וַיְהִ֕י כִּֽי־זָעֲק֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶל־יְהוָ֑ה עַ֖ל אֹדֹ֥ות מִדְיָֽן׃
And it came to pass, when the sons of Yisraʾel cried out to YHWH because of Midyan.
Morphology
- וַיְהִ֕י (va-yehi) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular with vav-consecutive; Translation: “And it came to pass”; Notes: Introduces a significant event.
- כִּֽי־ (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “when”; Notes: Indicates the timing of the event.
- זָעֲק֥וּ (zaʿaqu) – Root: זעק (zaʿaq); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they cried out”; Notes: Expresses distress.
- בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (benei-Yisraʾel) – Root: בן (ben) + ישראל (Yisraʾel); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct; Translation: “the sons of Yisraʾel”; Notes: Refers to the Israelites.
- אֶל־יְהוָ֑ה (el-YHWH) – Root: אל (ʾel) + יהוה (YHWH); Form: Preposition with proper noun; Translation: “to YHWH”; Notes: Indicates their appeal to the divine.
- עַ֖ל (ʿal) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition; Translation: “because of”; Notes: Introduces the cause of their outcry.
- אֹדֹ֥ות (ʾodot) – Root: אדות (ʾodot); Form: Noun, feminine plural construct; Translation: “because of”; Notes: Synonymous with “on account of.”
- מִדְיָֽן׃ (Midyan) – Root: מדין (Midyan); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Midyan”; Notes: The oppressing nation.