וַיִּשְׁלַ֞ח אִ֣ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים אֶל־מֶ֤לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הִשָּׁ֕מֶר מֵעֲבֹ֖ר הַמָּקֹ֣ום הַזֶּ֑ה כִּֽי־שָׁ֖ם אֲרָ֥ם נְחִתִּֽים׃
And the man of God sent to the king of Yisraʾel, saying, “Beware of passing this place, for there the Arameans are descending.”
Morphology
- וַיִּשְׁלַח (va-yishlaḥ) – Root: שלח; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he sent”; Notes: Marks the prophet’s proactive warning.
- אִישׁ (ʾish) – Root: אישׁ; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “man”; Notes: Part of the compound title.
- הָאֱלֹהִים (ha-Elohim) – Root: אלהים; Form: Definite noun masculine plural in form but treated singular; Translation: “of God”; Notes: Refers to a prophet, here likely Elisha.
- אֶל־מֶלֶךְ (el-melekh) – Root: מלך; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “to the king”; Notes: Recipient of the prophetic message.
- יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisraʾel) – Root: ישראל; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: Northern kingdom of the divided monarchy.
- לֵאמֹר (leʾmor) – Root: אמר; Form: Infinitive construct; Translation: “saying”; Notes: Introduces direct speech.
- הִשָּׁמֶר (hishamer) – Root: שמר; Form: Nifal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “Beware”; Notes: A strong warning command.
- מֵעֲבֹר (me-ʿavor) – Root: עבר; Form: Preposition + infinitive construct; Translation: “of passing”; Notes: Complement to the imperative.
- הַמָּקֹום (ha-maqom) – Root: קום; Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the place”; Notes: Specific location of danger.
- הַזֶּה (hazzeh) – Root: זה; Form: Demonstrative adjective masculine singular; Translation: “this”; Notes: Refers back to the place mentioned.
- כִּי (ki) – Root: כי; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces a reason.
- שָׁם (sham) – Root: —; Form: Adverb; Translation: “there”; Notes: Locative expression.
- אֲרָם (Aram) – Root: —; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Aram”; Notes: The Arameans, enemy of Yisraʾel.
- נְחִתִּים (neḥittim) – Root: נחת; Form: Nifal participle masculine plural; Translation: “are descending”; Notes: Indicates a covert ambush or military descent.