וַיִּשְׁאַ֨ל דָּוִ֤ד בַּֽיהוָה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אֶרְדֹּ֛ף אַחֲרֵ֥י הַגְּדוּד־הַזֶּ֖ה הַֽאַשִּׂגֶ֑נּוּ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לֹו֙ רְדֹ֔ף כִּֽי־הַשֵּׂ֥ג תַּשִּׂ֖יג וְהַצֵּ֥ל תַּצִּֽיל׃
And Dawid inquired of YHWH, saying, “Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?” And He said to him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake, and you shall surely rescue.”
Morphology
- וַיִּשְׁאַ֨ל (va-yishʾal) – Root: שאל; Form: Qal wayyiqtol (preterite) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he inquired”; Notes: Dawid seeks divine guidance.
- דָּוִ֤ד (Dawid) – Root: דוד; Form: Proper noun, masculine singular; Translation: “Dawid”; Notes: Subject of the inquiry.
- בַּֽיהוָה֙ (ba-YHWH) – Root: יהוה; Form: Proper noun with preposition; Translation: “in YHWH”; Notes: Directs inquiry to God.
- לֵאמֹ֔ר (leʾemor) – Root: אמר; Form: Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “saying”; Notes: Introduces direct speech.
- אֶרְדֹּ֛ף (erdof) – Root: רדף; Form: Qal imperfect 1st person singular; Translation: “Shall I pursue”; Notes: Expresses uncertainty.
- אַחֲרֵ֥י (aḥarei) – Root: אחר; Form: Preposition; Translation: “after”; Notes: Indicates pursuit.
- הַגְּדוּד־הַזֶּ֖ה (ha-gedud ha-zeh) – Root: גדד; Form: Noun, masculine singular absolute with definite article; Translation: “this band”; Notes: Refers to the raiding party.
- הַֽאַשִּׂגֶ֑נּוּ (haʾassigennu) – Root: נשג; Form: Hifil imperfect 1st person singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “Shall I overtake it?”; Notes: Request for divine direction.
- וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לֹו֙ (va-yomer lo) – Root: אמר; Form: Qal wayyiqtol (preterite) 3rd person masculine singular with preposition; Translation: “And He said to him”; Notes: YHWH’s response.
- רְדֹ֔ף (redof) – Root: רדף; Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “Pursue”; Notes: Command to take action.
- כִּֽי־הַשֵּׂ֥ג (ki-hasseg) – Root: נשג; Form: Hifil infinitive absolute; Translation: “for surely overtake”; Notes: Emphasizes certainty.
- תַּשִּׂ֖יג (tassig) – Root: נשג; Form: Hifil imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “you shall overtake”; Notes: Assured result.
- וְהַצֵּ֥ל (ve-hatstel) – Root: נצל; Form: Hifil infinitive absolute; Translation: “and surely rescue”; Notes: Reinforces promise.
- תַּצִּֽיל׃ (tatsil) – Root: נצל; Form: Hifil imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “you shall rescue”; Notes: Assures divine success.