וַיְהִ֗י כִּ֣י אָֽרְכוּ־לֹ֥ו שָׁם֙ הַיָּמִ֔ים וַיַּשְׁקֵ֗ף אֲבִימֶ֨לֶךְ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים בְּעַ֖ד הַֽחַלֹּ֑ון וַיַּ֗רְא וְהִנֵּ֤ה יִצְחָק֙ מְצַחֵ֔ק אֵ֖ת רִבְקָ֥ה אִשְׁתֹּֽו׃
And it came to pass, when he had been there for many days, that Avimelekh, King of the Pelishtim, looked through the window, and he saw, and behold, Yitsḥaq was playing with Rivqa his wife.
Morphology
- וַיְהִ֗י (Va-yehi) – Root: היה (h-y-h); Form: Qal, imperfect, 3ms with vav-consecutive; Translation: “And it came to pass”; Notes: A common narrative phrase indicating a continuation of events.
- כִּ֣י (Ki) – Form: Conjunction; Translation: “When”; Notes: Introduces the condition or time.
- אָֽרְכוּ־לֹ֥ו (Ar’khu-lo) – Root: ארך (a-r-k); Form: Qal, perfect, 3mp with 3ms suffix; Translation: “They had been long for him”; Notes: Refers to the passing of many days.
- שָׁם֙ (Sham) – Form: Adverb; Translation: “There”; Notes: Indicates the location.
- הַיָּמִ֔ים (Ha-yamim) – Root: יום (y-w-m); Form: Noun, masculine plural with definite article; Translation: “The days”; Notes: Refers to the extended period.
- וַיַּשְׁקֵ֗ף (Va-yashqef) – Root: שׁקף (sh-q-f); Form: Hifil, imperfect, 3ms with vav-consecutive; Translation: “He looked”; Notes: Indicates deliberate observation.
- אֲבִימֶ֨לֶךְ֙ (Avimelekh) – Root: אב (a-v) + מלך (m-l-k); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Avimelekh”; Notes: Name of the Philistine king.
- מֶ֣לֶךְ (Melekh) – Root: מלך (m-l-k); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “King”; Notes: Title referring to Avimelekh’s position.
- פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים (Pelishtim) – Root: פלשׁ (p-l-sh); Form: Proper noun, plural; Translation: “Of the Pelishtim”; Notes: Refers to the Philistines.
- בְּעַ֖ד (Be’ad) – Root: בעד (b-a-d); Form: Preposition; Translation: “Through”; Notes: Indicates the perspective or medium.
- הַֽחַלֹּ֑ון (Ha-ḥalon) – Root: חלן (ḥ-l-n); Form: Noun, masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “The window”; Notes: The object through which Avimelekh observed.
- וַיַּ֗רְא (Va-yar) – Root: ראה (r-a-h); Form: Qal, imperfect, 3ms with vav-consecutive; Translation: “And he saw”; Notes: Indicates Avimelekh’s visual perception.
- וְהִנֵּ֤ה (Ve-hineh) – Form: Interjection; Translation: “And behold”; Notes: Introduces the significant observation.
- יִצְחָק֙ (Yitsḥaq) – Root: צחק (ts-ḥ-q); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yitsḥaq”; Notes: Name of the patriarch.
- מְצַחֵ֔ק (Metsaḥeq) – Root: צחק (ts-ḥ-q); Form: Piel, participle, masculine singular; Translation: “Playing”; Notes: Indicates intimate or playful interaction.
- אֵ֖ת (Et) – Form: Particle; Translation: “With”; Notes: Marks the direct object.
- רִבְקָ֥ה (Rivqa) – Root: רבק (r-v-q); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Rivqa”; Notes: Refers to Yitsḥaq’s wife.
- אִשְׁתֹּֽו׃ (Ishto) – Root: אישׁ (i-sh); Form: Noun, singular construct with 3ms suffix; Translation: “His wife”; Notes: Indicates her relationship to Yitsḥaq.
