וַיַּ֨עַל בַּעְשָׁ֤א מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ עַל־יְהוּדָ֔ה וַיִּ֖בֶן אֶת־הָרָמָ֑ה לְבִלְתִּ֗י תֵּ֚ת יֹצֵ֣א וָבָ֔א לְאָסָ֖א מֶ֥לֶךְ יְהוּדָֽה׃
And Baʿsha king of Yisraʾel went up against Yehuda and built Rama, to prevent anyone from going out or coming in to Asa king of Yehuda.
Morphology
- וַיַּ֨עַל (va-yaʿal) – Root: עלה; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3ms; Translation: “and he went up”; Notes: Military movement or campaign upward geographically or politically.
- בַּעְשָׁ֤א (Baʿshā) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Masculine singular; Translation: “Baʿsha”; Notes: King of the northern kingdom, Yisraʾel.
- מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (melekh-Yisraʾel) – Root: מלך, ישראל; Form: Construct + proper noun; Translation: “king of Yisraʾel”; Notes: Title clarifying Baʿsha’s position.
- עַל־יְהוּדָ֔ה (ʿal-Yehudah) – Root: על, יהודה; Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “against Yehudah”; Notes: Refers to aggression or conflict with the southern kingdom.
- וַיִּ֖בֶן (va-yiven) – Root: בנה; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3ms; Translation: “and he built”; Notes: Refers to fortification or construction of a strategic site.
- אֶת־הָרָמָ֑ה (et-ha-Rāmāh) – Root: רמה; Form: Direct object marker + definite noun; Translation: “Ramah”; Notes: A town near the border, fortified to block access.
- לְבִלְתִּ֗י (le-viltī) – Root: בל; Form: Preposition + negative particle; Translation: “in order not to”; Notes: Introduces purpose clause with negation.
- תֵּ֚ת (tet) – Root: נתן; Form: Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “to allow”; Notes: Infinitive following לְבִלְתִּי.
- יֹצֵ֣א (yōtseʾ) – Root: יצא; Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “going out”; Notes: Describes movement being restricted.
- וָבָ֔א (vā-vāʾ) – Root: בוא; Form: Qal perfect 3ms or sequential participle; Translation: “and coming in”; Notes: Paired with the previous participle as a hendiadys for travel.
- לְאָסָ֖א (le-ʾĀsā) – Root: אסא; Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “to Asa”; Notes: Refers to the southern king, target of Baʿsha’s action.
- מֶ֥לֶךְ יְהוּדָֽה (melekh Yehudah) – Root: מלך, יהודה; Form: Construct + proper noun; Translation: “king of Yehudah”; Notes: Confirms Asa’s position.