וְהַמַּעְבָּרֹ֣ות נִתְפָּ֔שׂוּ וְאֶת־הָאֲגַמִּ֖ים שָׂרְפ֣וּ בָאֵ֑שׁ וְאַנְשֵׁ֥י הַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה נִבְהָֽלוּ׃ ס
And the fords were seized, and the marshes they burned with fire, and the men of war were terrified.
Morphology
- וְהַמַּעְבָּרוֹת (ve-ha-maʿbarot) – Root: עבר (ʿavar); Form: Conjunction + definite noun feminine plural; Translation: “and the fords / crossings”; Notes: Refers to river crossings or passageways seized by enemies.
- נִתְפָּשׂוּ (nitpasu) – Root: תפשׂ (taphas); Form: Niphal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “were seized / captured”; Notes: Passive, indicating occupation of strategic locations.
- וְאֶת (ve-et) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Conjunction + direct object marker; Translation: “and”; Notes: Introduces the next object “the marshes.”
- הָאֲגַמִּים (ha-agammim) – Root: אגם (agam); Form: Definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “the marshes / pools”; Notes: Refers to watery areas near Babylon, used as defenses.
- שָׂרְפוּ (sarfu) – Root: שרף (saraf); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they burned”; Notes: Indicates the destruction of marshes by fire.
- בָּאֵשׁ (ba-ʾesh) – Root: אשׁ (ʾesh); Form: Preposition + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “with fire”; Notes: Instrumental phrase describing the method of destruction.
- וְאַנְשֵׁי (ve-ʾanshei) – Root: אישׁ (ʾish); Form: Conjunction + noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “and the men of”; Notes: Connects to “men of war.”
- הַמִּלְחָמָה (ha-milḥamah) – Root: לחם (laḥam); Form: Definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “the war / battle”; Notes: Here used in construct with “men.”
- נִבְהָלוּ (nivhalu) – Root: בהל (bahal); Form: Niphal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “were terrified / dismayed”; Notes: Reflects sudden fear and panic among soldiers.
- ס (samekh) – Form: Masoretic accentuation marker (setumah); Translation: [pause]; Notes: Marks a textual division in the Masoretic tradition.