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 וּרְאִיתֶ֗ם אִם־דֶּ֨רֶךְ גְּבוּל֤וֹ יַֽעֲלֶה֙ בֵּ֣ית שֶׁ֔מֶשׁ ה֚וּא עָ֣שָׂה לָ֔נוּ אֶת־הָרָעָ֥ה הַגְּדוֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את וְאִם־לֹ֗א וְיָדַ֙עְנוּ֙ כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יָדוֹ֙ נָ֣גְעָה בָּ֔נוּ מִקְרֶ֥ה ה֖וּא הָ֥יָה לָֽנוּ׃ 10 וַיַּעֲשׂ֤וּ הָאֲנָשִׁים֙ כֵּ֔ן וַיִּקְח֗וּ שְׁתֵּ֤י פָרוֹת֙ עָל֔וֹת וַיַּאַסְר֖וּם בָּעֲגָלָ֑ה וְאֶת־בְּנֵיהֶ֖ם כָּל֥וּ בַבָּֽיִת׃ 11 וַיָּשִׂ֛מוּ אֶת־אֲר֥וֹן יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־הָעֲגָלָ֑ה וְאֵ֣ת הָאַרְגַּ֗ז וְאֵת֙ עַכְבְּרֵ֣י הַזָּהָ֔ב וְאֵ֖ת צַלְמֵ֥י טְחֹרֵיהֶֽם׃ 12 וַיִשַּׁ֨רְנָה הַפָּר֜וֹת בַּדֶּ֗רֶךְ עַל־דֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ בֵּ֣ית שֶׁ֔מֶשׁ בִּמְסִלָּ֣ה אַחַ֗ת הָלְכ֤וּ הָלֹךְ֙ וְגָע֔וֹ וְלֹא־סָ֖רוּ יָמִ֣ין וּשְׂמֹ֑אול וְסַרְנֵ֤י פְלִשְׁתִּים֙ הֹלְכִ֣ים אַחֲרֵיהֶ֔ם עַד־גְּב֖וּל בֵּ֥ית שָֽׁמֶשׁ׃

Vocabulary

Verse 9

            גבול  “territory”

            גדול  “great”

            מקרה  “chance, accident, fate” (BDB, 894)

Syntax & Miscellaneous

• The protasis of the first conditional sentence is marked by אִם while the apodosis is marked by an asyndetic clause with a perfect verb (GKC, 159q).  The second sentence initiates the apodosis with a waw-consecutive imperfect verb.
• The sequencing of נגע with the inseparable preposition ב marks an adversative usage “against.”
• In the final copulative clause the subject complement precedes the subject.

Vocabulary

Verse 10

            פרה  “cow” (BDB, 831)

            עול  verb (Qal participle fpl): “give suck, feeding” (BDB, 732)

            אסר  verb: “fetter, yoke, harness”

            עגלה  noun: “cart” (BDB, 722)

            כלא  verb: “shut up” (BDB, 476)

            בניהם  “their sons (calves)”

Verse 11

            עגלה  noun: “cart” (BDB, 722)

            ארגז  “box, chest” (BDB, 919)

            עכבר  “mouse” (BDB, 747)

            צלם  “image” (BDB, 853)

            טחור  “tumor” (BDB, 377)

Verse 12

            ישׁר  verb: “go straight” (BDB, 448)

            פרה  “cow” (BDB, 831)

מסלה  “highway” (BDB, 700)

            געה  verb: “lowing (of cows)” (BDB, 171)

            סור  verb: “turn aside”

            שֹמאל  “left”

            סרן  “lord” (BDB, 710)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 10

• According to GKC 60h, the 3mpl suffix is used with the verb, וַיַּאַסְר֖וּם, instead of the expected 3fpl suffix to clear up confusion that may occur with attaching a final nun to a sureq verbal ending.
• The III-א verb כלא functions like a III-ה verb (GKC, 75qq).

