וַֽיְשַׁלְּח֛וּ אֶת־רִבְקָ֥ה אֲחֹתָ֖ם וְאֶת־מֵנִקְתָּ֑הּ וְאֶת־עֶ֥בֶד אַבְרָהָ֖ם וְאֶת־אֲנָשָֽׁיו׃
And they sent away Rivqa their sister, and her nurse, and Avraham’s servant, and his men.
Morphology
- וַֽיְשַׁלְּח֛וּ (vayeshalləḥu) – Root: שלח (sh-l-ḥ); Form: Verb, Piel, Wayyiqtol, 3mp; Translation: “And they sent away”; Notes: The Piel form intensifies the action of sending.
- אֶת־רִבְקָ֥ה (et-Rivqah) – Root: רבקה (Rivqah); Form: Proper noun with direct object marker; Translation: “Rebecca”; Notes: Rebecca is the direct object of the verb.
- אֲחֹתָ֖ם (aḥotam) – Root: אחות (ʾ-ḥ-w-t); Form: Noun, fs with 3mp suffix; Translation: “their sister”; Notes: Refers to Rebecca’s familial relationship.
- וְאֶת־מֵנִקְתָּ֑הּ (ve-et-menikta) – Root: ינק (y-n-q); Form: Noun, fs with 3fs suffix; Translation: “and her nurse”; Notes: The 3fs suffix refers to Rebecca.
- וְאֶת־עֶ֥בֶד (ve-et-ʿeved) – Root: עבד (ʿ-b-d); Form: Noun, ms with direct object marker; Translation: “and the servant”; Notes: Refers to Abraham’s servant.
- אַבְרָהָ֖ם (Avraham) – Root: אברהם (ʾ-v-r-h-m); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Abraham”; Notes: Indicates whose servant is mentioned.
- וְאֶת־אֲנָשָֽׁיו (ve-et-anashav) – Root: אנש (ʾ-n-sh); Form: Noun, mp with 3ms suffix; Translation: “and his men”; Notes: Refers to the men accompanying Abraham’s servant.
Morphological Analysis
וַֽיְשַׁלְּח֛וּ (wayšallaḥū)
- Root: שלח (šālaḥ)
- Form: Piel Imperfect 3mp
- Translation: “So they sent away”
אֶת־רִבְקָ֥ה (ʾeṯ-rivqāh)
- Root: רבק (rvq)
- Form: Proper noun, feminine singular
- Translation: “Rebekah”
אֲחֹתָ֖ם (ʾăḥōtām)
- Root: אח (ʾāḥ)
- Form: Noun, feminine singular with 3mp suffix
- Translation: “their sister”
וְאֶת־מֵנִקְתָּ֑הּ (wəʾeṯ-mēniqətāh)
- Root: ינק (ynq)
- Form: Noun, feminine singular with 3fs suffix
- Translation: “and her nurse”
וְאֶת־עֶ֥בֶד (wəʾeṯ-ʿeḇeḏ)
- Root: עבד (ʿāḇaḏ)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “and the servant”
אַבְרָהָ֖ם (ʾaḇrāhām)
- Root: אברהם (ʾaḇrāhām)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Abraham”
וְאֶת־אֲנָשָֽׁיו (wəʾeṯ-ʾănāšāw)
- Root: איש (ʾîš)
- Form: Noun, masculine plural with 3ms suffix
- Translation: “and his men”
Syntax Analysis
The verse begins with וַֽיְשַׁלְּח֛וּ (So they sent away), indicating the action performed by the subject. The direct objects, אֶת־רִבְקָ֥ה אֲחֹתָ֖ם (Rebekah their sister) and וְאֶת־מֵנִקְתָּ֑הּ (and her nurse), are followed by וְאֶת־עֶ֥בֶד אַבְרָהָ֖ם (and Abraham’s servant) and וְאֶת־אֲנָשָֽׁיו (and his men), completing the list of those who were sent.
Grammatical Analysis
The Piel imperfect form וַֽיְשַׁלְּח֛וּ emphasizes the action of sending with force or intention. The use of אֶת as the direct object marker identifies the nouns being acted upon. The suffixes indicate possession and relationship (e.g., אֲחֹתָ֖ם, “their sister”).
Lexical Semantics and Word Study
- מֵנִקְתָּ֑הּ (her nurse): Refers to a caretaker responsible for nursing or caring for a child, indicating Rebekah’s status and support.
- עֶ֥בֶד (servant): Indicates a person bound to service, often with loyalty to their master, in this case, Abraham.
Textual Criticism
No significant textual variants are noted among major manuscripts for this verse.