מִימֵי֙ הַגִּבְעָ֔ה חָטָ֖אתָ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל שָׁ֣ם עָמָ֔דוּ לֹֽא־תַשִּׂיגֵ֧ם בַּגִּבְעָ֛ה מִלְחָמָ֖ה עַל־בְּנֵ֥י עַֽלְוָֽה׃
From the days of the Givʿah you have sinned, Yisraʾel; there they stood. The battle against the sons of iniquity shall not overtake them in Giveʿa.
Morphology
- מִימֵי (mimei) – Root: יום (yom); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “from the days of”; Notes: Refers to a historical reference point—specifically the period of the atrocity in Givʿah (Judges 19–20), emblematic of moral corruption.
- הַגִּבְעָה (ha-givʿah) – Root: גבעה (givʿah); Form: Definite noun feminine singular with article; Translation: “the Givʿah”; Notes: Refers to the city of Gibeah in Benjamin, infamous for its wickedness—serving as a symbol of national depravity.
- חָטָאתָ (ḥatata) – Root: חטא (ḥaṭaʾ); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “you have sinned”; Notes: Direct accusation against Yisraʾel, showing that their sin has continued since the time of Gibeah.
- יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisraʾel) – Root: ישראל (Yisraʾel); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: Represents the northern kingdom collectively—addressed as the covenant-breaking nation.
- שָׁם (sham) – Root: שם (sham); Form: Adverb of place; Translation: “there”; Notes: Refers back to Givʿah, signifying the origin point of the persistent moral decay in Yisraʾel’s history.
- עָמָדוּ (ʿamadu) – Root: עמד (ʿamad); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person plural; Translation: “they stood”; Notes: Possibly indicates that the people persisted in the same sin or rebellion, remaining steadfast in corruption rather than repentance.
- לֹא־תַשִּׂיגֵם (lo-tassigem) – Root: נשׂג (nasag); Form: Negative particle לֹא + Hiphil imperfect 3rd person feminine singular + suffix 3mp; Translation: “shall not overtake them”; Notes: A prophetic irony—though battle and judgment loom, they continue unrepentant as if immune.
- בַּגִּבְעָה (ba-givʿah) – Root: גבעה (givʿah); Form: Preposition בְּ + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “in Givʿah”; Notes: Reiterates the historical and moral link to the sin of Gibeah—paralleling past and present corruption.
- מִלְחָמָה (milḥamah) – Root: לחם (laḥam); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “battle”; Notes: Refers either to civil war (Judges 20) or impending divine judgment likened to battle.
- עַל־בְּנֵי (ʿal-benei) – Root: בן (ben); Form: Preposition עַל + noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “against the sons of”; Notes: Introduces those upon whom judgment falls—the “sons of iniquity.”
- עַֽלְוָה (ʿalvah) – Root: עלה or עול (possibly related to “evil” or “iniquity”); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “iniquity” or “wickedness”; Notes: Likely an epithet meaning “sons of corruption,” emphasizing moral degradation in Givʿah—later mirrored by the northern kingdom’s sins.