Verse 12

• The infinitive absolute follows the finite verb in this example of the regular pattern of verbal stress, הָלְכ֤וּ הָלֹךְ֙ (GKC, 113r).  Gesenius notes further: “But inf. abs. after its verb suggests an indefinitely prolonged state of the action, and therefore expresses continuance, prevalence, &c.”

 וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ מָ֣ה הָאָשָׁם֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָשִׁ֣יב לוֹ֒ וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ מִסְפַּר֙ סַרְנֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים חֲמִשָּׁה֙ [עָפְלֵי] זָהָ֔ב וַחֲמִשָּׁ֖ה עַכְבְּרֵ֣י זָהָ֑ב כִּֽי־מַגֵּפָ֥ה אַחַ֛ת לְכֻלָּ֖ם וּלְסַרְנֵיכֶֽם׃ 5 וַעֲשִׂיתֶם֩ צַלְמֵ֨י [עָפְלֵיכֶם] וְצַלְמֵ֣י עַכְבְּרֵיכֶ֗ם הַמַּשְׁחִיתִם֙ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ וּנְתַתֶּ֛ם לֵאלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל כָּב֑וֹד אוּלַ֗י יָקֵ֤ל אֶת־יָדוֹ֙ מֵֽעֲלֵיכֶ֔ם וּמֵעַ֥ל אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֖ם וּמֵעַ֥ל אַרְצְכֶֽם׃ 6 וְלָ֤מָּה תְכַבְּדוּ֙ אֶת־לְבַבְכֶ֔ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֧ר כִּבְּד֛וּ מִצְרַ֥יִם וּפַרְעֹ֖ה אֶת־לִבָּ֑ם הֲלוֹא֙ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר הִתְעַלֵּ֣ל בָּהֶ֔ם וַֽיְשַׁלְּח֖וּם וַיֵּלֵֽכוּ׃ 7 וְעַתָּ֗ה קְח֨וּ וַעֲשׂ֜וּ עֲגָלָ֤ה חֲדָשָׁה֙ אֶחָ֔ת וּשְׁתֵּ֤י פָרוֹת֙ עָל֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹא־עָלָ֥ה עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם עֹ֑ל וַאֲסַרְתֶּ֤ם אֶת־הַפָּרוֹת֙ בָּעֲגָלָ֔ה וַהֲשֵׁיבֹתֶ֧ם בְּנֵיהֶ֛ם מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶ֖ם הַבָּֽיְתָה׃ 8 וּלְקַחְתֶּ֞ם אֶת־אֲר֣וֹן יְהוָ֗ה וּנְתַתֶּ֤ם אֹתוֹ֙ אֶל־הָ֣עֲגָלָ֔ה וְאֵ֣ת ׀ כְּלֵ֣י הַזָּהָ֗ב אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֲשֵׁבֹתֶ֥ם לוֹ֙ אָשָׁ֔ם תָּשִׂ֥ימוּ בָאַרְגַּ֖ז מִצִּדּ֑וֹ וְשִׁלַּחְתֶּ֥ם אֹת֖וֹ וְהָלָֽךְ׃

Vocabulary

Verse 4

            אשׁם  “trespass offering” (BDB, 79)

            סרן  “lord” (BDB, 710)

            עפל  “hemorrhoid” (BDB, 779)

            עכבר  “mouse” (BDB, 747)

            מגפה  “plague” (BDB, 620)

Syntax & Miscellaneous

• The verbless clause, מָ֣ה הָאָשָׁם֮, is the interrogative question of the people.
• The fronted phrase, מִסְפַּר֙ סַרְנֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים, is functioning adverbially “as the number of the lords of the Philistines” or “according to the number.”
• Qere: טְחֹרֵ֣י.  The story continues to vacillate between these two nouns for tumors (עפל and טחור).
• The construct phrase, עַכְבְּרֵ֣י זָהָ֑ב, indicates composition: “the mice made of gold.”
• The final כִּי clause explains the reason for this particular gift.  It is probably not part of the quotation, but a narrative comment.

