וַתָּ֥עָז יַד־מִדְיָ֖ן עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מִפְּנֵ֨י מִדְיָ֜ן עָשֽׂוּ לָהֶ֣ם בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֶת־הַמִּנְהָרֹות֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בֶּֽהָרִ֔ים וְאֶת־הַמְּעָרֹ֖ות וְאֶת־הַמְּצָדֹֽות׃
And the hand of Midyan prevailed over Yisraʾel, and because of Midyan, the sons of Yisraʾel made for themselves the hideouts that are in the mountains, and the caves, and the strongholds.
Morphology
- וַתָּ֥עָז (va-taʿaz) – Root: עזז (ʿazaz); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine singular with vav-consecutive; Translation: “And it prevailed”; Notes: Refers to Midyan’s dominance.
- יַד־מִדְיָ֖ן (yad-Midyan) – Root: יד (yad) + מדין (Midyan); Form: Noun, feminine singular construct; Translation: “the hand of Midyan”; Notes: Symbolizes control.
- עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (ʿal-Yisraʾel) – Root: על (ʿal) + ישראל (Yisraʾel); Form: Preposition with proper noun; Translation: “over Yisraʾel”; Notes: Indicates subjugation.
- מִפְּנֵ֨י (mipnei) – Root: פנה (panah); Form: Preposition; Translation: “because of”; Notes: Indicates reason.
- מִדְיָ֜ן (Midyan) – Root: מדין (Midyan); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Midyan”; Notes: Refers to the oppressors.
- עָשֽׂוּ (ʿasu) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they made”; Notes: Describes Yisraʾel’s action.
- לָהֶ֣ם (lahem) – Root: הם (hem); Form: Preposition with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “for themselves”; Notes: Indicates self-preservation.
- בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (benei-Yisraʾel) – Root: בן (ben) + ישראל (Yisraʾel); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct; Translation: “the sons of Yisraʾel”; Notes: Refers to the Israelites.
- אֶת־הַמִּנְהָרֹות֙ (et-ha-minharot) – Root: נהר (nahar); