וְלִשְׁכָּ֣ה וּפִתְחָ֔הּ בְּאֵילִ֖ים הַשְּׁעָרִ֑ים שָׁ֖ם יָדִ֥יחוּ אֶת־הָעֹלָֽה׃
And a chamber and its entrance were by the posts of the gates; there they shall wash the burnt offering.
Morphology
- וְלִשְׁכָּה (ve-liškah) – Root: לשׁך (lašakh); Form: Conjunction וְ + preposition לְ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “and a chamber”; Notes: Refers to a side room or chamber adjoining the gate area, typically used by priests for temple service preparation.
- וּפִתְחָהּ (u-fitḥah) – Root: פתח (pataḥ); Form: Conjunction וּ + noun masculine singular construct + suffix 3fs; Translation: “and its entrance”; Notes: Refers to the doorway or opening of the chamber, connected to the gate’s structure.
- בְּאֵילִים (be-eilim) – Root: אֵיל (ʾēl); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine plural; Translation: “by the posts”; Notes: Indicates the chamber’s location near the gateposts, aligning with the architectural order of the temple complex.
- הַשְּׁעָרִים (ha-shaʿarim) – Root: שׁער (shaʿar); Form: Definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “the gates”; Notes: Refers to the gates of the temple courts, emphasizing their sanctified spatial layout.
- שָׁם (sham) – Root: —; Form: Adverb of place; Translation: “there”; Notes: Indicates the designated location where the ritual action takes place.
- יָדִיחוּ (yadichu) – Root: דּוּחַ (duaḥ); Form: Hiphil imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they shall wash”; Notes: A causative form indicating ritual washing or cleansing, often associated with the priests’ preparation of offerings.
- אֶת־הָעֹלָה (et-ha-ʿolah) – Root: עלה (ʿalah); Form: Direct object marker + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “the burnt offering”; Notes: Refers to the animal offering wholly consumed by fire upon the altar, symbolizing full dedication to YHWH.