Vocabulary

Verse 5

            צלם  “image” (BDB, 853)

            עפל  “hemorrhoid” (BDB, 779)

            עכבר  “mouse” (BDB, 747)

            שׁחת  verb (Hiphil participle mpl w/ definite article): “spoil, ruin”

            אולי  “perhaps” (BDB, 19)

            קלל  verb (Hiphil perfect 3ms): “lighten”

Verse 6

            כבד  verb (Piel imperfect 2mpl): “make hard, insensitive”

             עלל  verb: “deal ruthlessly” (BDB, 759)

Verse 7

            עגלה  noun: “cart” (BDB, 722)

        חדשׁ  adjective: “new”

            פרה  “cow” (BDB, 831)

            עול  verb (Qal participle fpl): “give suck” (BDB, 732)

            על  “yoke” (BDB, 760)

            אסר  verb: “bind, tie”

Verse 8

            עגלה  noun: “cart” (BDB, 722)

            כלי  “articles, vessels”

            אשׁם  “trespass offering” (BDB, 79)

            ערגז  “box” (BDB, 841)

            צד  “side”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 5

• Qere: טְחֹרֵיכֶ֜ם.
• The substantival participle, הַמַּשְׁחִיתִם֙, is modifying the tumors.

Verse 6

• The clause, הֲלוֹא֙, does not have an extant verb, but an implied one.  The verb is gapped from the following phrase, הִתְעַלֵּ֣ל בָּהֶ֔ם; thus it should be understood as הֲלוֹא יִתְעַלַּל בָּכֶם “Will he not deal with you as he dealt with them?”

Verse 7

• The participle, עָל֔וֹת “suckling,” is functioning as an adjective.
• The final he, הַבָּֽיְתָה, is a directional he “to the house.”

Verse 8

• The verb, וּנְתַתֶּ֤ם, has a compound direct object, אֹתוֹ֙ and וְאֵ֣ת כְּלֵ֣י הַזָּהָ֗ב.
• The final two verbs, וְשִׁלַּחְתֶּ֥ם וְהָלָֽךְ, are exactly the same as the final verbs of verse six, וַֽיְשַׁלְּח֖וּם וַיֵּלֵֽכוּ.

וַיְהִ֧י אֲרוֹן־יְהוָ֛ה בִּשְׂדֵ֥ה פְלִשְׁתִּ֖ים שִׁבְעָ֥ה חֳדָשִֽׁים׃ 2 וַיִּקְרְא֣וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים לַכֹּהֲנִ֤ים וְלַקֹּֽסְמִים֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר מַֽה־נַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה לַאֲר֣וֹן יְהוָ֑ה הוֹדִעֻ֕נוּ בַּמֶּ֖ה נְשַׁלְּחֶ֥נּוּ לִמְקוֹמֽוֹ׃ 3 וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ אִֽם־מְשַׁלְּחִ֞ים אֶת־אֲר֨וֹן אֱלֹהֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אַל־תְּשַׁלְּח֤וּ אֹתוֹ֙ רֵיקָ֔ם כִּֽי־הָשֵׁ֥ב תָּשִׁ֛יבוּ ל֖וֹ אָשָׁ֑ם אָ֤ז תֵּרָֽפְאוּ֙ וְנוֹדַ֣ע לָכֶ֔ם לָ֛מָּה לֹא־תָס֥וּר יָד֖וֹ מִכֶּֽם׃

Vocabulary

Verse 1

            פלשׁתים  name: “Philistines” (BDB, 222)

            חדשׁ  “month”

Syntax & Miscellaneous

• The word, שֹדה, can mean land or country.
• The final clause is functioning as an adverb denoting the time of the stay.

