וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ֙ הַנָּבִ֔יא וַיַּעֲמֹ֥ד לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ עַל־הַדָּ֑רֶךְ וַיִּתְחַפֵּ֥שׂ בָּאֲפֵ֖ר עַל־עֵינָֽיו׃
And the prophet went and stood for the king by the way, and he disguised himself with the ashes upon his eyes.
Morphology
- וַיֵּלֶךְ (va-yelekh) – Root: הלך (halakh); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he went”; Notes: Describes the prophet’s action to set up his encounter.
- הַנָּבִיא (ha-naviʾ) – Root: נבא (naviʾ); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the prophet”; Notes: Refers to the prophetic figure carrying out YHWH’s message.
- וַיַּעֲמֹד (va-yaʿamod) – Root: עמד (ʿamad); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he stood”; Notes: The prophet positions himself strategically.
- לַמֶּלֶךְ (la-melekh) – Root: מלך (melekh); Form: Preposition לְ + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “for the king”; Notes: Standing ready to intercept or confront the king.
- עַל־הַדָּרֶךְ (ʿal-ha-darekh) – Root: דרך (derekh); Form: Preposition עַל + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “by the way”; Notes: Beside or along the road where the king would pass.
- וַיִּתְחַפֵּשׂ (va-yitḥapes) – Root: חפשׂ (ḥapes); Form: Hitpael wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he disguised himself”; Notes: Reflects deliberate concealment of identity.
- בָּאֲפֵר (ba-ʾafer) – Root: אפר (ʾefer); Form: Preposition בְּ + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “with the ashes”; Notes: Ashes often symbolize mourning or disguise.
- עַל־עֵינָיו (ʿal-ʿeinav) – Root: עין (ʿayin); Form: Preposition עַל + noun feminine plural with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “upon his eyes”; Notes: Specifically covering his eyes as part of the disguise.