וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלָיו֮ עֲבָדָיו֒ הִנֵּֽה־נָ֣א שָׁמַ֔עְנוּ כִּ֗י מַלְכֵי֙ בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כִּֽי־מַלְכֵ֥י חֶ֖סֶד הֵ֑ם נָשִׂ֣ימָה נָּא֩ שַׂקִּ֨ים בְּמָתְנֵ֜ינוּ וַחֲבָלִ֣ים בְּרֹאשֵׁ֗נוּ וְנֵצֵא֙ אֶל־מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אוּלַ֖י יְחַיֶּ֥ה אֶת־נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃
And his servants said to him, “Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Yisraʾel are kings of mercy. Let us, please, put sackcloth on our loins and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Yisraʾel; perhaps he will preserve your life.”
Morphology
- וַיֹּאמְרוּ (va-yomeru) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “And they said”; Notes: Refers to Ben-Hadad’s servants speaking to him.
- אֵלָיו (elav) – Root: אל (el); Form: Preposition אֶל + third person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to him”; Notes: Refers to Ben-Hadad.
- עֲבָדָיו (avadav) – Root: עבד (ʿeved); Form: Noun masculine plural with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “his servants”; Notes: His close attendants or advisors.
- הִנֵּה־נָא (hinneh-na) – Root: הנה (hinneh) + נא (na); Form: Interjection + particle of entreaty; Translation: “Behold now”; Notes: Draws urgent attention to their suggestion.
- שָׁמַעְנוּ (shamaʿnu) – Root: שמע (shamaʿ); Form: Qal perfect 1st person plural; Translation: “we have heard”; Notes: Acknowledges received information.
- כִּי (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “that”; Notes: Introduces reported information.
- מַלְכֵי בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל (malkei beit Yisraʾel) – Root: מלך (melekh) + בית (beit) + ישראל (Yisraʾel); Form: Construct chain; Translation: “the kings of the house of Yisraʾel”; Notes: Refers collectively to Yisraʾelite rulers.
- כִּי־מַלְכֵי חֶסֶד הֵם (ki-malkei ḥesed hem) – Root: מלך (melekh) + חסד (ḥesed); Form: Conjunction + construct chain + predicate pronoun; Translation: “are kings of mercy”; Notes: Refers to a reputation for showing compassion.
- נָשִׂימָה נָא (nasimah na) – Root: שׂים (sim); Form: Qal cohortative 1st person plural + particle of entreaty; Translation: “let us, please, put”; Notes: Suggests a submissive gesture.
- שַׂקִּים (saqqim) – Root: שׂק (saq); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “sackcloth”; Notes: Symbol of mourning or supplication.
- בְּמָתְנֵינוּ (be-motneinu) – Root: מתן (maten); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine plural with 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “on our loins”; Notes: Traditional sign of humility or desperation.
- וַחֲבָלִים (va-ḥavalim) – Root: חבל (ḥevel); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine plural; Translation: “and ropes”; Notes: Additional symbol of surrender or captivity.
- בְּרֹאשֵׁנוּ (be-roshenu) – Root: ראשׁ (rosh); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular with 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “upon our heads”; Notes: Further sign of humiliation.
- וְנֵצֵא (ve-netseʾ) – Root: יצא (yatsaʾ); Form: Qal cohortative 1st person plural; Translation: “and let us go out”; Notes: Plan to personally present themselves to the king.
- אֶל־מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל (el-melekh Yisraʾel) – Root: מלך (melekh) + ישראל (Yisraʾel); Form: Preposition אֶל + construct chain; Translation: “to the king of Yisraʾel”; Notes: The king they hope will spare Ben-Hadad.
- אוּלַי (ulay) – Root: אולי (ulay); Form: Particle; Translation: “perhaps”; Notes: Expresses uncertainty but hopefulness.
- יְחַיֶּה (yeḥayyeh) – Root: חיה (ḥayah); Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he will preserve alive”; Notes: Hope that mercy will be extended.
- אֶת־נַפְשֶׁךָ (et-nafshekha) – Root: נפשׁ (nefesh); Form: Accusative marker אֶת + noun feminine singular with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “your life”; Notes: Refers to the life of Ben-Hadad.