וַיִּקָּבְצ֣וּ הַ֠מִּצְפָּתָה וַיִּֽשְׁאֲבוּ־מַ֜יִם וַֽיִּשְׁפְּכ֣וּ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֗ה וַיָּצ֨וּמוּ֙ בַּיֹּ֣ום הַה֔וּא וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ שָׁ֔ם חָטָ֖אנוּ לַיהוָ֑ה וַיִּשְׁפֹּ֧ט שְׁמוּאֵ֛ל אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בַּמִּצְפָּֽה׃
And they gathered at the Mitzpa, and they drew water and poured it out before YHWH, and they fasted on that day, and they said there, “We have sinned against YHWH.” And Shemuʾel judged the sons of Yisraʾel at the Mitzpa.
Morphology
- וַיִּקָּבְצ֣וּ (vayyiqqavtzu) – Root: קבץ (qavatz); Form: Nifal wayyiqtol (consecutive imperfect) 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “And they gathered”; Notes: Reflexive or passive nuance.
- הַ֠מִּצְפָּתָה (ha-Mitzpatah) – Root: מצפה (Mitzpah); Form: Proper noun with directional suffix; Translation: “at the Mitzpah”; Notes: A significant location in Yisraʾel.
- וַיִּֽשְׁאֲבוּ־ (vayyishʾavu) – Root: שאב (shaʾav); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (consecutive imperfect) 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “And they drew”; Notes: Indicates an action of collecting water.
- מַ֜יִם (mayim) – Root: מים (mayim); Form: Noun, masculine plural; Translation: “water”; Notes: Often used as a collective noun.
- וַֽיִּשְׁפְּכ֣וּ (vayyishpeku) – Root: שפך (shafakh); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (consecutive imperfect) 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “And they poured”; Notes: Indicates ritual action.
- לִפְנֵ֣י (lifnei) – Root: פנים (panim); Form: Preposition with noun construct; Translation: “before”; Notes: Indicates presence.
- יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The divine name.
- וַיָּצ֨וּמוּ֙ (vayyatzumu) – Root: צום (tzum); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (consecutive imperfect) 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “And they fasted”; Notes: Religious observance.
- בַּיֹּ֣ום (ba-yom) – Root: יום (yom); Form: Noun, masculine singular definite; Translation: “on the day”; Notes: Definite article.
- הַה֔וּא (ha-hu) – Root: הוא (hu); Form: Demonstrative pronoun, masculine singular; Translation: “that”; Notes: Specifies the time.
- וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ (vayyomru) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (consecutive imperfect) 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “And they said”; Notes: Introduces speech.
- שָׁ֔ם (sham) – Root: שם (sham); Form: Adverb; Translation: “there”; Notes: Indicates location.
- חָטָ֖אנוּ (ḥataʾnu) – Root: חטא (ḥataʾ); Form: Qal perfect 1st person plural; Translation: “We have sinned”; Notes: Confession statement.
- לַיהוָ֑ה (la-YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun with preposition; Translation: “against YHWH”; Notes: Directs confession.
- וַיִּשְׁפֹּ֧ט (vayyishpot) – Root: שפט (shafat); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (consecutive imperfect) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he judged”; Notes: Describes Samuel’s role.
- שְׁמוּאֵ֛ל (Shemuʾel) – Root: שמואל (Shemuʾel); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Shemuʾel”; Notes: The prophet.
- אֶת־ (et) – Root: את (et); Form: Definite direct object marker; Translation: (not translated); Notes: Marks the object.
- בְּנֵ֥י (bene) – Root: בן (ben); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct; Translation: “the sons of”; Notes: Construct form.
- יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (Yisraʾel) – Root: ישראל (Yisraʾel); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: The nation.
- בַּמִּצְפָּֽה (ba-Mitzpah) – Root: מצפה (Mitzpah); Form: Proper noun with preposition; Translation: “at the Mitzpah”; Notes: A central gathering place.