וְכָל־הַנְּבִאִ֔ים נִבְּאִ֥ים כֵּ֖ן לֵאמֹ֑ר עֲלֵ֞ה רָמֹ֤ת גִּלְעָד֙ וְהַצְלַ֔ח וְנָתַ֥ן יְהוָ֖ה בְּיַ֥ד הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
And all the prophets were prophesying thus, saying, “Go up to Ramot Gileʿad and succeed, and YHWH will give it into the hand of the king.”
Morphology
- וְכָל־הַנְּבִאִים (ve-khol ha-neviʾim) – Root: כל (kol), נבא (naviʾ); Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular construct + definite plural noun; Translation: “And all the prophets”; Notes: Refers to the large group of prophetic voices consulted by the king.
- נִבְּאִים (nibbeʾim) – Root: נבא (navaʾ); Form: Nifal participle masculine plural; Translation: “were prophesying”; Notes: Passive-reflexive form, indicating ongoing prophetic speech.
- כֵּן (ken) – Root: כן (ken); Form: Adverb; Translation: “thus”; Notes: Refers to the manner or content of their prophecy, consistent with what Tsidqiyahu proclaimed.
- לֵאמֹר (leʾemor) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Infinitive construct with preposition לְ; Translation: “saying”; Notes: Introduces the direct quotation of their prophecy.
- עֲלֵה (ʿaleh) – Root: עלה (ʿalah); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “Go up!”; Notes: A call to initiate the military campaign.
- רָמֹת גִּלְעָד (Ramot Gilʿad) – Root: רמה (ramah), גלעד (Gilʿad); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Ramot-Gilʿad”; Notes: Strategic city east of the Jordan, object of Aḥav’s campaign.
- וְהַצְלַח (ve-hatslaḥ) – Root: צלח (tsalaḥ); Form: Hiphil imperative masculine singular; Translation: “and succeed”; Notes: Encourages not just action but guaranteed victory, stressing divine favor.
- וְנָתַן (ve-natan) – Root: נתן (natan); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular with vav-consecutive; Translation: “and he will give”; Notes: Refers to YHWH delivering the enemy into the king’s hand.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The divine name invoked to legitimize the prophecy.
- בְּיַד (be-yad) – Root: יד (yad); Form: Preposition + noun feminine singular construct; Translation: “into the hand of”; Notes: Idiom for delivering power or victory.
- הַמֶּלֶךְ (ha-melekh) – Root: מלך (melekh); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the king”; Notes: Refers to Aḥav, who seeks divine approval for his battle plan.