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.”

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.

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.

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).

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.

Vocabulary

Verse 18

            אחרנית  “backwards” (BDB, 30)

            שׁבר  verb (Niphal waw-consecutive imperfect 3fs): “break”

            מפרקת  “neck” (BDB, 830)

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

            כבד  “heavy (i.e. overweight)”

Syntax & Miscellaneous

• The waw-consecutive verb ויהי sequenced with כ plus verbal form (normally infinitive construct) is commonly used in narrative to indicate a temporal clause (see Genesis 19:17, 24:30, 29:13, 38:24, 38:29, 39:10, 13, 15, 18, 19; Exodus 16:10; Numbers 11:25, 16:31; Deuteronomy 5:23, 31:24; Joshua 4:18 [Qere], 5:1, 6:20, 8:14, 24, 9:1, 10:1, 20, 24, 11:1; Judges 2:4, 7:15, 11:35, 14:11, 15:17; Ruth 1:19; 1 Samuel 4:5, 18, 5:10, 9:26, 10:5, 13:10, 18:1, 24:17, 25:38; 2 Samuel 13:36, 17:27; 1 Kings 5:21, 8:54, 9:1, 12:2, 13:4, 14:5, 6, 15:21, 29, 16:18, 18:17, 29, 19:13, 20:12, 21:15, 21:16, 27, 22:32, 33; 2 Kings 2:9, 3:5, 4:6, 25, 4:40, 5:7, 8, 6:20, 30, 7:18, 9:22, 10:7, 25, 12:11, 19:1, 22:11; 1 Chronicles 14:15; 2 Chronicles 10:2, 16:5, 18:31, 32, 22:8, 34:19; Nehemiah 1:4, 13:3; Esther 3:4 [Qere], 5:2; Isaiah 37:1; Jeremiah 26:8, 36:16, 23, 41:6, 7, 13, 43:1; Ezekiel 9:8, 11:13; Jonah 4:8).  The waw-consecutive sequenced with כאשׁר also marks a temporal clause (cf. Genesis 20:13, 24:22, 24:52, 27:30, 29:10, 30:25, 34:25, 37:23, 41:13, 43:2; Exodus 32:19; Deuteronomy 2:16; Joshua 4:1, 11, 5:8, 6:8; Judges 3:18, 6:27, 8:33, 11:5; 1 Samuel 8:1, 24:2; 2 Samuel 16:16; 1 Kings 12:20, 13:4; 2 Kings 14:5; 1 Chronicles 17:1; 2 Chronicles 25:3; Nehemiah 3:33, 4:1, 6, 9, 6:1, 7:1, 13:19; Jeremiah 39:4; Zechariah 7:13)
• See the note on יַ֣ד הַשַּׁ֗עַר given with 4:13.

Vocabulary

Verse 19

            כלה  “daughter-in-law” (BDB, 483)

            הרה  adjective: “pregnant” (BDB, 248)

            שׁמועה  noun: “report” (BDB, 1035)

            חם  “father-in-law” (BDB, 327)

            כרע  verb: “bow down” (BDB, 502)

            חפך  verb (Niphal perfect 3cpl): “turn oneself”

            ציר  “pang” (BDB, 852)

Verse 20

            נצב  verb (Niphal participle fpl): “women standing around”

Verse 21

            אי־כבד  name: “Ichabod”

            חם  “father-in-law” (BDB, 327)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 19

• The infinitive construct (with ל prefix), ללת, is from the root ילד in which the ד assimilated to ת (GKC 68m).

Verse 20

• The participle, הַנִּצָּב֣וֹת, is a substantive functioning as the subject of תְּדַבֵּ֙רְנָה֙.
• The negative, אַל, marks the jussive.
• The idiom, שׁית לב “set one’s hear,” means “pay attention” or “direct attention” (also Jeremiah 31:21)

Verse 21

• In Ethiopic, אי is a common negative particle.  It is also found in Job 22:30—אי־נקי (GKC 152q).

Vocabulary

Verse 12

            בנימן  name: “Benjamin (son of right hand)”

            מערכה  “battle line” (BDB, 790)

        שׁלה  name: “Shiloh”

            מד  “garment” (BDB, 551)

            קרע  verb (Qal passive participle mpl): “tear, rend”

Syntax & Miscellaneous

• The word מֵהַמַּ֣עֲרָכָ֔ה is a compound of מִן (preposition “from”) + הַ ּ (article) + מערכה (noun).  The dagesh in the second mem is from the article; while the lengthening of the hireq to sere with the first mem is caused by compensatory lengthening (because he cannot be doubled).
• The disjunctive waw, וּמַדָּ֣יו, marks a parenthetical comment descriptive of the Benjamini.
• The verbless clauses are of the form S-P.

Vocabulary

Verse 13

            עלי  name: “Eli”

            צפה  verb (Piel participle ms): “keep watch” (BDB, 859)

            חרד  adjective: “trembling” (BDB, 353)

Verse 14

            צעקה  “cry of distress” (BDB, 858)

            חמון  “murmuring”

            מהר  verb (Piel perfect 3ms): “hasten” (not הַר + מִן)

Verse 15

            קום  verb: “stand,

Verse 16

            מערכה  “battle line” (BDB, 790)

Verse 17

            מבשֹר  verb (Piel participle ms with article): “bearer of tidings” (BDB, 142)

            פלשׁית  name: “Philistines”

            מגפה  noun: “slaughter” (BDB, 620)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 13

• The clause, עֵ֠לִי יֹשֵׁ֨ב עַֽל־הַכִּסֵּ֜א, is periphrastic and omits the verb היה.
• Qere: יַ֥ד.  The confusion of final ך and ד would have occurred after adopting the square script as prior scripts were much less similar (cf. GKC Alphabet Chart or DH Paleo-Hebrew Chart).  The Qere helps to understand this obscure text.  The expression, יַד דֶּרֶךְ, is an idiom meaning “beside the way” (cf. 2 Samuel 15:2; Ezekiel 48:1).
• The final verb, וַתִּזְעַ֖ק, is feminine singular because the subject is the feminine singular noun עיר “city.”

Verse 14

• The verbless clause, מֶ֛ה ק֥וֹל הֶהָמ֖וֹן הַזֶּ֑ה, is an interrogative.
• In the three member noun phrase, ק֥וֹל הֶהָמ֖וֹן הַזֶּ֑ה, the first two elements are in construct and the demonstrative modifies the second element (i.e. it agrees in gender, number and definiteness).
• The repetition of בוא serves to heighten Eli’s anticipation of word about the ark (and his sons) while waiting for the news.

Verse 15

• The initial clause is the common Hebrew idiom for age.  “Eli was a son of ninety and eight years” is to say that he was 98 years old.
• The waw disjunctive, וְעֵינָ֣יו קָ֔מָה, marks a parenthetical comment.
• The dual construct for of וְעֵינָ֣יו can take a plural (Genesis 29:17) or singular verbal form (Micah 4:11); the later is used in this context (GKC 145 k, n).
• The idiom “his eyes were fixed (set)” is used elsewhere of blindness or poor eyesight in 1 Kings 14:4 לֹֽא־יָכֹ֣ל לִרְא֔וֹת כִּ֛י קָ֥מוּ עֵינָ֖יו (see note above concerning the plural verb with a dual subject or GKC 88a).
• The result clause, וְלֹ֥א יָכ֖וֹל לִרְאֽוֹת, is marked by the conjunction waw.

Verse 16

• The participle, הַבָּ֣א, is a substantive.
• The article with יום is “today” or “this day.”
• The narrative continues to heighten the angst through the messenger’s repetition (see note on verse 14 above).
• The noun, בְּנִֽי, is a vocative “o my son.”

Verse 17

• The noun phrase, שְׁנֵ֨י בָנֶ֜יךָ, is fronted for emphasis.
• The final Niphal verb, נִלְקָֽחָה, has a passive sense “it was taken.”

Vocabulary

Verse 5

            רוע  verb (Hiphil waw-consecutive imperfect 3mpl): “shout” (BDB, 929)

            תרועה  “shout of joy” (BDB, 929)

            הום  verb (Niphal imperfect 3fs): “be in a stir” (BDB, 223; GKC 72h)

Syntax & Miscellaneous

• The formula, ויהי כ, is a temporal, clause-level introduction.
• Repetition, while frowned upon in English grammar, is a hallmark of Hebrew.  Thus וירעו תרועה גדולה“one shouts a great shout” reflects normal speech patterns.

