Verse 49

• Embedded Typology X (וְ֠עַתָּה אִם־יֶשְׁכֶ֨ם עֹשִׂ֜ים חֶ֧סֶד וֶֽאֱמֶ֛ת אֶת־אֲדֹנִ֖י): M-V-S-O
• The introductory particle, אם, marks the protasis of the affirmative conditional sentence (GKC 159v).
• The periphrastic verbal idea combines the existence substantive, ישׁ, and participle, עשֹים.
• Embedded Typology Y (הַגִּ֣ידוּ לִ֑י): V-IO
• The apodosis is marked by asyndeton.
• Embedded Typology Z (וְאִם־לֹ֕א הַגִּ֣ידוּ לִ֔י): M-V-IO
• אם־לא marks a negative conditional sentence that gaps the protasis from the preceding sentence (GKC 159cc, also see 159v).
• Embedded Typology AA (וְאֶפְנֶ֥ה עַל־יָמִ֖ין א֥וֹ עַל־שְׂמֹֽאל): V-M
• The final waw conjunctive connects the result—“so that”—with the previous conditional sentences.
• The first position imperfect verb sequenced with waw conjunctive is modal, “that I may turn.”

אֲנִי֩ טֶ֨רֶם אֲכַלֶּ֜ה לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל־לִבִּ֗י וְהִנֵּ֨ה רִבְקָ֤ה יֹצֵאת֙ וְכַדָּ֣הּ עַל־שִׁכְמָ֔הּ וַתֵּ֥רֶד הָעַ֖יְנָה וַתִּשְׁאָ֑ב וָאֹמַ֥ר אֵלֶ֖יהָ הַשְׁקִ֥ינִי נָֽא׃ 46 וַתְּמַהֵ֗ר וַתּ֤וֹרֶד כַּדָּהּ֙ מֵֽעָלֶ֔יהָ וַתֹּ֣אמֶר שְׁתֵ֔ה וְגַם־גְּמַלֶּ֖יךָ אַשְׁקֶ֑ה וָאֵ֕שְׁתְּ וְגַ֥ם הַגְּמַלִּ֖ים הִשְׁקָֽתָה׃ 47 וָאֶשְׁאַ֣ל אֹתָ֗הּ וָאֹמַר֮ בַּת־מִ֣י אַתְּ֒ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר בַּת־בְּתוּאֵל֙ בֶּן־נָח֔וֹר אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָֽלְדָה־לּ֖וֹ מִלְכָּ֑ה וָאָשִׂ֤ם הַנֶּ֙זֶם֙ עַל־אַפָּ֔הּ וְהַצְּמִידִ֖ים עַל־יָדֶֽיהָ׃

Vocabulary

Verse 45

            טרם  “before, not yet” (BDB, 382)

            רבקה  name: “Rebekah”

            כד  “jar” (BDB, 461)

            שׁכם  “shoulder” (BDB, 1014)

            שׁאב  verb: “draw” (BDB, 980)

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

Verse 46

            מהר  verb (Piel waw-consecutive imperfect 3fs): “hurry”

            כד  “jar” (BDB, 461)

            גמל  “camel”

Verse 47

            בתואל  name: “Bethuel”

            נחור  name: “Nahor”

            מלכה  name: “Milcah”

            נזם  noun: “ring” (BDB, 633)

            אפ  “fingure”

            צמיד  “bracelet” (BDB, 855)

Verse 48

            קדד  verb: “bow down” (BDB, 869)

            נחה  verb: “lead” (BDB, 634)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 45

