בְּרִית֙ בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֔ךָ בֵּ֥ין אָבִ֖י וּבֵ֣ין אָבִ֑יךָ הִנֵּה֩ שָׁלַ֨חְתִּֽי לְךָ֥ שֹׁ֨חַד֙ כֶּ֣סֶף וְזָהָ֔ב לֵ֣ךְ הָפֵ֗רָה אֶת־בְּרִֽיתְךָ֙ אֶת־בַּעְשָׁ֣א מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְיַעֲלֶ֖ה מֵעָלָֽי׃
“There is a covenant between me and you, between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent to you a present—silver and gold. Go, break your covenant with Baʿsha king of Yisraʾel, so that he may go up from me.”
Morphology
- בְּרִית֙ (berīt) – Root: ברית; Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “covenant”; Notes: Refers to a formal alliance.
- בֵּינִ֣י (bēnī) – Root: בין; Form: Preposition + 1cs suffix; Translation: “between me”; Notes: First party in the covenant.
- וּבֵינֶ֔ךָ (u-vēnekha) – Root: בין; Form: Conjunction + preposition + 2ms suffix; Translation: “and you”; Notes: Second party in the covenant.
- בֵּ֥ין אָבִ֖י (bēn avi) – Root: בין, אב; Form: Preposition + noun construct with 1cs suffix; Translation: “between my father”; Notes: Extends covenant historically.
- וּבֵ֣ין אָבִ֑יךָ (u-ven avikha) – Root: בין, אב; Form: Conjunction + preposition + noun construct with 2ms suffix; Translation: “and your father”; Notes: Refers to historical alliance of previous generations.
- הִנֵּה֩ (hinneh) – Root: הנה; Form: Interjection; Translation: “behold”; Notes: Calls attention to the next action.
- שָׁלַ֨חְתִּֽי (shālaḥtī) – Root: שלח; Form: Qal perfect 1cs; Translation: “I have sent”; Notes: Asa’s diplomatic initiative.
- לְךָ֥ (lekha) – Root: ל; Form: Preposition + 2ms suffix; Translation: “to you”; Notes: Recipient of the tribute.
- שֹׁ֨חַד֙ (shoḥad) – Root: שׁחד; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “bribe”; Notes: Monetary inducement, politically motivated.
- כֶּ֣סֶף (kesef) – Root: כסף; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “silver”; Notes: Part of the tribute.
- וְזָהָ֔ב (ve-zahav) – Root: זהב; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and gold”; Notes: Part of the tribute.
- לֵ֣ךְ (lekh) – Root: הלך; Form: Qal imperative 2ms; Translation: “Go”; Notes: Command to act on the offer.
- הָפֵ֗רָה (hāferāh) – Root: פרר; Form: Hiphil imperative 2ms + feminine suffix; Translation: “break”; Notes: Refers to nullifying an alliance.
- אֶת־בְּרִיתְךָ֙ (et-berītekha) – Root: ברית; Form: Direct object marker + noun feminine singular with 2ms suffix; Translation: “your covenant”; Notes: Refers to Ben-Hadad’s existing pact with Baʿsha.
- אֶת־בַּעְשָׁ֣א (et-Baʿshā) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Direct object marker + proper noun; Translation: “with Baʿsha”; Notes: Identifies the partner of the broken alliance.
- מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (melekh-Yisraʾel) – Root: מלך, ישראל; Form: Construct + proper noun; Translation: “king of Yisraʾel”; Notes: Clarifies Baʿsha’s status.
- וְיַעֲלֶ֖ה (ve-yaʿăleh) – Root: עלה; Form: Qal jussive 3ms; Translation: “and let him go up”; Notes: Expresses desired outcome — withdrawal.
- מֵעָלָֽי (me-ʿālai) – Root: על; Form: Preposition + 1cs suffix; Translation: “from me”; Notes: Indicates removal of threat or opposition.