וְיִתְּנוּ־לָ֜נוּ שְׁנַ֣יִם פָּרִ֗ים וְיִבְחֲרוּ לָהֶם֩ הַפָּ֨ר הָאֶחָ֜ד וִֽינַתְּחֻ֗הוּ וְיָשִׂ֨ימוּ֙ עַל־הָ֣עֵצִ֔ים וְאֵ֖שׁ לֹ֣א יָשִׂ֑ימוּ וַאֲנִ֞י אֶעֱשֶׂ֣ה אֶת־הַפָּ֣ר הָאֶחָ֗ד וְנָֽתַתִּי֙ עַל־הָ֣עֵצִ֔ים וְאֵ֖שׁ לֹ֥א אָשִֽׂים׃
And let them give us two bulls, and let them choose for themselves one bull and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire on it; and I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood, and I will not put fire on it.
Morphology
- וְיִתְּנוּ־לָ֜נוּ (ve-yittenu-lanu) – Root: נתן (natan); Form: Qal imperfect 3mp with vav + preposition + 1cp suffix; Translation: “And let them give to us”; Notes: Suggests a proposal.
- שְׁנַ֣יִם פָּרִ֗ים (shenayim parim) – Roots: שנים (shenayim), פר (par); Form: Numeral + noun masculine plural; Translation: “two bulls”; Notes: Specifies the number of animals needed.
- וְיִבְחֲרוּ לָהֶם֩ (ve-yivḥaru lahem) – Root: בחר (baḥar); Form: Qal imperfect 3mp with vav + preposition + 3mp suffix; Translation: “and let them choose for themselves”; Notes: Permits the opposing prophets to go first.
- הַפָּ֨ר הָאֶחָ֜ד (ha-par ha-eḥad) – Root: פר (par), אחד (eḥad); Form: Definite noun + numeral adjective; Translation: “the one bull”; Notes: Indicates one of the two.
- וִינַתְּחֻ֗הוּ (ve-yinnattaḥuhu) – Root: נתח (nataḥ); Form: Piel imperfect 3mp with vav + 3ms suffix; Translation: “and cut it in pieces”; Notes: Ritual preparation for sacrifice.
- וְיָשִׂ֨ימוּ֙ עַל־הָעֵצִ֔ים (ve-yasimu ʿal-ha-ʿetsim) – Root: שׂים (sim); Form: Qal imperfect 3mp with vav + preposition + definite plural noun; Translation: “and lay it on the wood”; Notes: Preparation for burnt offering.
- וְאֵ֖שׁ לֹ֣א יָשִׂ֑ימוּ (ve-esh lo yasimu) – Root: שׂים (sim); Form: Coordinating conjunction + noun + negative + Qal imperfect 3mp; Translation: “but they shall not put fire”; Notes: Key condition of the test.
- וַאֲנִ֞י (va-ʾani) – Root: אני (ʾani); Form: Conjunction + independent pronoun; Translation: “and I”; Notes: Eliyahu’s contrasting action.
- אֶעֱשֶׂ֣ה (eʿeseh) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Qal imperfect 1cs; Translation: “I will prepare”; Notes: Eliyahu’s participation in the challenge.
- אֶת־הַפָּ֣ר הָאֶחָ֗ד (et-ha-par ha-eḥad) – Root: פר (par), אחד (eḥad); Form: Direct object marker + definite noun + numeral adjective; Translation: “the other bull”; Notes: Second of the two animals.
- וְנָֽתַתִּי֙ עַל־הָעֵצִ֔ים (ve-natatti ʿal-ha-ʿetsim) – Root: נתן (natan); Form: Qal perfect 1cs with vav + preposition + definite plural noun; Translation: “and I will lay it on the wood”; Notes: Same setup as the Baʿal prophets.
- וְאֵ֖שׁ לֹ֥א אָשִֽׂים (ve-esh lo asim) – Root: שׂים (sim); Form: Coordinating conjunction + noun + negative + Qal imperfect 1cs; Translation: “and I will not put fire”; Notes: Maintains fairness and test conditions.