וַיֹּאמְר֨וּ אֵלָ֜יו זִקְנֵ֣י יָבֵ֗ישׁ הֶ֤רֶף לָ֨נוּ֙ שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֔ים וְנִשְׁלְחָה֙ מַלְאָכִ֔ים בְּכֹ֖ל גְּב֣וּל יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְאִם־אֵ֥ין מֹושִׁ֛יעַ אֹתָ֖נוּ וְיָצָ֥אנוּ אֵלֶֽיךָ׃
And the elders of Yavesh said to him, “Give us respite for seven days, that we may send messengers throughout all the territory of Yisraʾel, and if there is no one to save us, then we will go out to you.”
Morphology
- וַיֹּאמְר֨וּ (va-yomru) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “And they said”; Notes: Introduces the speech of the elders.
- אֵלָ֜יו (elav) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to him”; Notes: Indicates the recipient of the speech.
- זִקְנֵ֣י (ziqnei) – Root: זקן (zaqen); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct; Translation: “the elders of”; Notes: Refers to the leaders.
- יָבֵ֗ישׁ (Yavesh) – Root: יבש (Yavesh); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yavesh”; Notes: Refers to the city of Yavesh Gilʿad.
- הֶ֤רֶף (heref) – Root: הרף (haraf); Form: Imperative masculine singular; Translation: “Give respite”; Notes: A plea for delay.
- לָ֨נוּ֙ (lanu) – Root: לנו (lanu); Form: Preposition + 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “for us”; Notes: Directs the request.
- שִׁבְעַ֣ת (shivʿat) – Root: שבע (shevaʿ); Form: Cardinal number, masculine singular construct; Translation: “seven”; Notes: Specifies duration.
- יָמִ֔ים (yamim) – Root: יום (yom); Form: Noun, masculine plural; Translation: “days”; Notes: Indicates the time period.
- וְנִשְׁלְחָה֙ (ve-nishleḥah) – Root: שלח (shalaḥ); Form: Qal cohortative 1st person plural; Translation: “that we may send”; Notes: Expresses purpose.
- מַלְאָכִ֔ים (malʾakhim) – Root: מלאך (malʾakh); Form: Noun, masculine plural; Translation: “messengers”; Notes: Denotes envoys.
- בְּכֹ֖ל (be-khol) – Root: כל (kol); Form: Preposition + noun, masculine singular; Translation: “throughout all”; Notes: Expresses extent.
- גְּב֣וּל (gevul) – Root: גבול (gevul); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “territory”; Notes: Geographic reference.
- יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (Yisraʾel) – Root: ישראל (Yisraʾel); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: Refers to the nation.
- וְאִם־אֵ֥ין (ve-im-ein) – Root: אין (ʾein); Form: Conditional particle + negative existential; Translation: “and if there is no”; Notes: Introduces condition.
- מֹושִׁ֛יעַ (moshiʿa) – Root: ישע (yashaʿ); Form: Hiphil participle masculine singular; Translation: “one to save”; Notes: Describes a deliverer.
- אֹתָ֖נוּ (otanu) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Direct object marker + 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “us”; Notes: Object of the verb.
- וְיָצָ֥אנוּ (ve-yatsaʾnu) – Root: יצא (yatsaʾ); Form: Qal perfect 1st person plural; Translation: “then we will go out”; Notes: Indicates surrender.
- אֵלֶֽיךָ (elekha) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Preposition + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to you”; Notes: Directs the action toward Naḥash.