Joshua 19:47

וַיֵּצֵ֥א גְבוּל־בְּנֵי־דָ֖ן מֵהֶ֑ם וַיַּעֲל֣וּ בְנֵֽי־֠דָן וַיִּלָּחֲמ֨וּ עִם־לֶ֜שֶׁם וַיִּלְכְּד֥וּ אֹותָ֣הּ וַיַּכּ֧וּ אֹותָ֣הּ לְפִי־חֶ֗רֶב וַיִּֽרְשׁ֤וּ אֹותָהּ֙ וַיֵּ֣שְׁבוּ בָ֔הּ וַיִּקְרְא֤וּ לְלֶ֨שֶׁם֙ דָּ֔ן כְּשֵׁ֖ם דָּ֥ן אֲבִיהֶֽם׃

And the border of the sons of Dan went out from them, and the sons of Dan went up and fought against Leshem, and they captured it, and they struck it with the edge of the sword, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it, and they called Leshem Dan, after the name of Dan their father.

Morphology

1. וַיֵּצֵ֥א (vayyetzei) – Root: יצא (yatsa); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (preterite) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And it went out”; Notes: Describes movement of the border.
2. גְבוּל־ (gevul-) – Root: גבול (gevul); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct; Translation: “the border of”; Notes: Refers to a defined boundary.
3. בְּנֵי־דָ֖ן (benei-Dan) – Root: דן (Dan); Form: Construct phrase, masculine plural; Translation: “the sons of Dan”; Notes: Refers to the tribe of Dan.
4. מֵהֶ֑ם (mehem) – Root: מן (min) + הם (hem); Form: Preposition with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “from them”; Notes: Indicates separation.
5. וַיַּעֲל֣וּ (vayya’alu) – Root: עלה (ʿalah); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “And they went up”; Notes: Often used for ascent, especially for military campaigns.
6. בְנֵֽי־דָ֗ן (benei-Dan) – Root: דן (Dan); Form: Construct phrase, masculine plural; Translation: “the sons of Dan”; Notes: Repeated subject, emphasizing their action.
7. וַיִּלָּחֲמ֨וּ (vayyilakḥamu) – Root: לחם (laḥam); Form: Nifal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they fought”; Notes: Describes a battle.
8. עִם־ (ʿim) – Root: עם (ʿim); Form: Preposition; Translation: “with”; Notes: Indicates opposition or engagement in battle.
9. לֶשֶׁם (Leshem) – Root: לשם (Leshem); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Leshem”; Notes: A city taken by the tribe of Dan.
10. וַיִּלְכְּד֥וּ (vayyilkedu) – Root: לכד (lakad); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they captured”; Notes: Military conquest.
11. אֹותָ֣הּ (otah) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Pronoun, 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “it”; Notes: Refers to Leshem.
12. וַיַּכּ֧וּ (vayyakku) – Root: נכה (nakhah); Form: Hifil wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they struck”; Notes: Connotes violent conquest.
13. לְפִי־חֶ֗רֶב (lefi-ḥerev) – Root: חרב (ḥerev); Form: Noun, feminine singular construct; Translation: “by the edge of the sword”; Notes: Standard biblical phrase for total destruction.
14. וַיִּֽרְשׁ֤וּ (vayyirshu) – Root: ירש (yarash); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they took possession”; Notes: Signifies permanent settlement.
15. וַיֵּ֣שְׁבוּ (vayyéshevu) – Root: ישב (yashav); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they dwelt”; Notes: Indicates settlement.
16. וַיִּקְרְא֤וּ (vayyiqre’u) – Root: קרא (qara); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they called”; Notes: Naming action.
17. לְלֶ֨שֶׁם֙ דָּ֔ן (le-Leshem Dan) – Root: לשם (Leshem), דן (Dan); Form: Proper noun with preposition; Translation: “Leshem Dan”; Notes: Renaming the city.
18. כְּשֵׁ֖ם (ke-shem) – Root: שם (shem); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct; Translation: “after the name of”; Notes: Expresses resemblance.
19. דָּ֥ן (Dan) – Root: דן (Dan); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Dan”; ; Notes: Refers to the ancestor of the tribe.
20. אֲבִיהֶֽם (avihem) – Root: אב (av); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “their father”; Notes: Indicates descent from Dan.

Syntax Analysis

The verse follows a sequential narrative structure, with a series of wayyiqtol (preterite) verbs indicating consecutive actions. The subject “the sons of Dan” is repeated to emphasize their agency. The prepositional phrases clarify movements and locations, while the final clause explains the renaming of Leshem.

Grammatical Analysis

The verbs in this passage are primarily in the wayyiqtol form, signifying past actions in a narrative sequence. The construct phrases (e.g., גְבוּל־בְּנֵי־דָן) indicate possession and relationships. Proper nouns like דָּן and לֶשֶׁם remain unchanged but take on new meanings when used in renaming.

Lexical Semantics

• לֶשֶׁם (Leshem) – A geographical name, likely associated with Laish (Judg. 18:7).
• לְפִי־חֶרֶב (lefi-ḥerev) – An idiom meaning “by the edge of the sword,” often indicating violent conquest.
• וַיִּרְשׁוּ (vayyirshu) – From ירשׁ (yarash), meaning “to take possession”; often refers to conquest and inheritance.
• שֵׁם (shem) – The term “name” here has the nuance of legacy and identity.

Word Study

ירש (yarash) – This root appears frequently in conquest narratives. It implies not just taking land but establishing control over it as an inheritance. In Deuteronomy, it is often used in the command to “possess” the Promised Land.

Textual Criticism

• Septuagint (LXX): The Greek translation of this passage closely follows the Hebrew but uses “κατέλαβον” (they seized) instead of ירש, emphasizing the act of taking rather than inheriting.
• Dead Sea Scrolls: No significant variations from the Masoretic Text.
• Peshitta: The Syriac rendering emphasizes settlement rather than military conquest.
• Vulgate (1592): Uses “possederunt eam” (they possessed it), in line with the Hebrew idea of inheritance.