Jeremiah 22:15

הֲתִֽמְלֹ֔ךְ כִּ֥י אַתָּ֖ה מְתַחֲרֶ֣ה בָאָ֑רֶז אָבִ֜יךָ הֲלֹ֧וא אָכַ֣ל וְשָׁתָ֗ה וְעָשָׂ֤ה מִשְׁפָּט֙ וּצְדָקָ֔ה אָ֖ז טֹ֥וב לֹֽו׃

“Shall you reign because you strive with cedar? Your father—did he not eat and drink and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him.

Morphology

1. הֲתִֽמְלֹ֔ךְ (ha-timlokh) – Root: מלך; Form: Interrogative particle + Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “Shall you reign?”; Notes: Rhetorical question challenging the legitimacy of kingship.
2. כִּ֥י (ki) – Root: כי; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “because”; Notes: Introduces the presumed basis of the kingship claim.
3. אַתָּ֖ה (attah) – Root: אתה; Form: Independent pronoun masculine singular; Translation: “you”; Notes: Emphatic pronoun.
4. מְתַחֲרֶ֣ה (metakḥareh) – Root: חרה; Form: Hitpael participle masculine singular; Translation: “strive” / “compete”; Notes: Reflexive-intent form; implies rivalry or self-exalting ambition.
5. בָאָ֑רֶז (ba-ʾerez) – Root: ארז; Form: Preposition + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “with the cedar”; Notes: Cedar symbolizes luxury and royal pride.
6. אָבִ֜יךָ (avikha) – Root: אב; Form: Noun masculine singular with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “your father”; Notes: Refers to Yoshiyyahu, a righteous king.
7. הֲלֹ֧וא (halo) – Root: לא; Form: Interrogative particle + negative; Translation: “Did he not…?”; Notes: Introduces a rhetorical affirmation.
8. אָכַ֣ל (akhal) – Root: אכל; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he ate”; Notes: Describes ordinary, human behavior.
9. וְשָׁתָ֗ה (ve-shatah) – Root: שתה; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he drank”; Notes: Paired with “ate” to depict normal life.
10. וְעָשָׂ֤ה (ve-ʿasah) – Root: עשה; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he did”; Notes: Refers to ethical conduct.
11. מִשְׁפָּט֙ (mishpat) – Root: שפט; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “justice”; Notes: Legal righteousness and fairness.
12. וּצְדָקָ֔ה (u-tsedaqah) – Root: צדק; Form: Conjunction + noun feminine singular; Translation: “and righteousness”; Notes: Moral integrity and just dealings.
13. אָ֖ז (ʾaz) – Root: אז; Form: Adverb; Translation: “then”; Notes: Marks the temporal result of his actions.
14. טֹ֥וב (tov) – Root: טוב; Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “it was well”; Notes: Indicates blessing or success.
15. לֹֽו (lo) – Root: לו; Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “with him”; Notes: Refers back to the father (Yoshiyyahu).