וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ בְנֵֽי־גָ֖ד וּבְנֵ֣י רְאוּבֵ֑ן וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ אֶל־מֹשֶׁה֙ וְאֶל־אֶלְעָזָ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְאֶל־נְשִׂיאֵ֥י הָעֵדָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃
And the descendants of Gad and the descendants of Reʾuven came and spoke to Moshe, to Elʿazar the priest, and to the leaders of the congregation, saying,
Morphology
- וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ (vayyavoʾu) – Root: בוא (bo); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural with vav consecutive; Translation: “And they came”; Notes: Describes the action of approaching.
- בְנֵֽי־גָ֖ד (venei-Gad) – Root: גד (Gad); Form: Construct noun with proper noun; Translation: “the descendants of Gad”; Notes: Refers to members of the tribe of Gad.
- וּבְנֵ֣י רְאוּבֵ֑ן (u-venei-Reʾuven) – Root: ראובן (Reʾuven); Form: Conjunction with construct noun and proper noun; Translation: “and the descendants of Reʾuven”; Notes: Refers to members of the tribe of Reʾuven.
- וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ (vayyomru) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural with vav consecutive; Translation: “and they spoke”; Notes: Indicates verbal communication.
- אֶל־מֹשֶׁה֙ (el-Moshe) – Root: משה (Moshe); Form: Preposition with proper noun; Translation: “to Moshe”; Notes: Refers to the prophet and leader.
- וְאֶל־אֶלְעָזָ֣ר (ve-el-Elʿazar) – Root: אלעזר (Elʿazar); Form: Conjunction with preposition and proper noun; Translation: “and to Elʿazar”; Notes: Refers to the priest, son of Aharon.
- הַכֹּהֵ֔ן (ha-kohen) – Root: כהן (kohen); Form: Noun, masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “the priest”; Notes: Denotes his religious role.
- וְאֶל־נְשִׂיאֵ֥י (ve-el-nesiʾei) – Root: נשיא (nasi); Form: Conjunction with preposition and construct noun, masculine plural; Translation: “and to the leaders of”; Notes: Refers to the chiefs or heads of tribes.
- הָעֵדָ֖ה (ha-edah) – Root: עדה (ʿedah); Form: Noun, feminine singular with definite article; Translation: “the congregation”; Notes: Refers to the assembly of Yisraʾel.
- לֵאמֹֽר׃ (leʾemor) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Infinitive construct; Translation: “saying”; Notes: Introduces direct speech.