• Embedded Typology G (אֲנִי֩ טֶ֨רֶם אֲכַלֶּ֜ה לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל־לִבִּ֗י): S-M-V-M
• The direct speech beginning in verse 42 continues here.
• See GKC 135 for a brief explanation of the first position use of the pronoun, אני.
• The adverbial particle, טרם, is used with the imperfect (Piel) to indicate the pluperfect idea—“before I had finished” (GKC 107c).
• Embedded Typology i (לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל־לִבִּ֗י): V-M
• This infinitive phrase serves as an embedded clause.
• The perpositional phrase indicates a reflexive idea.
• The word, לב, not only refers to the heart (one’s feeler) but the mind (one’s thinker).
• Embedded Typology H (וְהִנֵּ֨ה רִבְקָ֤ה יֹצֵאת֙ וְכַדָּ֣הּ עַל־שִׁכְמָ֔הּ): S-V-M
• The participle, יצאת, is used periphrastically as the finite verb.
• The waw serves as a particle of accompaniment, “with” (HALOT 258 cf. #4 inclusive).
• The final suffixes are marked with mappiq to differentiate the 3fs suffix from a regular feminine noun ending.
• Embedded Typology I (וַתֵּ֥רֶד הָעַ֖יְנָה): V-M
• The final he of העינה is a directive he—“to the spring.”
• Embedded Typology J (וַתִּשְׁאָ֑ב): V
• Embedded Typology K (וָאֹמַ֥ר אֵלֶ֖יהָ הַשְׁקִ֥ינִי נָֽא): V-IO-O
• The object is direct speech.
• Embedded Typology i (הַשְׁקִ֥ינִי נָֽא): V-M
• The נא particle accompanying an imperative is discussed in the last post.

Verse 46

• Embedded Typology L (וַתְּמַהֵ֗ר): V
• The first two clauses form a verbal hendiadys.  In English one may use an adverb to approximate the usage, ותמהר ותורד “She quickly lowered her jar.”
• Embedded Typology M (וַתּ֤וֹרֶד כַּדָּהּ֙ מֵֽעָלֶ֔יהָ): V-O-M
• The Hiphil of ירד is transitive.
• Embedded Typology N (וַתֹּ֣אמֶר שְׁתֵ֔ה וְגַם־גְּמַלֶּ֖יךָ אַשְׁקֶ֑ה וָאֵ֕שְׁתְּ וְגַ֥ם הַגְּמַלִּ֖ים הִשְׁקָֽתָה): V-O
• The object is a second level of direct speech.
• Embedded Typology i (שְׁתֵ֔ה): V
• Notice the close parallelism with verse 44.
• Embedded Typology ii (וְגַם־גְּמַלֶּ֖יךָ אַשְׁקֶ֑ה): O-V
• Embedded Typology O (וָאֵ֕שְׁתְּ): V
• The secondary direct speech is recapitulated in the primary quotation.
• Embedded Typology P (וְגַ֥ם הַגְּמַלִּ֖ים הִשְׁקָֽתָה): O-V

Verse 47

• Embedded Typology Q (וָאֶשְׁאַ֣ל אֹתָ֗הּ): V-O
• This clause continues the narrative related through the eyes of Abraham’s servant.
• Embedded Typology R (וָאֹמַר֮ בַּת־מִ֣י אַתְּ֒): V-O
• The object is a question.
• Embedded Typology i (בַּת־מִ֣י אַתְּ֒): S-P
• This simple query is a verbless clause.
• Embedded Typology S (וַתֹּ֗אמֶר בַּת־בְּתוּאֵל֙ בֶּן־נָח֔וֹר אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָֽלְדָה־לּ֖וֹ מִלְכָּ֑ה): V-O
• The object is direct speech representing Rebekah’s response.
• Embedded Typology i (בַּת־בְּתוּאֵל֙ בֶּן־נָח֔וֹר אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָֽלְדָה־לּ֖וֹ מִלְכָּ֑ה): P
• The subject, אני, is implied.
• The construct phrase, בן־נחור, is in apposition to בתואל.
• Embedded Typology a (יָֽלְדָה־לּ֖וֹ מִלְכָּ֑ה): V-IO-S-[O]
• The 3ms pronoun of the relative clause refers back to נחור.
• The implied object is בתואל.  Thus Nahor and Milcah are the parents of Bethuel and the grandparents of Rebekah.
• Embedded Typology T (וָאָשִׂ֤ם הַנֶּ֙זֶם֙ עַל־אַפָּ֔הּ וְהַצְּמִידִ֖ים עַל־יָדֶֽיהָ): V-O-M-O-M