וַיִּקְרְא֣וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים לַכֹּהֲנִ֤ים וְלַקֹּֽסְמִים֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר מַֽה־נַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה לַאֲרֹ֣ון יְהוָ֑ה הֹודִעֻ֕נוּ בַּמֶּ֖ה נְשַׁלְּחֶ֥נּוּ לִמְקֹומֹֽו׃
And the Pelishtim called for the priests and the diviners, saying, “What shall we do with the Ark of YHWH? Inform us by what means we shall send it to its place.”
Morphology
- וַיִּקְרְא֣וּ (va-yiqreʾu) – Root: קרא (qaraʾ); Form: Qal consecutive imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “And they called”; Notes: Refers to the Philistines summoning religious officials.
- פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים (Pelishtim) – Root: פלשת (Peleshet); Form: Proper noun, masculine plural; Translation: “Philistines”; Notes: Identifies the subject.
- לַכֹּהֲנִ֤ים (la-kohanim) – Root: כהן (kohen); Form: Noun, masculine plural with definite article; Translation: “for the priests”; Notes: Religious leaders consulted for guidance.
- וְלַקֹּֽסְמִים֙ (ve-la-qosmim) – Root: קסם (qasem); Form: Noun, masculine plural with definite article; Translation: “and for the diviners”; Notes: Refers to those practicing divination.
- לֵאמֹ֔ר (leʾemor) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Infinitive construct; Translation: “saying”; Notes: Introduces direct speech.
- מַֽה־נַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה (mah-naʿaseh) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Interrogative with Qal imperfect 1st person plural; Translation: “What shall we do”; Notes: Expresses uncertainty and inquiry.
- לַאֲרֹ֣ון (la-ʾaron) – Root: ארון (ʾaron); Form: Noun, masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “with the Ark”; Notes: Refers to the Ark of YHWH.
- יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The divine name.
- הֹודִעֻ֕נוּ (hodīʿunu) – Root: ידע (yadaʿ); Form: Hifil imperative 2nd person masculine plural with 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “Inform us”; Notes: A request for guidance.
- בַּמֶּ֖ה (ba-meh) – Root: מה (mah); Form: Interrogative with preposition; Translation: “by what means”; Notes: Asks about the method of returning the Ark.
- נְשַׁלְּחֶ֥נּוּ (neshalleḥennu) – Root: שלח (shalaḥ); Form: Piel imperfect 1st person plural with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “we shall send it”; Notes: Indicates sending the Ark away.
- לִמְקֹומֹֽו׃ (limqomo) – Root: מקום (maqom); Form: Noun, masculine singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to its place”; Notes: Refers to returning the Ark to its rightful location.