Vocabulary

Verse 2

            קסם  noun: “diviner” (BDB, 890)

            במה  “with what?” (BDB, 552)

Verse 3

            משׁלחים  verb (Piel participle mpl): “sending away”

            ריקם  “empty” (BDB, 938)

            אשׁם  “trespass offering” (BDB, 79)

            אז  “then”

            רפא  verb: “heal”

            סור  verb: “turn aside”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 2

• The lamed preposition, לַאֲר֣וֹן, is understood as “with.”
• The Hiphil of ידע is causative meaning “to cause to know” or “declare.”
• With the addition of the 1cpl suffix to the verb הוֹדִעֻ֕נוּ, the sureq verbal ending (3mpl) becomes qibbus under the final consonant of the root.

Verse 3

• The conditional clause (if) uses a participle as the predicator.
• The negative, אַל, is used with a jussive verb (prefix form); לֹא is used typically with indicative verbs.
• The infinitive absolute followed by a finite verb of the same root (שׁוב) is emphatic—“You shall surely return.”
• The subject of the 3fs verb, תָס֥וּר, is the feminine noun, יד.

וַיְהִ֞י אַחֲרֵ֣י ׀ הֵסַ֣בּוּ אֹת֗וֹ וַתְּהִ֨י יַד־יְהוָ֤ה ׀ בָּעִיר֙ מְהוּמָה֙ גְּדוֹלָ֣ה מְאֹ֔ד וַיַּךְ֙ אֶת־אַנְשֵׁ֣י הָעִ֔יר מִקָּטֹ֖ן וְעַד־גָּד֑וֹל וַיִּשָּׂתְר֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם [עֳפָלִים]׃ 10 וַֽיְשַׁלְּח֛וּ אֶת־אֲר֥וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים עֶקְר֑וֹן וַיְהִ֗י כְּב֨וֹא אֲר֤וֹן הָאֱלֹהִים֙ עֶקְר֔וֹן וַיִּזְעֲק֨וּ הָֽעֶקְרֹנִ֜ים לֵאמֹ֗ר הֵסַ֤בּוּ אֵלַי֙ אֶת־אֲרוֹן֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לַהֲמִיתֵ֖נִי וְאֶת־עַמִּֽי׃ 11 וַיִּשְׁלְח֨וּ וַיַּאַסְפ֜וּ אֶת־כָּל־סַרְנֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ שַׁלְּח֞וּ אֶת־אֲר֨וֹן אֱלֹהֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְיָשֹׁ֣ב לִמְקֹמ֔וֹ וְלֹֽא־יָמִ֥ית אֹתִ֖י וְאֶת־עַמִּ֑י כִּֽי־הָיְתָ֤ה מְהֽוּמַת־מָ֙וֶת֙ בְּכָל־הָעִ֔יר כָּבְדָ֥ה מְאֹ֛ד יַ֥ד הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים שָֽׁם׃ 12 וְהָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא־מֵ֔תוּ הֻכּ֖וּ [בָּעֳפָלִים] וַתַּ֛עַל שַֽׁוְעַ֥ת הָעִ֖יר הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃

Vocabulary

Verse 9

            מהומה  noun: “confusion” (BDB, 223)

            נכה  verb (Hiphil waw-consecutive imperfect 3ms): “smite”

            שֹתר  verb: “break out” (BDB, 979)

            עפל  “hemorrhoid” (BDB, 779)

Syntax & Miscellaneous

• The 3ms suffix, אֹת֗וֹ, refers to the ark of the Lord.
• The beth preposition is adversative, “against.”
• The noun phrase, מְהוּמָה֙ גְּדוֹלָ֣ה מְאֹ֔ד, is functioning adverbially.
• The final he of נכה apocopates with the waw-consecutive to for the form וַיַּךְ֙.
• Qere: טְחֹרִֽים “tumors” (cf. verse 6).

