וַיְהִ֣י אַחֲרֵ֣י לֶכְתָּ֗ם וַֽיַּעֲלוּ֙ מֵֽהַבְּאֵ֔ר וַיֵּ֣לְכ֔וּ וַיַּגִּ֖דוּ לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֑ד וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֶל־דָּוִ֗ד ק֣וּמוּ וְעִבְר֤וּ מְהֵרָה֙ אֶת־הַמַּ֔יִם כִּי־כָ֛כָה יָעַ֥ץ עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם אֲחִיתֹֽפֶל׃
And it was after they had gone that they came up from the well and went and told King Dawid. And they said to Dawid, “Arise and cross the water quickly, for thus Aḥitofel has advised against you.”
Morphology
- וַיְהִ֣י (vayehi) – Root: היה; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd masculine singular; Translation: “And it was”; Notes: Introduces narrative transition.
- אַחֲרֵ֣י (aḥarei) – Root: אחר; Form: Preposition; Translation: “after”; Notes: Indicates temporal sequence.
- לֶכְתָּ֗ם (lekh’tam) – Root: הלך; Form: Infinitive construct with 3rd masculine plural suffix; Translation: “their going”; Notes: Refers to the departure of Avshalom’s servants.
- וַֽיַּעֲלוּ֙ (vayyaʿalu) – Root: עלה; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd masculine plural; Translation: “and they came up”; Notes: Refers to the messengers emerging from the well.
- מֵֽהַבְּאֵ֔ר (meha-beʾer) – Root: באר; Form: Preposition + definite noun, feminine singular; Translation: “from the well”; Notes: Location of concealment.
- וַיֵּ֣לְכ֔וּ (vayyelkhu) – Root: הלך; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd masculine plural; Translation: “and they went”; Notes: Continuation of their mission.
- וַיַּגִּ֖דוּ (vayyaggidu) – Root: נגד; Form: Hifil wayyiqtol 3rd masculine plural; Translation: “and they told”; Notes: Causative verb used for informing.
- לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (la-melekh) – Root: מלך; Form: Preposition + definite noun, masculine singular; Translation: “to the king”; Notes: Refers to Dawid.
- דָּוִ֑ד (Dawid) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Masculine singular; Translation: “Dawid”; Notes: King of Yisraʾel.
- וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ (vayyoʾmeru) – Root: אמר; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd masculine plural; Translation: “and they said”; Notes: Introduces their warning to the king.
- אֶל־דָּוִ֗ד (el-Dawid) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “to Dawid”; Notes: Direct address.
- ק֣וּמוּ (qumu) – Root: קום; Form: Qal imperative 2nd masculine plural; Translation: “Arise”; Notes: Urgent command.
- וְעִבְר֤וּ (ve-ivru) – Root: עבר; Form: Qal imperative 2nd masculine plural; Translation: “and cross”; Notes: Refers to fleeing over the water body.
- מְהֵרָה֙ (meherah) – Root: מהר; Form: Noun used adverbially; Translation: “quickly”; Notes: Emphasizes the urgency.
- אֶת־הַמַּ֔יִם (et-ha-mayim) – Root: מים; Form: Definite direct object, masculine plural; Translation: “the water”; Notes: Likely referring to the Jordan or a similar crossing point.
- כִּי־כָ֛כָה (ki-kakhah) – Root: כה; Form: Causal conjunction + demonstrative adverb; Translation: “for thus”; Notes: Introduces explanation or justification.
- יָעַ֥ץ (yaʿats) – Root: יעץ; Form: Qal perfect 3rd masculine singular; Translation: “has advised”; Notes: Refers to counsel given previously.
- עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם (ʿaleikhem) – Root: על; Form: Preposition + 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “against you”; Notes: Directs the danger toward Dawid and his men.
- אֲחִיתֹֽפֶל (Aḥitofel) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Masculine singular; Translation: “Aḥitofel”; Notes: Former counselor of Dawid, now siding with Avshalom.