וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח אֲשֶׁר־עַל־הַבַּ֣יִת וַאֲשֶׁ֪ר עַל־הָעִ֟יר וְהַזְּקֵנִים֩ וְהָאֹמְנִ֨ים אֶל־יֵה֤וּא לֵאמֹר֙ עֲבָדֶ֣יךָ אֲנַ֔חְנוּ וְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־תֹּאמַ֥ר אֵלֵ֖ינוּ נַעֲשֶׂ֑ה לֹֽא־נַמְלִ֣יךְ אִ֔ישׁ הַטֹּ֥וב בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָ עֲשֵֽׂה׃
And the one who was over the house, and the one who was over the city, and the elders, and the guardians sent to Yehu, saying, “Your servants we are, and all that you say to us we will do. We will not make anyone king. Whoever is good in your eyes, do.”
Morphology
- וַיִּשְׁלַח (va-yishlaḥ) – Root: שלח (sh-l-ḥ); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he sent”; Notes: Refers to those in authority responding to Yehu’s letter.
- אֲשֶׁר־עַל־הַבַּיִת (ʾasher ʿal ha-bayit) – Root: בית (b-y-t); Form: Relative pronoun + preposition + definite noun; Translation: “who was over the house”; Notes: Refers to the palace steward or chief officer.
- וַאֲשֶׁר עַל־הָעִיר (va-ʾasher ʿal ha-ʿir) – Root: עיר (ʿ-i-r); Form: Conjunction + relative clause; Translation: “and the one who was over the city”; Notes: Refers to the city governor or mayor.
- וְהַזְּקֵנִים (ve-ha-zqenim) – Root: זקן (z-q-n); Form: Conjunction + definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “and the elders”; Notes: Leading men of the city or clan.
- וְהָאֹמְנִים (ve-ha-ʾomnim) – Root: אמן (ʾ-m-n); Form: Conjunction + definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “and the guardians”; Notes: Those entrusted with raising and protecting the royal children.
- אֶל־יֵהוּא (el-Yehu) – Root: יהוא (Yehu); Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “to Yehu”; Notes: The new king who wrote to them.
- לֵאמֹר (leʾemor) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Preposition + infinitive construct; Translation: “saying”; Notes: Introduces the content of the message.
- עֲבָדֶיךָ (ʿavadeikha) – Root: עבד (ʿ-v-d); Form: Noun masculine plural with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “your servants”; Notes: A formal expression of submission.
- אֲנַחְנוּ (anaḥnu) – Form: Independent personal pronoun 1st person plural; Translation: “we”; Notes: Emphatic declaration of their identity and loyalty.
- וְכֹל (ve-khol) – Root: כל (k-l); Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and all”; Notes: Introduces comprehensive obedience.
- אֲשֶׁר־תֹּאמַר (ʾasher-toʾmar) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Relative pronoun + Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “that you say”; Notes: Refers to any directive from Yehu.
- אֵלֵינוּ (ʾeleinu) – Root: אל (ʾ-l); Form: Preposition + 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “to us”; Notes: Indicates recipients of commands.
- נַעֲשֶׂה (naʿaseh) – Root: עשה (ʿ-s-h); Form: Qal imperfect 1st person common plural; Translation: “we will do”; Notes: Promise of obedience.
- לֹא־נַמְלִיךְ (lo-namlikh) – Root: מלך (m-l-k); Form: Negative particle + Hiphil imperfect 1st person common plural; Translation: “we will not make king”; Notes: Rejection of installing a new rival king.
- אִישׁ (ʾish) – Root: איש (ʾ-ʾ-sh); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “a man”; Notes: Generic term, no one in particular.
- הַטֹּוב (ha-tov) – Root: טוב (ṭ-v); Form: Definite adjective masculine singular; Translation: “the good”; Notes: Describes the preferred or fitting person.
- בְּעֵינֶיךָ (be-ʿeineikha) – Root: עין (ʿ-ʿ-n); Form: Preposition + noun feminine plural with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “in your eyes”; Notes: Idiom for one’s opinion or judgment.
- עֲשֵׂה (ʿaseh) – Root: עשה (ʿ-s-h); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “do”; Notes: Invitation for Yehu to act as he sees fit.