אֵ֣לֶּה הָיוּ֩ עָרֵ֨י הַמּֽוּעָדָ֜ה לְכֹ֣ל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְלַגֵּר֙ הַגָּ֣ר בְּתֹוכָ֔ם לָנ֣וּס שָׁ֔מָּה כָּל־מַכֵּה־נֶ֖פֶשׁ בִּשְׁגָגָ֑ה וְלֹ֣א יָמ֗וּת בְּיַד֙ גֹּאֵ֣ל הַדָּ֔ם עַד־עָמְדֹ֖ו לִפְנֵ֥י הָעֵדָֽה׃ פ
These were the appointed cities for all the sons of Yisraʾel and for the sojourner dwelling among them, that anyone who struck a soul unintentionally might flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood until he stands before the congregation.
Morphology
- אֵ֣לֶּה (elleh) – Root: אלה (’lh); Form: Demonstrative pronoun, plural; Translation: “These”; Notes: Refers to the cities mentioned.
- הָיוּ֩ (hayu) – Root: היה (h-y-h); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person plural; Translation: “were”; Notes: Describes the status of the cities.
- עָרֵ֨י (‘arei) – Root: עיר (‘-y-r); Form: Noun, feminine plural construct; Translation: “cities of”; Notes: Construct form modifying the next word.
- הַמּֽוּעָדָ֜ה (ha-mu‘adah) – Root: יעד (y-‘-d); Form: Hufal participle, feminine singular, definite; Translation: “appointed”; Notes: Refers to the designation of these cities.
- לְכֹ֣ל (le-khol) – Root: כל (k-l); Form: Preposition with noun, construct state; Translation: “for all”; Notes: Indicates inclusiveness.
- בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (benei Yisra’el) – Root: בן (b-n) + ישראל (y-s-r-’-l); Form: Construct phrase; Translation: “the sons of Yisra’el”; Notes: Refers to the Israelite people.
- וְלַגֵּר֙ (ve-la-ger) – Root: גור (g-w-r); Form: Noun, singular, definite; Translation: “and for the sojourner”; Notes: Refers to a non-native resident.
- הַגָּ֣ר (ha-gar) – Root: גור (g-w-r); Form: Qal participle, singular, definite; Translation: “dwelling”; Notes: Describes the sojourner’s action.
- בְּתֹוכָ֔ם (be-tokham) – Root: תוך (t-w-k); Form: Preposition with noun, plural suffix; Translation: “among them”; Notes: Indicates location within.
- לָנ֣וּס (lanus) – Root: נוס (n-w-s); Form: Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “to flee”; Notes: Purpose of the cities.
- שָׁ֔מָּה (shammah) – Root: שם (sh-m); Form: Adverb; Translation: “there”; Notes: Indicates the place of refuge.
- כָּל־מַכֵּה־נֶ֖פֶשׁ (kol-makkeh-nefesh) – Root: נפש (n-p-sh); Form: Construct phrase; Translation: “anyone who strikes a soul”; Notes: Refers to unintentional killing.
- בִּשְׁגָגָ֑ה (bi-shgagah) – Root: שגג (sh-g-g); Form: Noun, feminine singular; Translation: “unintentionally”; Notes: Indicates lack of intent.
- וְלֹ֣א יָמ֗וּת (ve-lo yamut) – Root: מות (m-w-t); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person singular; Translation: “and not die”; Notes: Protection from execution.
- בְּיַד֙ (be-yad) – Root: יד (y-d); Form: Noun, feminine singular construct; Translation: “by the hand of”; Notes: Indicates agency.
- גֹּאֵ֣ל הַדָּ֔ם (go’el ha-dam) – Root: גאל (g-‘-l) + דם (d-m); Form: Noun, construct phrase; Translation: “the avenger of blood”; Notes: Refers to a family member seeking justice.
- עַד־עָמְדֹ֖ו (ad-‘amdo) – Root: עמד (‘-m-d); Form: Qal infinitive construct with suffix; Translation: “until he stands”; Notes: Refers to trial before judgment.
- לִפְנֵ֥י הָעֵדָֽה (lifnei ha-‘edah) – Root: עדה (‘-d-h); Form: Noun, feminine singular definite; Translation: “before the congregation”; Notes: Refers to judgment by Israelite elders.