וַיַּעֲל֣וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וַיִּבְכּ֣וּ לִפְנֵֽי־יְהוָה֮ עַד־הָעֶרֶב֒ וַיִּשְׁאֲל֤וּ בַֽיהוָה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הַאֹוסִ֗יף לָגֶ֨שֶׁת֙ לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה עִם־בְּנֵ֥י בִנְיָמִ֖ן אָחִ֑י וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוָ֖ה עֲל֥וּ אֵלָֽיו׃ פ
And the sons of Yisraʾel went up and wept before YHWH until evening, and they inquired of YHWH, saying, “Shall I again draw near to battle against the sons of Binyamin, my brother?” And YHWH said, “Go up against him.”
Morphology
- וַיַּעֲל֣וּ (vayyaʿalu) – Root: עלה (ʿalah); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (sequential imperfect) 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “And they went up”; Notes: Indicates ascent.
- בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (bene-Yisraʾel) – Root: בן (ben) + ישראל (Yisraʾel); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct; Translation: “the sons of Yisraʾel”; Notes: Subject of the action.
- וַיִּבְכּ֣וּ (vayyivku) – Root: בכה (bakah); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they wept”; Notes: Expresses sorrow.
- לִפְנֵֽי־יְהוָה֮ (lifnei-YHWH) – Root: פנה (panah) + יהוה (YHWH); Form: Preposition with noun; Translation: “before YHWH”; Notes: Denotes supplication.
- עַד־הָעֶרֶב֒ (ʿad-haʿerev) – Root: ערב (ʿerev); Form: Noun, masculine singular definite, prefixed with preposition; Translation: “until evening”; Notes: Specifies duration.
- וַיִּשְׁאֲל֤וּ (vayyishʾalu) – Root: שאל (shaʾal); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they inquired”; Notes: Expresses request for divine guidance.
- בַֽיהוָה֙ (ba-YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun, prefixed with preposition; Translation: “of YHWH”; Notes: Object of inquiry.
- לֵאמֹ֔ר (lemor) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Infinitive construct; Translation: “saying”; Notes: Introduces speech.
- הַאֹוסִ֗יף (haʾosif) – Root: יסף (yasaf); Form: Hifil imperfect 1st person singular; Translation: “Shall I again”; Notes: Expresses repetition.
- לָגֶ֨שֶׁת֙ (lageshet) – Root: נגש (nagas); Form: Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “to draw near”; Notes: Indicates action of approach.
- לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה (la-milḥamah) – Root: לחם (laḥam); Form: Noun, feminine singular definite, prefixed with preposition; Translation: “to battle”; Notes: Indicates purpose.
- עִם־בְּנֵ֥י (ʿim-bene) – Root: עם (ʿim) + בן (ben); Form: Preposition with noun, masculine plural construct; Translation: “against the sons of”; Notes: Expresses opposition.
- בִנְיָמִ֖ן (Binyamin) – Root: בנימין (Binyamin); Form: Proper noun, masculine singular; Translation: “Binyamin”; Notes: Identifies the opposing tribe.
- אָחִ֑י (aḥi) – Root: אח (aḥ); Form: Noun, masculine singular, construct with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “my brother”; Notes: Denotes familial relation.
- וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (vayyomer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And He said”; Notes: Refers to YHWH’s response.
- יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun, divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Refers to the divine speaker.
- עֲל֥וּ (ʿalu) – Root: עלה (ʿalah); Form: Qal imperative masculine plural; Translation: “Go up”; Notes: Command to engage in battle.
- אֵלָֽיו׃ (elav) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Preposition with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “against him”; Notes: Refers to Binyamin.