וְלִבְנֵ֤י הַפִּֽילַגְשִׁים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְאַבְרָהָ֔ם נָתַ֥ן אַבְרָהָ֖ם מַתָּנֹ֑ות וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵ֞ם מֵעַ֨ל יִצְחָ֤ק בְּנֹו֙ בְּעֹודֶ֣נּּוּ חַ֔י קֵ֖דְמָה אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ קֶֽדֶם׃
But to the sons of the concubines whom Avraham had, Avraham gave gifts, and he sent them away from Yitsḥaq his son while he was still alive, eastward, to the land of the east.
Morphology
- וְלִבְנֵ֤י (velivnei) – Root: בן (b-n); Form: Conjunction + noun, mp construct; Translation: “But to the sons of”; Notes: Indicates a specific relationship.
- הַפִּֽילַגְשִׁים֙ (hapilagshim) – Root: פלגש (p-l-g-sh); Form: Noun, fp definite; Translation: “the concubines”; Notes: Refers to secondary wives or concubines of Avraham.
- אֲשֶׁ֣ר (asher) – Root: אשר (ʾ-sh-r); Form: Relative particle; Translation: “whom”; Notes: Introduces a relative clause.
- לְאַבְרָהָ֔ם (leAvraham) – Root: אברם (ʾ-v-r-m); Form: Proper noun, ms with preposition; Translation: “to Avraham”; Notes: Marks possession.
- נָתַ֥ן (natan) – Root: נתן (n-t-n); Form: Verb, qal, 3ms perfect; Translation: “he gave”; Notes: Action of giving gifts.
- מַתָּנֹ֑ות (mattanot) – Root: מתן (m-t-n); Form: Noun, fp absolute; Translation: “gifts”; Notes: Plural emphasizes multiple items.
- וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵ֞ם (vayeshallḥem) – Root: שלח (sh-l-ḥ); Form: Verb, wayyiqtol, piel, 3ms with 3mp suffix; Translation: “and he sent them”; Notes: Piel form intensifies the action. The sending away of the other sons ensures the exclusive inheritance of Yitsḥaq, fulfilling the covenantal promises.
- מֵעַ֨ל (meʿal) – Root: על (ʿ-l); Form: Preposition; Translation: “away from”; Notes: Indicates separation.
- יִצְחָ֤ק (Yitsḥaq) – Root: צחק (ṣ-ḥ-q); Form: Proper noun, ms; Translation: “Yitsḥaq”; Notes: The covenantal son of Avraham. This verse emphasizes Avraham’s distinction between Yitsḥaq, the heir of the covenant, and the other sons of his concubines.
- בְּנֹו֙ (bno) – Root: בן (b-n); Form: Noun, ms construct with 3ms suffix; Translation: “his son”; Notes: Denotes filial relationship.
- בְּעֹודֶ֣נּּוּ (beʿodennu) – Root: עוד (ʿ-w-d); Form: Preposition + participle, ms with 3ms suffix; Translation: “while he was still”; Notes: Temporal clause.
- חַ֔י (ḥay) – Root: חיה (ḥ-y-h); Form: Adjective, ms; Translation: “alive”; Notes: Refers to Avraham’s lifetime.
- קֵ֖דְמָה (qedmah) – Root: קדם (q-d-m); Form: Adverb; Translation: “eastward”; Notes: Indicates direction. “Eastward” (קֵדְמָה) reflects the geographical and symbolic separation of these sons from Yitsḥaq’s inheritance.
- אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ קֶֽדֶם (ʾel-ʾerets qedem) – Root: ארץ (ʾ-r-ṣ), קדם (q-d-m); Form: Preposition + noun, fs absolute + noun, ms absolute; Translation: “to the land of the east”; Notes: Indicates the destination of Avraham’s other sons.
Morphological Analysis
וְלִבְנֵ֤י (wəlibnê)
- Root: בן (bn)
- Form: Noun, masculine plural construct with preposition
- Translation: “And to the sons of”
הַפִּֽילַגְשִׁים֙ (happîlaḡšîm)
- Root: פילגש (plgš)
- Form: Noun, feminine plural
- Translation: “the concubines”
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (ʾăšer)
- Form: Relative pronoun
- Translation: “that”
לְאַבְרָהָ֔ם (ləʾaḇrāhām)
- Root: אברהם (ʾbrhm)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular with preposition
- Translation: “to Abraham”
נָתַ֥ן (nāṯan)
- Root: נתן (ntn)
- Form: Qal Perfect 3ms
- Translation: “he gave”
מַתָּנֹ֑ת (mattānōṯ)
- Root: מתנה (mtnh)
- Form: Noun, feminine plural
- Translation: “gifts”
וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵ֞ם (wayšalləḥêm)
- Root: שלח (šlḥ)
- Form: Piel Imperfect 3ms with 3mp suffix
- Translation: “and he sent them away”
מֵעַ֨ל (mêʿal)
- Root: על (ʿl)
- Form: Preposition
- Translation: “from”
יִצְחָ֤ק (yiṣḥāq)
- Root: יצחק (yṣḥq)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Isaac”
בְּנֹו֙ (bənô)
- Root: בן (bn)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular with 3ms suffix
- Translation: “his son”
בְּעֹודֶ֣נּוּ (bəʿôḏennû)
- Root: עוד (ʿwd)
- Form: Participle, masculine singular with 3ms suffix
- Translation: “while he was still”
חַ֔י (ḥay)
- Root: חיה (ḥyh)
- Form: Adjective, masculine singular
- Translation: “alive”
קֵ֖דְמָה (qēḏəmāh)
- Root: קדם (qdm)
- Form: Adverb
- Translation: “eastward”
אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ (ʾel-ʾereṣ)
- Root: ארץ (ʾrṣ)
- Form: Noun, feminine singular with preposition
- Translation: “to the land”
קֶֽדֶם (qeḏem)
- Root: קדם (qdm)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “of the east”
Syntax Analysis
The verse begins with וְלִבְנֵ֤י הַפִּֽילַגְשִׁים֙ (And to the sons of the concubines), indicating to whom Abraham gave gifts. The direct object מַתָּנֹ֑ת (gifts) follows the verb נָתַ֥ן (gave). The phrase וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵ֞ם מֵעַ֨ל יִצְחָ֤ק בְּנֹו֙ (and he sent them away from Isaac his son) indicates the separation Abraham made between Isaac and the sons of the concubines. The adverb קֵ֖דְמָה (eastward) specifies the direction in which they were sent.
Grammatical Analysis
The Piel verb וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵ֞ם (“and he sent them away”) indicates an intensive action performed by Abraham. The participle בְּעֹודֶ֣נּוּ (“while he was still”) underscores that Abraham took this action during his lifetime.
Lexical Semantics and Word Study
- פילגש (pilgesh): Refers to a concubine, a secondary wife or companion.
- נתן (ntn): Commonly used for giving or granting, especially in the context of gifts or blessings.
Textual Criticism
No significant textual variations are found in major sources such as the Masoretic Text, the Septuagint, the Samaritan Pentateuch, the Samaritan Targum, or the Dead Sea Scrolls. The alignment of these texts supports the integrity and consistency of this verse