Vocabulary

Verse 6

            פלשׁתים  name: “Philistines”

            תרועה  “shout of joy” (BDB, 929)

            עברי  name: “Hebrews”

Verse 7

            אוי  “woe” (BDB, 17)

אתמול  “formerly” (BDB, 1069)

            שׁלשׁום  “three days ago” (BDB, 1026)

Verse 8

            אוי  “woe” (BDB, 17)

            נצל  verb (Hiphil imperfect 3ms with 1cpl suffix): “deliver”

            אדיר  “majestic” (BDB, 12)

            מכה  verb (Hiphil participle mpl): “cause a plague” (BDB, 646)         

Verse 9

            חזק  verb (Hithpael imperative mpl): “Strengthen yourself”

Verse 10

            נגף  verb (Niphal waw-consecutive imperfect 3ms): “be smitten” (BDB, 619)

            מכה  “slaughter” (BDB, 646)

            אלף  “thousand”

            רגלי  “footmen” (BDB, 920)

Verse 11

            חפני  name: “Hophni”

            פינחס  name: “Phinehas”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 6

• Attributive adjectives must agree in gender, number and definiteness; cf. הַתְּרוּעָ֧ה הַגְּדוֹלָ֛ה הַזֹּ֖את.

Verse 7

• The discourse marker is repeated, but the speaker does not change.
• The clause, א֣וֹי לָ֔נוּ, is verbless.
• The phrase, אֶתְמ֥וֹל שִׁלְשֹֽׁם, means “before today.”

Verse 8

• Again, two adjectives are used to describe the noun, הָאֱלֹהִ֥ים הָאַדִּירִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה.  Even though אלהים is usually translated as a singular (“God”), its form is plural.  However, in this context it is used for plural gods.
• The phrase, הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים הַמַּכִּ֧ים אֶת־מִצְרַ֛יִם, is left dislocated that is to say it has been placed at the end of the sentence and replaced in the matrix sentence by a pronoun.
• The participle, הַמַּכִּ֧ים, is substantive and has an explicit object, אֶת־מִצְרַ֛יִם.

Verse 9

• The name, פלשׁתים, functions as a vocative.

Verse 10

• The מִן preposition attached to מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֔ל is partitive “from out of.”

Vocabulary

Verse 1

            קרא  verb: “meet”

            פלשׁתים  name: “Philistines”

            חנה verb: “camp”

            אפק  name (of place): “Aphek”

Syntax & Miscellaneous

• The use of the preposition על is spatial “beside.”
• Third he verbs (III-ה) with vocalic endings lose the weak third root letter ( חָנָה וּ > חָנָהוּ* > חָנוּ).
• The construct phrase, הָאֶ֣בֶן הָעֵ֔זֶר “rock of strength,” is transliterated as a proper name “Ebenezer.”

Vocabulary

Verse 2

            ערך  verb: “arrange, draw up for battle”

            נטשׁ  verb: “permit, abandon” (BDB, 643)

            נגף  verb (Niphal waw-consecutive imperfect 3ms): “be smitten” (BDB, 619)

            מערכה  “battle line” (BDB, 790)

Verse 3

            נגף  verb (Qal perfect 3ms with 1cp suffix): “smite” (BDB, 619)

            נִקְחָ֧ה  verb (Qal cohortative 1cp from לקה)

Verse 4

            הַכְּרֻבִ֑ים noun: “cherubim”

            חָפְנִ֖י וּפִֽינְחָֽס names: “Hophni and Phinehas”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 2

• The meaning of the root נטשׁ is dubious.  It connotes permission (Exodus 23:11), distribution (Judges 16:9) and abandonment (Judges 6:13).  It is used eleven times in Samuel/Kings (1 Samuel 4:2; 10:2; 12:22; 17:20, 22, 28; 30:16; 2 Samuel 5:18, 22; 1 Kings 8:57; 2 Kings 21:14).

Verse 3

• The article with the word for day, הַיּ֖וֹם, can specify “today.”

Verse 4

• The participial phrase, יֹשֵׁ֣ב הַכְּרֻבִ֑ים, is substantival modifying the preceding divine appellation.

Vocabulary

Verse 19

            הפיל  verb (Hiphil perfect 3ms נפל): “cause to fall”

Syntax & Miscellaneous

• The subject of the verb, נפל, is the Lord.  The phrase, “fall to the ground,” means “to fail.”

Vocabulary

Verse 20

            דן  name: “Dan”

            באר שׁבע  name: “Beersheba”

            אמן  verb (Niphal participle ms): “confirmed”   

Verse 21

            שׁלה/שׁלו  name: “Shiloh”

            גלה  verb (Niphal perfect 3ms): “reveal, uncover oneself”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 20

• The final subordinate clause is a periphrastic construction without the copulative.

Verse 21

• The verb, יסף, in the Hiphil stem means to do something again.
• The Niphal stem can mark reflexivity, that is to do to oneself.