וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְמֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל הַרְכֵּ֤ב יָֽדְךָ֙ עַל־הַקֶּ֔שֶׁת וַיַּרְכֵּ֖ב יָדֹ֑ו וַיָּ֧שֶׂם אֱלִישָׁ֛ע יָדָ֖יו עַל־יְדֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
And he said to the king of Yisraʾel, “Set your hand on the bow,” and he set his hand; and Elishaʿ placed his hands on the king’s hands.
Morphology
- וַיֹּאמֶר (va-yomer) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3ms; Translation: “And he said”; Notes: Elishaʿ continues directing the king.
- לְמֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל (le-melekh Yisraʾel) – Form: Preposition + noun construct + proper noun; Translation: “to the king of Yisraʾel”; Notes: Refers to Yoʾash.
- הַרְכֵּב (harkev) – Root: רכב (r-k-v); Form: Hifil imperative 2ms; Translation: “Set” or “Place”; Notes: Causative imperative indicating intentional positioning.
- יָדְךָ (yadekha) – Root: יד (y-d); Form: Noun feminine singular + 2ms suffix; Translation: “your hand”; Notes: Direct object of the verb הַרְכֵּב (harkev).
- עַל־הַקֶּשֶׁת (ʿal-ha-qeshet) – Root: קשת (q-sh-t); Form: Preposition + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “on the bow”; Notes: Instrumental placement.
- וַיַּרְכֵּב (va-yarkev) – Root: רכב (r-k-v); Form: Hifil wayyiqtol 3ms; Translation: “and he set”; Notes: The king obeys Elishaʿ’s command.
- יָדֹו (yadō) – Form: Noun feminine singular with 3ms suffix; Translation: “his hand”; Notes: Refers to the king’s hand.
- וַיָּשֶׂם (va-yasem) – Root: שׂים (ś-y-m); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3ms; Translation: “and he placed”; Notes: Describes Elishaʿ’s symbolic action.
- אֱלִישָׁע (ʾElishaʿ) – Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Elishaʿ”; Notes: The prophet takes initiative.
- יָדָיו (yadav) – Form: Noun dual with 3ms suffix; Translation: “his hands”; Notes: Elishaʿ uses both hands in symbolic gesture.
- עַל־יְדֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ (ʿal-yedei ha-melekh) – Root: יד (y-d); Form: Preposition + construct plural noun + definite noun; Translation: “on the hands of the king”; Notes: Symbolic impartation of prophetic guidance or empowerment.