וַיֵּ֨שֶׁב דָּוִ֤ד בַּמִּדְבָּר֙ בַּמְּצָדֹ֔ות וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב בָּהָ֖ר בְּמִדְבַּר־זִ֑יף וַיְבַקְשֵׁ֤הוּ שָׁאוּל֙ כָּל־הַיָּמִ֔ים וְלֹֽא־נְתָנֹ֥ו אֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּיָדֹֽו׃
And Dawid dwelled in the wilderness, in the strongholds, and he dwelled in the hill-country in the wilderness of Zif. And Shaʾul sought him all the days, but God did not give him into his hand.
Morphology
- וַיֵּ֨שֶׁב (vayeshev) – Root: ישב (yashav); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he dwelled”; Notes: Indicates continued residence.
- דָּוִ֤ד (Dawid) – Root: דוד (Dawid); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Dawid”; Notes: Refers to King Dawid.
- בַּמִּדְבָּר֙ (bamidbar) – Root: מדבר (midbar); Form: Noun, masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “in the wilderness”; Notes: Refers to a desolate area.
- בַּמְּצָדֹ֔ות (bammetsadot) – Root: מצד (metsad); Form: Noun, masculine plural with definite article; Translation: “in the strongholds”; Notes: Defensive fortifications.
- וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב (vayeshev) – Root: ישב (yashav); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he dwelled”; Notes: Repetition emphasizing continued residence.
- בָּהָ֖ר (bahar) – Root: הר (har); Form: Noun, masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “in the hill-country”; Notes: Elevated terrain.
- בְּמִדְבַּר־זִ֑יף (bemidbar-Zif) – Root: מדבר, זיף (midbar, Zif); Form: Noun construct phrase; Translation: “in the wilderness of Zif”; Notes: Geographical location.
- וַיְבַקְשֵׁ֤הוּ (vayevakshehu) – Root: בקש (baqqesh); Form: Piel wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “And he sought him”; Notes: Intensive action indicating persistent pursuit.
- שָׁאוּל֙ (Shaʾul) – Root: שאול (Shaʾul); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Shaʾul”; Notes: Refers to King Shaʾul.
- כָּל־הַיָּמִ֔ים (kol-hayamim) – Root: יום (yom); Form: Noun, masculine plural with definite article; Translation: “all the days”; Notes: Indicates continuous pursuit.
- וְלֹֽא־נְתָנֹ֥ו (velo-netano) – Root: נתן (natan); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “but did not give him”; Notes: Denotes divine protection.
- אֱלֹהִ֖ים (Elohim) – Root: אלהים (ʾElohim); Form: Noun, masculine plural (used singularly); Translation: “Elohim”; Notes: Refers to God.
- בְּיָדֹֽו (beyado) – Root: יד (yad); Form: Preposition with noun, feminine singular construct with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “into his hand”; Notes: Indicates control or capture.