וַיְהִ֗י בִּתְחִלַּת֙ שִׁבְתָּ֣ם שָׁ֔ם לֹ֥א יָרְא֖וּ אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה וַיְשַׁלַּ֨ח יְהוָ֤ה בָּהֶם֙ אֶת־הָ֣אֲרָיֹ֔ות וַיִּֽהְי֥וּ הֹרְגִ֖ים בָּהֶֽם׃
And it came to pass at the beginning of their dwelling there, they did not fear YHWH; so YHWH sent lions among them, and they were killing them.
Morphology
- וַיְהִי (va-yehi) – Root: היה (h-y-h); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And it came to pass”; Notes: Narrative introduction indicating a new episode.
- בִּתְחִלַּת (bitḥillat) – Root: חלל (ḥ-l-l); Form: Preposition + construct noun feminine singular; Translation: “at the beginning of”; Notes: Introduces a temporal clause.
- שִׁבְתָּם (shivtām) – Root: ישׁב (y-sh-v); Form: Infinitive construct + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “their dwelling”; Notes: Refers to the newly settled peoples placed in Shomeron.
- שָׁם (sham) – Root: שם (sham); Form: Adverb of place; Translation: “there”; Notes: Refers to the land of Shomeron.
- לֹא (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Denotes negation of fearing YHWH.
- יָרְאוּ (yarʾu) – Root: ירא (y-r-ʾ); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they feared”; Notes: Often means reverence or worship toward YHWH.
- אֶת־יְהוָה (et-YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Direct object marker + proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The object of reverence not given by the settlers.
- וַיְשַׁלַּח (va-yeshallaḥ) – Root: שׁלח (sh-l-ḥ); Form: Piel wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and He sent”; Notes: Refers to an act of judgment by YHWH.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: היה (h-y-h); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Subject of the action “sent.”
- בָּהֶם (bahem) – Root: ב (b) + הם (hem); Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “among them”; Notes: Target of the divine judgment.
- אֶת־הָאֲרָיֹות (et-ha-ʾarayot) – Root: אריה (ʾari); Form: Direct object marker + definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “the lions”; Notes: Instruments of divine punishment.
- וַיִּהְיוּ (va-yihyu) – Root: היה (h-y-h); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they were”; Notes: Describes continuing action.
- הֹרְגִים (horgim) – Root: הרג (h-r-g); Form: Qal participle masculine plural; Translation: “killing”; Notes: Describes the lions’ ongoing action.
- בָּהֶם (bahem) – Root: ב (b) + הם (hem); Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “among them” or “them”; Notes: Victims of the lions’ attack.