וַיִּקְבֹּ֤ץ יֵהוּא֙ אֶת־כָּל־הָעָ֔ם וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם אַחְאָ֕ב עָבַ֥ד אֶת־הַבַּ֖עַל מְעָ֑ט יֵה֖וּא יַעַבְדֶ֥נּוּ הַרְבֵּֽה׃
And Yehu gathered all the people and said to them, “Aḥʾav served the Baʿal a little; Yehu shall serve him much.
Morphology
- וַיִּקְבֹּץ (va-yiqbotz) – Root: קבץ (q-b-ts); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he gathered”; Notes: Yehu assembles the people for a deceptive purpose.
- יֵהוּא (Yehu) – Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yehu”; Notes: King of Yisraʾel and subject of the verb.
- אֶת־כָּל־הָעָם (et-kol-ha-ʿam) – Root: עם (ʿ-ʿ-m); Form: Direct object marker + noun + definite noun; Translation: “all the people”; Notes: Refers to the assembled citizens of Yisraʾel.
- וַיֹּאמֶר (va-yomer) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he said”; Notes: Introduces Yehu’s public declaration.
- אֲלֵהֶם (alehem) – Root: אל (ʾ-l); Form: Preposition with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “to them”; Notes: Refers to the assembled people.
- אַחְאָב (Aḥʾav) – Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Aḥʾav”; Notes: Former king of Yisraʾel, known for Baʿal worship.
- עָבַד (ʿavad) – Root: עבד (ʿ-v-d); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “served”; Notes: Refers to idolatrous worship of Baʿal.
- אֶת־הַבַּעַל (et-ha-Baʿal) – Root: בעל (b-ʿ-l); Form: Direct object marker + definite noun; Translation: “the Baʿal”; Notes: Canaanite storm deity, often in opposition to YHWH worship.
- מְעָט (meʿat) – Root: מעט (m-ʿ-ṭ); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “a little”; Notes: Comparative understatement; prepares for contrast.
- יֵהוּא (Yehu) – As above; Translation: “Yehu”; Notes: Repeated to emphasize the contrast with Aḥʾav.
- יַעַבְדֶנּוּ (yaʿavdennu) – Root: עבד (ʿ-v-d); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “shall serve him”; Notes: Refers to Baʿal; part of Yehu’s deceptive plan.
- הַרְבֵּה (harbeh) – Root: רבה (r-b-h); Form: Adverb; Translation: “much”; Notes: Emphatic contrast to “a little,” reinforcing the deception.