וַיֹּאמֶר֩ אֵלִיָּ֨הוּ לָהֶ֜ם תִּפְשׂ֣וּ אֶת־נְבִיאֵ֣י הַבַּ֗עַל אִ֛ישׁ אַל־יִמָּלֵ֥ט מֵהֶ֖ם וַֽיִּתְפְּשׂ֑וּם וַיֹּורִדֵ֤ם אֵלִיָּ֨הוּ֙ אֶל־נַ֣חַל קִישֹׁ֔ון וַיִּשְׁחָטֵ֖ם שָֽׁם׃
And Eliyahu said to them, “Seize the prophets of the Baʿal! Let not a man escape from them!” And they seized them, and Eliyahu brought them down to the brook Qishon and slaughtered them there.
Morphology
- וַיֹּאמֶר֩ (va-yomer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3ms; Translation: “And he said”; Notes: Eliyahu begins his command.
- אֵלִיָּ֨הוּ (ʾEliyahu) – Root: אליהו; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Eliyahu”; Notes: The prophet addressing the people.
- לָהֶ֜ם (lahem) – Root: הם; Form: Preposition + 3mp suffix; Translation: “to them”; Notes: The people receiving the command.
- תִּפְשׂ֣וּ (tifseu) – Root: תפש (tafas); Form: Qal imperative 2mp; Translation: “Seize!”; Notes: Strong directive to take immediate action.
- אֶת־נְבִיאֵ֣י (et-neviʾei) – Root: נבא (n-b-ʾ); Form: Object marker + masculine plural construct; Translation: “the prophets of”; Notes: Construct form links to Baʿal.
- הַבַּ֗עַל (ha-Baʿal) – Root: בעל (Baʿal); Form: Definite proper noun; Translation: “the Baʿal”; Notes: Canaanite deity opposing YHWH.
- אִ֛ישׁ (ish) – Root: אישׁ; Form: Masculine singular noun; Translation: “a man”; Notes: Emphasizes totality of capture.
- אַל־יִמָּלֵ֥ט (ʾal-yimmalet) – Root: מלט (malat); Form: Negative particle + Niphal imperfect 3ms; Translation: “let not escape”; Notes: Strict prohibition.
- מֵהֶ֖ם (mehem) – Root: הם; Form: Preposition + 3mp suffix; Translation: “from them”; Notes: Refers to the prophets of Baʿal.
- וַֽיִּתְפְּשׂ֑וּם (va-yitpesum) – Root: תפש (tafas); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3mp + 3mp suffix; Translation: “and they seized them”; Notes: Immediate fulfillment of command.
- וַיֹּורִדֵ֤ם (va-yoridem) – Root: ירד (yarad); Form: Hifil wayyiqtol 3ms + 3mp suffix; Translation: “and he brought them down”; Notes: Eliyahu leads them to the place of execution.
- אֵלִיָּ֨הוּ֙ (ʾEliyahu) – Root: אליהו; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Eliyahu”; Notes: Subject of the verb continues.
- אֶל־נַ֣חַל (el-naḥal) – Root: נחל; Form: Preposition + masculine singular noun; Translation: “to the wadi”; Notes: A seasonal stream or ravine.
- קִישֹׁ֔ון (Qishon) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Place name; Translation: “Qishon”; Notes: Location near Mount Carmel.
- וַיִּשְׁחָטֵ֖ם (va-yishḥatem) – Root: שחט (shaḥat); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3ms + 3mp suffix; Translation: “and he slaughtered them”; Notes: Refers to the execution of the false prophets.
- שָֽׁם (sham) – Root: שם; Form: Adverb; Translation: “there”; Notes: Specifies the place of judgment.