וַיִּגַּ֤שׁ הַנָּבִיא֙ אֶל־מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לֹו֙ לֵ֣ךְ הִתְחַזַּ֔ק וְדַ֥ע וּרְאֵ֖ה אֵ֣ת אֲשֶֽׁר־תַּעֲשֶׂ֑ה כִּ֚י לִתְשׁוּבַ֣ת הַשָּׁנָ֔ה מֶ֥לֶךְ אֲרָ֖ם עֹלֶ֥ה עָלֶֽיךָ׃ ס
And the prophet approached the king of Yisraʾel and said to him, “Go, strengthen yourself, and know and see what you shall do; for at the turning of the year, the king of Aram will come up against you.”
Morphology
- וַיִּגַּשׁ (va-yiggash) – Root: נגשׁ (nagash); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he approached”; Notes: Refers to the prophet drawing near to speak to the king.
- הַנָּבִיא (ha-naviʾ) – Root: נבא (naviʾ); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the prophet”; Notes: Likely the same prophet who previously announced victory to Aḥʾav.
- אֶל־מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל (el-melekh Yisraʾel) – Root: מלך (melekh) + ישראל (Yisraʾel); Form: Preposition אֶל + construct chain; Translation: “to the king of Yisraʾel”; Notes: The prophet addresses King Aḥʾav.
- וַיֹּאמֶר (va-yomer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he said”; Notes: Introduces the prophet’s message.
- לוֹ (lo) – Root: ל (le) + suffix; Form: Preposition לְ with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to him”; Notes: The king is the recipient of the message.
- לֵךְ (lekh) – Root: הלך (halakh); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “Go”; Notes: Command for action and preparation.
- הִתְחַזַּק (hitchazzaq) – Root: חזק (ḥazaq); Form: Hitpael imperative masculine singular; Translation: “strengthen yourself”; Notes: Reflexive command to prepare for future battles.
- וְדַע (ve-daʿ) – Root: ידע (yadaʿ); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “and know”; Notes: Urges awareness and strategic preparation.
- וּרְאֵה (u-reʾeh) – Root: ראה (raʾah); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “and see”; Notes: Emphasizes discernment in action.
- אֵת אֲשֶׁר־תַּעֲשֶׂה (et asher-taʿaseh) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Accusative marker אֵת + relative pronoun אֲשֶׁר + Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “what you shall do”; Notes: Focus on appropriate action for the coming challenge.
- כִּי (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Explains the reason for the command.
- לִתְשׁוּבַת הַשָּׁנָה (litshuvat ha-shanah) – Root: שׁוב (shuv) + שׁנה (shanah); Form: Preposition לְ + noun feminine singular construct + definite noun; Translation: “at the turning of the year”; Notes: Refers to the next annual cycle, often spring, when kings typically go to war.
- מֶלֶךְ אֲרָם (melekh Aram) – Root: מלך (melekh) + ארם (Aram); Form: Construct chain; Translation: “the king of Aram”; Notes: Refers to Ben-Hadad planning renewed aggression.
- עֹלֶה (ʿoleh) – Root: עלה (ʿalah); Form: Qal active participle masculine singular; Translation: “comes up”; Notes: Ongoing action — ascent in military campaign language.
- עָלֶיךָ (ʿalekha) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition עַל with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “against you”; Notes: Directs the impending threat toward Yisraʾel’s king.