וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אַבְשָׁלֹום֙ וְכָל־אִ֣ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל טֹובָ֗ה עֲצַת֙ חוּשַׁ֣י הָאַרְכִּ֔י מֵעֲצַ֖ת אֲחִיתֹ֑פֶל וַיהוָ֣ה צִוָּ֗ה לְהָפֵ֞ר אֶת־עֲצַ֤ת אֲחִיתֹ֨פֶל֙ הַטֹּובָ֔ה לְבַעֲב֗וּר הָבִ֧יא יְהוָ֛ה אֶל־אַבְשָׁלֹ֖ום אֶת־הָרָעָֽה׃ ס
And Avshalom and all the men of Yisraʾel said, “The counsel of Ḥushai the Arki is better than the counsel of Aḥitophel.” For YHWH had commanded to frustrate the good counsel of Aḥitophel, in order that YHWH might bring the evil upon Avshalom.
Morphology
- וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (vayomer) – Root: אמר; Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd masculine singular; Translation: “And he said”; Notes: Refers to Avshalom.
- אַבְשָׁלֹום֙ (Avshalom) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Masculine singular; Translation: “Avshalom”; Notes: Son of Dawid.
- וְכָל־אִ֣ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (ve-khol-ish Yisraʾel) – Root: כל, איש, ישראל; Form: Conjunction + noun + proper noun; Translation: “and all the men of Yisraʾel”; Notes: Collective subject of the verb “said.”
- טֹובָ֗ה (tovah) – Root: טוב; Form: Adjective, feminine singular; Translation: “better” / “good”; Notes: Predicate adjective agreeing with “counsel” (עצה).
- עֲצַת֙ (ʿatsat) – Root: עצה; Form: Construct noun, feminine singular; Translation: “the counsel of”; Notes: In construct with “Ḥushai.”
- חוּשַׁ֣י (Ḥushai) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Masculine singular; Translation: “Ḥushai”; Notes: The Arki, friend of Dawid.
- הָאַרְכִּ֔י (ha-arki) – Root: ארך; Form: Gentilic adjective, definite; Translation: “the Arki”; Notes: Denotes origin or ethnicity.
- מֵעֲצַ֖ת (me-ʿatsat) – Root: עצה; Form: Preposition + construct noun; Translation: “than the counsel of”; Notes: Comparative preposition introducing contrast.
- אֲחִיתֹ֑פֶל (Aḥitophel) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Masculine singular; Translation: “Aḥitophel”; Notes: Counselor to Dawid, now supporting Avshalom.
- וַיהוָ֣ה (va-YHWH) – Root: יהוה; Form: Divine proper name; Translation: “And YHWH”; Notes: Subject of the following verb.
- צִוָּ֗ה (tsivvah) – Root: צוה; Form: Piel perfect 3rd masculine singular; Translation: “commanded”; Notes: Intensified verb form.
- לְהָפֵ֞ר (le-hafēr) – Root: פרר; Form: Hifil infinitive construct; Translation: “to frustrate”; Notes: Purpose infinitive after צִוָּ֗ה.
- אֶת־עֲצַ֤ת (et-ʿatsat) – Root: עצה; Form: Definite direct object; Translation: “the counsel of”; Notes: Object of the verb “to frustrate.”
- אֲחִיתֹ֨פֶל֙ (Aḥitophel) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Masculine singular; Translation: “Aḥitophel”; Notes: Repetition for emphasis.
- הַטֹּובָ֔ה (ha-tovah) – Root: טוב; Form: Definite adjective, feminine singular; Translation: “the good”; Notes: Modifies “counsel.”
- לְבַעֲב֗וּר (le-vaʿavur) – Root: עבר; Form: Preposition; Translation: “in order that”; Notes: Expresses divine purpose.
- הָבִ֧יא (havi) – Root: בוא; Form: Hifil infinitive or jussive (depending on interpretation); Translation: “to bring”; Notes: Purpose clause.
- יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) – Root: Divine name; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Subject of the verb “bring.”
- אֶל־אַבְשָׁלֹ֖ום (el-Avshalom) – Root: אל; Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “upon Avshalom”; Notes: Indicates direction of the consequence.
- אֶת־הָרָעָֽה (et-ha-raʿah) – Root: רעע; Form: Definite noun, feminine singular; Translation: “the evil”; Notes: Object of the verb “bring,” i.e., divine judgment.