Vocabulary

Verse 10

            עקרון  name (of place): “Ekron”

            זעק  verb: “cry out”

            מות  verb (Hiphil infinitive construct with 1cs suffix): “kill”

Verse 11

            אסף  verb: “assemble”

            סרן  “lord” (BDB, 710)

            מהומה  noun: “confusion” (BDB, 223)

Verse 12

            עפל  “hemorrhoid” (BDB, 779)

        שׁועה  noun: “cry for help” (BDB, 1003)

            עלה  verb: “go up, ascend [to the heavens]”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 10

• The sequencing of ויהי plus the kaf preposition and waw is understood as “When…then…”
• The infinitive, לֵאמֹ֗ר, marks a direct quotation.
• The 1cs pronominal suffixes are used, לַהֲמִיתֵ֖נִי and עַמִּֽי, to refer to all who are speaking that is as a collective.

Verse 11

• The asyndetic verbless clause, כָּבְדָ֥ה מְאֹ֛ד יַ֥ד הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים שָֽׁם, functions to explain the prior clause.

Verse 12

• Further explaining, the narrator discontinues the story with a comment about the desperate situation.
• The relative clause, אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא־מֵ֔תוּ, describes the persons smitten with the disorder.
• Qere: בַּטְּחֹרִ֑ים “tumors” (cf. v. 9).

וַתִּכְבַּ֧ד יַד־יְהוָ֛ה אֶל־הָאַשְׁדּוֹדִ֖ים וַיְשִׁמֵּ֑ם וַיַּ֤ךְ אֹתָם֙ [בָּעֳפָלִים] אֶת־אַשְׁדּ֖וֹד וְאֶת־גְּבוּלֶֽיהָ׃ 7 וַיִּרְא֥וּ אַנְשֵֽׁי־אַשְׁדּ֖וֹד כִּֽי־כֵ֑ן וְאָמְר֗וּ לֹֽא־יֵשֵׁ֞ב אֲר֨וֹן אֱלֹהֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ עִמָּ֔נוּ כִּֽי־קָשְׁתָ֤ה יָדוֹ֙ עָלֵ֔ינוּ וְעַ֖ל דָּג֥וֹן אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ 8 וַיִּשְׁלְח֡וּ וַיַּאַסְפוּ֩ אֶת־כָּל־סַרְנֵ֨י פְלִשְׁתִּ֜ים אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ מַֽה־נַּעֲשֶׂ֗ה לַֽאֲרוֹן֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ גַּ֣ת יִסֹּ֔ב אֲר֖וֹן אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיַּסֵּ֕בּוּ אֶת־אֲר֖וֹן אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ ס

Vocabulary

Verse 6

            אשׁדודים  name: “Ashdodites”

            שׁמם  verb (Hiphil waw-consecutive 3ms): “ravage, desolate”

            עפל  noun: “hemorrhoid” (BDB, 779)

Syntax & Miscellaneous

• The waw-consecutive form of נכה “smite” assimilates the nun and apocopates the final he (ויך) leaving only the kaf from the original root word.
• Qere: בַּטְּחֹרִ֔ים.  The Kethib reads “with hemorrhoids,” but the Qere “with tumors.”  See also verse 9.

Vocabulary

Verse 7

            קשׁה  verb: “be hard, severe” (BDB, 904)

            קשׁה  verb: “severe”

            דגון  name: “Dagon”

Verse 8

            סרן  noun (mpl construct): “lord” (BDB, 710)

            גת  name (of place): “Gath”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 7

• The idiom, כִּֽי־כֵ֑ן, can be understood as “that it was so.”
• The word, יד, literally translated “hand” figuratively can refer to “power” (BDB, 387-8).  If this is the case, then 3ms suffix would refer to the power of the ark (ms) and not God (mpl).
• The final word, אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ “our god,” is in apposition to דגען “Dagon.”

Verse 8

• The clause, גַּ֣ת יִסֹּ֔ב אֲר֖וֹן אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל, is not formulated with typical Hebrew clause construction (VSO); rather “Gath,” the verbal object, is placed at the head of the sentence.