וַיִּשְׁכְּנ֨וּ מֵֽחֲוִילָ֜ה עַד־שׁ֗וּר אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י מִצְרַ֔יִם בֹּאֲכָ֖ה אַשּׁ֑וּרָה עַל־פְּנֵ֥י כָל־אֶחָ֖יו נָפָֽל׃ פ
And they dwelt from Ḥawilah to Shur, which is opposite Mitsrayim as you go toward Ashshura; he settled opposite all his brothers.
Morphology
- וַיִּשְׁכְּנ֨וּ (va’Yishk’nu) – Root: שכן (sh-k-n); Form: Qal, imperfect, 3mp; Translation: “And they dwelt”; Notes: Refers to the descendants of Yishma’el settling in a region.
- מֵֽחֲוִילָ֜ה (me’Ḥawilah) – Root: חול (ḥ-w-l); Form: Preposition + proper noun, fs; Translation: “From Ḥawilah”; Notes: A region mentioned as the starting boundary.
- עַד־שׁ֗וּר (ʿad-Shur) – Root: שור (sh-w-r); Form: Preposition + proper noun, ms; Translation: “To Shur”; Notes: Indicates the other boundary of their dwelling area.
- אֲשֶׁר֙ (Asher) – Root: אשר (ʾ-sh-r); Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “Which”; Notes: Introduces a relative clause describing Shur.
- עַל־פְּנֵ֣י (ʿal-P’nei) – Root: פנה (p-n-h); Form: Preposition + noun, mp construct; Translation: “Opposite”; Notes: Describes the location in relation to Egypt.
- מִצְרַ֔יִם (Mitsrayim) – Root: מצר (m-ts-r); Form: Proper noun, ms; Translation: “Egypt”; Notes: Refers to the well-known land of Egypt.
- בֹּאֲכָ֖ה (Bo’akha) – Root: בוא (b-w-ʾ); Form: Infinitive construct + 2ms suffix; Translation: “As you go”; Notes: Indicates directionality toward Ashshur.
- אַשּׁ֑וּרָה (Ashshurah) – Root: אשור (ʾ-sh-w-r); Form: Proper noun, fs; Translation: “Ashshur”; Notes: Refers to the region or nation of Assyria.
- עַל־פְּנֵ֥י (ʿal-P’nei) – Root: פנה (p-n-h); Form: Preposition + noun, mp construct; Translation: “Opposite”; Notes: Repeated phrase emphasizing proximity or opposition.
- כָל־אֶחָ֖יו (Kol-Eḥav) – Root: אח (ʾ-ḥ); Form: Noun, mp construct + 3ms suffix; Translation: “All his brothers”; Notes: Refers to the sons of Avraham’s other wives.
- נָפָֽל (Nafal) – Root: נפל (n-p-l); Form: Qal, perfect, 3ms; Translation: “He settled”; Notes: Indicates Yishma’el’s position relative to his brothers.
Morphological Analysis
וַיִּשְׁכְּנ֨וּ (wayyiškənû)
- Root: שכן (škn)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3mp with conversive vav
- Translation: “And they dwelt”
מֵֽחֲוִילָ֜ה (mēḥăwîlāh)
- Root: חוילה (ḥwylh)
- Form: Proper noun, location
- Translation: “from Havilah”
עַד־שׁ֗וּר (ʿaḏ-šûr)
- Root: שור (šwr)
- Form: Proper noun, location
- Translation: “to Shur”
אֲשֶׁר֙ (ʾăšer)
- Form: Relative pronoun
- Translation: “which”
עַל־פְּנֵ֣י (ʿal-pənê)
- Root: פני (pnî)
- Form: Prepositional phrase
- Translation: “opposite”
מִצְרַ֔יִם (miṣrayim)
- Root: מצר (mṣr)
- Form: Proper noun, location
- Translation: “Egypt”
בֹּאֲכָ֖ה (bōʾăḵāh)
- Root: בוא (bwʾ)
- Form: Qal Infinitive construct with 2ms suffix
- Translation: “as you go”
אַשּׁ֑וּרָה (ʾaššûrāh)
- Root: אשור (ʾšwr)
- Form: Proper noun, location
- Translation: “toward Assyria”
עַל־פְּנֵ֥י (ʿal-pənê)
- Root: פני (pnî)
- Form: Prepositional phrase
- Translation: “in defiance of”
כָל־אֶחָ֖יו (ḵol-ʾeḥāyw)
- Root: אח (ʾḥ)
- Form: Noun, masculine plural construct with 3ms suffix
- Translation: “all his brothers”
נָפָֽל (nāp̄āl)
- Root: נפל (npl)
- Form: Qal Perfect 3ms
- Translation: “he settled” or “he fell”
Syntax Analysis
The verse starts with the verb וַיִּשְׁכְּנ֨וּ (“And they dwelt”), describing the territory occupied. The prepositional phrase מֵֽחֲוִילָ֜ה עַד־שׁ֗וּר (“from Havilah to Shur”) defines the geographical range, with the relative pronoun אֲשֶׁר introducing a clause to further describe Shur as עַל־פְּנֵ֣י מִצְרַ֔יִם (“opposite Egypt”). The phrase בֹּאֲכָ֖ה אַשּׁ֑וּרָה (“as you go toward Assyria”) adds directionality. The final clause עַל־פְּנֵ֥י כָל־אֶחָ֖יו נָפָֽל (“in defiance of all his brothers he settled”) suggests a confrontational or independent positioning.
Grammatical Analysis
The Qal imperfect form וַיִּשְׁכְּנ֨וּ indicates the action of dwelling or settling. The Qal perfect form נָפָֽל in this context can imply an idiomatic expression meaning “to settle” or “reside in opposition.” The use of עַל־פְּנֵי with כָל־אֶחָ֖יו suggests defiance or a position taken relative to others.
Lexical Semantics and Word Study
- שכן (škn): To dwell or reside, indicating habitation or settlement.
- נפל (npl): Commonly means “to fall,” but in this context, it is often interpreted as “to settle” or “reside.”
- פני (pnî): Literally “face” or “presence,” used in prepositional phrases to denote opposition or orientation.
Textual Criticism
No significant textual variations are noted among the major sources such as the Masoretic Text, the Septuagint, the Samaritan Pentateuch, the Samaritan Targum, the Peshitta, the Vulgate, or the Old Latin versions. The consistent transmission across these texts supports the stability of this verse.