וַיָּ֗שָׁב וַיִּשְׁלַ֛ח שַׂר־חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים שְׁלִשִׁ֖ים וַחֲמִשָּׁ֑יו וַיַּ֡עַל וַיָּבֹא֩ שַׂר־הַחֲמִשִּׁ֨ים הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֜י וַיִּכְרַ֥ע עַל־בִּרְכָּ֣יו לְנֶ֣גֶד אֵלִיָּ֗הוּ וַיִּתְחַנֵּ֤ן אֵלָיו֙ וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אֵלָ֔יו אִ֚ישׁ הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים תִּֽיקַר־נָ֣א נַפְשִׁ֗י וְנֶ֨פֶשׁ עֲבָדֶ֥יךָֽ אֵ֛לֶּה חֲמִשִּׁ֖ים בְּעֵינֶֽיךָ׃
And he returned and sent a third captain of fifty and his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up and came and knelt on his knees before Eliyyahu and pleaded with him and spoke to him, “Man of God, please let my life and the life of these your fifty servants be precious in your eyes.
Morphology
- וַיָּ֗שָׁב (va-yashav) – Root: שׁוב (shuv); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he returned”; Notes: Refers to the king persisting in his effort.
- וַיִּשְׁלַ֛ח (va-yishlaḥ) – Root: שלח (shalaḥ); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he sent”; Notes: Sends another military detachment.
- שַׂר־חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים שְׁלִשִׁ֖ים (sar-ḥamishim shelishim) – Root: שר + חמש + שלש; Form: Construct chain + ordinal; Translation: “a third captain of fifty”; Notes: Indicates he is the third such commander.
- וַחֲמִשָּׁ֑יו (va-ḥamishav) – Root: חמש (ḥamesh); Form: Conjunction + noun masculine plural with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “and his fifty”; Notes: Refers to the troops under his command.
- וַיַּ֡עַל (va-yaʿal) – Root: עלה (ʿalah); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he went up”; Notes: Ascending to where Eliyyahu sat.
- וַיָּבֹא֩ (va-yavo) – Root: בוא (bo); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he came”; Notes: Physical approach to Eliyyahu.
- שַׂר־הַחֲמִשִּׁ֨ים הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֜י (sar-ha-ḥamishim ha-shelishi) – Root: שר + חמש + שלש; Form: Construct phrase with definite article and ordinal; Translation: “the third captain of fifty”; Notes: Clarifies who performed the action.
- וַיִּכְרַ֥ע (va-yikraʿ) – Root: כרע (karaʿ); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he knelt”; Notes: Sign of humility and submission.
- עַל־בִּרְכָּ֣יו (ʿal-birkav) – Root: ברך (berekh); Form: Preposition + noun dual with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “on his knees”; Notes: Posture of entreaty.
- לְנֶ֣גֶד אֵלִיָּ֗הוּ (le-neged Eliyyahu) – Root: נגד (neged); Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “before Eliyyahu”; Notes: Positioning himself in front of the prophet.
- וַיִּתְחַנֵּ֤ן (va-yitḥannen) – Root: חנן (ḥanan); Form: Hitpael wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he pleaded”; Notes: Reflects deep request for mercy.
- אֵלָיו֙ (elav) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to him”; Notes: Eliyyahu remains the target of the speech.
- וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אֵלָ֔יו (va-yedabber elav) – Root: דבר (davar); Form: Piel wayyiqtol + prepositional phrase; Translation: “and he spoke to him”; Notes: Introduction of direct appeal.
- אִ֚ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים (ʾish ha-Elohim) – Root: איש + אלהים; Form: Noun phrase; Translation: “Man of God”; Notes: Formal address to Eliyyahu.
- תִּֽיקַר־נָ֣א (tiqar-na) – Root: יקר (yaqar); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine singular jussive + particle of entreaty; Translation: “let be precious, please”; Notes: Polite and urgent request.
- נַפְשִׁ֗י (nafshi) – Root: נפש (nefesh); Form: Noun feminine singular with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “my life”; Notes: Personal plea for protection.
- וְנֶ֨פֶשׁ עֲבָדֶ֥יךָ אֵ֛לֶּה חֲמִשִּׁ֖ים (ve-nefesh ʿavadeikha elleh ḥamishim) – Root: נפש + עבד + אלה + חמש; Form: Coordinated noun phrase; Translation: “and the life of these your fifty servants”; Notes: Includes his men in the plea.
- בְּעֵינֶֽיךָ (be-ʿeineikha) – Root: עין (ʿayin); Form: Preposition + dual noun with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “in your eyes”; Notes: Common idiom for “in your estimation” or “favorably regarded.”