Morphological Analysis
וַיְהִ֗י (wayəhî)
- Root: היה (hyh)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3ms with conversive vav
- Translation: “And it came to pass”
כִּ֣י (kî)
- Form: Conjunction
- Translation: “when” or “because”
אָרְכוּ־לֹ֥ו (ʾā·rəkū-lō)
- Root: ארך (ʾrk)
- Form: Qal Perfect 3mp with 3ms suffix
- Translation: “they had been long for him”
שָׁם֙ (šām)
- Form: Adverb
- Translation: “there”
הַיָּמִ֔ים (hay·yāmîm)
- Root: יום (ywm)
- Form: Noun, masculine plural with definite article
- Translation: “the days”
וַיַּשְׁקֵ֗ף (way·yaš·qêp)
- Root: שקף (šqp)
- Form: Hiphil Imperfect 3ms with conversive vav
- Translation: “and looked out”
אֲבִימֶ֨לֶךְ֙ (ʾă·vî·me·leḵ)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Abimelech”
מֶ֣לֶךְ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים (me·leḵ pə·liš·tîm)
- Form: Noun construct, masculine singular with following noun
- Translation: “king of the Philistines”
בְּעַ֖ד הַֽחַלֹּ֑ון (bə·ʿaḏ ha·ḥal·lōn)
- Root: חלן (ḥll)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular with preposition and definite article
- Translation: “through the window”
וַיַּ֗רְא (way·yar)
- Root: ראה (rʾh)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3ms with conversive vav
- Translation: “and he saw”
וְהִנֵּ֤ה (wə·hin·nêh)
- Form: Particle
- Translation: “and behold”
יִצְחָק֙ (yiṣ·ḥāq)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Isaac”
מְצַחֵ֔ק (mə·ṣa·ḥêq)
- Root: צחק (ṣḥq)
- Form: Piel Participle, masculine singular
- Translation: “was caressing” or “playing”
אֵ֖ת רִבְקָ֥ה (ʾêṯ riv·qāh)
- Form: Direct object marker with proper noun
- Translation: “Rebekah”
אִשְׁתֹּֽו (ʾiš·tōw)
- Root: אשה (ʾšh)
- Form: Noun, feminine singular with 3ms suffix
- Translation: “his wife”
Syntax Analysis
The verse begins with a temporal clause וַיְהִ֗י כִּ֣י אָֽרְכוּ־לֹ֥ו שָׁם֙ הַיָּמִ֔ים (\”And it came to pass, when he had been there for many days”), setting the scene for the main action. The subject אֲבִימֶ֨לֶךְ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים (“Abimelech, king of the Philistines”) is introduced, followed by the verb וַיַּשְׁקֵ֗ף (“looked out”). The phrase בְּעַ֖ד הַֽחַלֹּ֑ון (“through the window”) indicates the position from which Abimelech observed. The narrative continues with the verb וַיַּ֗רְא (“and he saw”) and the emphatic particle וְהִנֵּ֤ה (\”and behold\”), drawing attention to the surprising sight of יִצְחָק֙ מְצַחֵ֔ק אֵ֖ת רִבְקָ֥ה אִשְׁתֹּֽו (\”Isaac was caressing Rebekah his wife”).
Grammatical Analysis
The verb וַיַּשְׁקֵ֗ף is a Hiphil imperfect with conversive vav, indicating causative action (“looked out”). The participle מְצַחֵ֔ק is in the Piel form, suggesting an intensive or playful action, often translated as “caressing” or “laughing with.” This implies a level of familiarity and intimacy that revealed the true nature of Isaac and Rebekah’s relationship to Abimelech.
Lexical Semantics and Word Study
- ארך (ʾrk): To be long or prolonged. In this context, it refers to an extended period of time that Isaac spent in Gerar.
- שקף (šqp): To look out or gaze. This verb, used in the Hiphil stem, suggests intentional observation from a vantage point.
- צחק (ṣḥq): To laugh or play. In the Piel stem, it implies an intensive or playful action, which in this context indicates an affectionate interaction between Isaac and Rebekah.
- מראה (marʾeh): Appearance or sight. This word often connotes something that is seen or visualized.
Textual Criticism
This verse is consistent across the Masoretic Text, the Septuagint, and other ancient manuscripts. The key terms and structure are well-preserved, showing no significant textual variations that impact the overall meaning. The Septuagint translates the phrase מְצַחֵק with a Greek equivalent that supports the interpretation of playful or intimate behavior. The consistency among sources indicates that the portrayal of Abimelech’s realization of Isaac and Rebekah’s true relationship was a significant narrative moment preserved across traditions.