בָּ֣א פ֤וּל מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר֙ עַל־הָאָ֔רֶץ וַיִּתֵּ֤ן מְנַחֵם֙ לְפ֔וּל אֶ֖לֶף כִּכַּר־כָּ֑סֶף לִהְיֹ֤ות יָדָיו֙ אִתֹּ֔ו לְהַחֲזִ֥יק הַמַּמְלָכָ֖ה בְּיָדֹֽו׃
Pul king of Ashur came against the land, and Menaḥem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to strengthen the kingdom in his hand.
Morphology
- בָּ֣א (ba) – Root: בוא; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “came”; Notes: Marks the arrival of a foreign king as threat or invader.
- פּ֤וּל (Pul) – Root: —; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Pul”; Notes: Assyrian king, possibly Tiglath-pileser III under another name.
- מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר֙ (melekh-Ashur) – Root: מלך, אשּׁוּר; Form: Construct noun + proper noun; Translation: “king of Ashur”; Notes: Identifies his dominion (Assyria).
- עַל־הָאָ֔רֶץ (ʿal-ha-aretz) – Root: על, ארץ; Form: Preposition + definite noun; Translation: “against the land”; Notes: Refers to the land of Yisraʾel.
- וַיִּתֵּ֤ן (va-yitten) – Root: נתן; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he gave”; Notes: Indicates tribute or payment.
- מְנַחֵם֙ (Menaḥem) – Root: נחם; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Menaḥem”; Notes: King of Yisraʾel at the time.
- לְפ֔וּל (le-Pul) – Root: —; Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “to Pul”; Notes: The recipient of tribute.
- אֶ֖לֶף (ʾelef) – Root: אלף; Form: Cardinal number; Translation: “a thousand”; Notes: Modifies “talents.”
- כִּכַּר־כָּ֑סֶף (kikkar-kasef) – Root: ככר, כסף; Form: Construct noun + noun; Translation: “talents of silver”; Notes: A large amount of silver, tribute payment.
- לִהְיֹ֤ות (lih-yot) – Root: היה; Form: Infinitive construct with preposition; Translation: “to be”; Notes: Purpose clause introducing the reason for the payment.
- יָדָיו֙ (yadav) – Root: יד; Form: Dual noun with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “his hands”; Notes: Refers metaphorically to power or support.
- אִתֹּ֔ו (itto) – Root: את; Form: Preposition with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “with him”; Notes: Desired alliance or support.
- לְהַחֲזִ֥יק (le-haḥazik) – Root: חזק; Form: Hifil infinitive construct with preposition; Translation: “to strengthen”; Notes: Expresses the goal of securing his rule.
- הַמַּמְלָכָ֖ה (ha-mamlakhah) – Root: מלך; Form: Definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “the kingdom”; Notes: Refers to the kingdom of Yisraʾel.
- בְּיָדֹֽו (be-yado) – Root: יד; Form: Preposition + noun with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “in his hand”; Notes: Idiom for maintaining sovereign control.