וְהַלִּשְׁכָּ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר פָּנֶ֨יהָ֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ הַצָּפֹ֔ון לַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים שֹׁמְרֵ֖י מִשְׁמֶ֣רֶת הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ הֵ֣מָּה בְנֵֽי־צָדֹ֗וק הַקְּרֵבִ֧ים מִבְּנֵֽי־לֵוִ֛י אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה לְשָׁרְתֹֽו׃
And the chamber whose face is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar; they are the sons of Tsadoq, who from among the sons of Levi come near to YHWH to minister to Him.”
Morphology
- וְהַלִּשְׁכָּה (ve-ha-lishkah) – Root: לשׁך (l-š-k); Form: Conjunction וְ + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “And the chamber”; Notes: Refers to another temple room distinct from the one mentioned previously.
- אֲשֶׁר (ʾasher) – Root: —; Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “which”; Notes: Introduces a descriptive clause.
- פָּנֶיהָ (paneha) – Root: פנה (p-n-h); Form: Noun masculine plural construct + suffix 3fs; Translation: “its face”; Notes: Indicates orientation or direction of the chamber.
- דֶּרֶךְ (derekh) – Root: דרך (d-r-k); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “toward”; Notes: Expresses spatial direction.
- הַצָּפֹון (ha-tsafon) – Root: צפון (ṣ-p-n); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the north”; Notes: Identifies the chamber as facing northward.
- לַכֹּהֲנִים (la-kohanim) – Root: כהן (k-h-n); Form: Preposition לְ + definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “for the priests”; Notes: Designates the chamber’s intended occupants.
- שֹׁמְרֵי (shomerei) – Root: שׁמר (š-m-r); Form: Qal participle masculine plural construct; Translation: “keepers of”; Notes: Describes those responsible for guarding or performing duties related to the altar.
- מִשְׁמֶרֶת (mishmeret) – Root: שׁמר (š-m-r); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “charge” or “duty”; Notes: A term denoting appointed service or sacred responsibility.
- הַמִּזְבֵּחַ (ha-mizbeaḥ) – Root: זבח (z-b-ḥ); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the altar”; Notes: Refers to the sacrificial altar located in the inner court.
- הֵמָּה (hemah) – Root: —; Form: Independent pronoun masculine plural; Translation: “they”; Notes: Emphasizes identity of the priestly group described.
- בְּנֵי־צָדֹוק (bene-Tsadoq) – Root: צדק (ṣ-d-q); Form: Noun masculine plural construct + proper noun; Translation: “sons of Tsadoq”; Notes: Refers to the Zadokite priests, descendants of Tsadoq who remained faithful to YHWH during Israel’s apostasy.
- הַקְּרֵבִים (ha-qeravim) – Root: קרב (q-r-b); Form: Hiphil participle masculine plural definite; Translation: “who draw near”; Notes: A technical priestly term denoting those permitted to approach YHWH’s presence in sacred service.
- מִבְּנֵי־לֵוִי (mi-benei-Levi) – Root: לוי (l-w-y); Form: Preposition מִן + construct plural noun + proper noun; Translation: “from among the sons of Levi”; Notes: Specifies their lineage as a subset of the Levitical priesthood.
- אֶל־יְהוָה (el-YHWH) – Root: —; Form: Preposition אֶל + proper noun; Translation: “to YHWH”; Notes: Denotes direct approach to the divine presence in ritual service.
- לְשָׁרְתוֹ (le-sharto) – Root: שׁרת (š-r-t); Form: Preposition לְ + Qal infinitive construct + suffix 3ms; Translation: “to minister to Him”; Notes: Describes the priests’ role in worship and temple service before YHWH.