וַיְהִ֗י כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙ מֵ֣ת גִּדְעֹ֔ון וַיָּשׁ֨וּבוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיִּזְנ֖וּ אַחֲרֵ֣י הַבְּעָלִ֑ים וַיָּשִׂ֧ימוּ לָהֶ֛ם בַּ֥עַל בְּרִ֖ית לֵאלֹהִֽים׃
And it came to pass, when Gideʿon died, that the sons of Yisraʾel turned back and played the harlot after the Baʿalim, and they made Baʿal-berith their god.
Morphology
- וַיְהִ֗י (vayehi) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (sequential imperfect) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And it came to pass”; Notes: Introduces a new narrative event.
- כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙ (kaʾasher) – Root: אשר (asher); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “when”; Notes: Introduces a temporal clause.
- מֵ֣ת (met) – Root: מות (mut); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “died”; Notes: Refers to the passing of Gidʿon.
- גִּדְעֹ֔ון (Gidʿon) – Root: גדעון (Gidʿon); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Gidʿon”; Notes: Subject of the verb.
- וַיָּשׁ֨וּבוּ֙ (vayyashuvu) – Root: שוב (shuv); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (sequential imperfect) 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they turned back”; Notes: Indicates a return to previous behavior.
- בְּנֵ֣י (bene) – Root: בן (ben); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct; Translation: “sons of”; Notes: Refers to descendants.
- יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Yisraʾel) – Root: ישראל (Yisraʾel); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: Refers to the nation.
- וַיִּזְנ֖וּ (vayyiznu) – Root: זנה (zanah); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (sequential imperfect) 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they played the harlot”; Notes: Metaphor for idolatry.
- אַחֲרֵ֣י (aḥarei) – Root: אחר (aḥar); Form: Preposition; Translation: “after”; Notes: Indicates pursuit or allegiance.
- הַבְּעָלִ֑ים (ha-Baʿalim) – Root: בעל (Baʿal); Form: Noun, masculine plural definite; Translation: “the Baʿalim”; Notes: Refers to Canaanite deities.
- וַיָּשִׂ֧ימוּ (vayyashimu) – Root: שים (sim); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (sequential imperfect) 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they made”; Notes: Denotes establishment.
- לָהֶ֛ם (lahem) – Root: ל (l-); Form: Preposition with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “for themselves”; Notes: Indicates personal action.
- בַּ֥עַל בְּרִ֖ית (Baʿal-Berith) – Root: בעל, ברית (Baʿal, Berith); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Baʿal-Berith”; Notes: Refers to a specific deity worshiped by the Israelites.
- לֵאלֹהִֽים׃ (le-Elohim) – Root: אלהים (Elohim); Form: Noun, masculine plural with preposition; Translation: “as a god”; Notes: Indicates idolatrous worship.