וְהַצֹּפֶה֩ עֹמֵ֨ד עַֽל־הַמִּגְדָּ֜ל בְּיִזְרְעֶ֗אל וַיַּ֞רְא אֶת־שִׁפְעַ֤ת יֵהוּא֙ בְּבֹאֹ֔ו וַיֹּ֕אמֶר שִׁפְעַ֖ת אֲנִ֣י רֹאֶ֑ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹורָ֗ם קַ֥ח רַכָּ֛ב וּֽשְׁלַ֥ח לִקְרָאתָ֖ם וְיֹאמַ֥ר הֲשָׁלֹֽום׃
And the watchman was standing on the tower in Yizreʿel, and he saw the company of Yehu as he came, and he said, “I see a company.” And Yoram said, “Take a rider and send to meet them, and let him say, ‘Is it peace?’”
Morphology
- וְהַצֹּפֶה (ve-ha-tsofeh) – Root: צפה; Form: Conjunction + definite article + Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “And the watchman”; Notes: Refers to a lookout stationed on the tower.
- עֹמֵד (omed) – Root: עמד; Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “standing”; Notes: Describes his current position of vigilance.
- עַל־הַמִּגְדָּל (ʿal-ha-migdal) – Root: מגדל; Form: Preposition + definite noun; Translation: “on the tower”; Notes: Elevated location for observation.
- בְּיִזְרְעֶאל (be-Yizreʿel) – Root: יזרעאל; Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “in Yizreʿel”; Notes: Geographic setting.
- וַיַּרְא (va-yarʾ) – Root: ראה; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3ms; Translation: “and he saw”; Notes: Action performed by the watchman.
- אֶת־שִׁפְעַת יֵהוּא (et-shifʿat Yehu) – Root: שׁפע; Form: Direct object marker + noun in construct + proper noun; Translation: “the company of Yehu”; Notes: Possibly a large or impressive formation approaching.
- בְּבֹאוֹ (be-voʾo) – Root: בוא; Form: Preposition + Qal infinitive construct + 3ms suffix; Translation: “as he came”; Notes: Refers to Yehu’s movement.
- וַיֹּאמֶר (va-yomer) – Root: אמר; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3ms; Translation: “and he said”; Notes: The watchman reports what he sees.
- שִׁפְעַת אֲנִי רֹאֶה (shifʿat ani roʾeh) – Roots: שׁפע, ראה; Form: Noun + pronoun + participle; Translation: “A company I see”; Notes: He identifies the sight without recognizing the leader.
- וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹורָם (va-yomer Yehoram) – Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3ms + proper noun; Translation: “And Yoram said”; Notes: King of Yisraʾel gives orders based on the report.
- קַח רַכָּב (qaḥ rakkav) – Roots: לקח, רכב; Form: Imperative + noun; Translation: “Take a rider”; Notes: Dispatches a mounted messenger.
- וּשְׁלַח (u-shelakh) – Root: שלח; Form: Conjunction + Qal imperative; Translation: “and send”; Notes: Coordination of instructions.
- לִקְרָאתָם (likratam) – Root: קרא; Form: Preposition + construct noun + 3mp suffix; Translation: “to meet them”; Notes: Directed toward Yehu’s advancing company.
- וְיֹאמַר (ve-yomar) – Root: אמר; Form: Conjunction + Qal jussive 3ms; Translation: “and let him say”; Notes: Volitional use for indirect command.
- הֲשָׁלוֹם (ha-shalom) – Root: שלום; Form: Interrogative + noun; Translation: “Is it peace?”; Notes: Standard question regarding intent or safety.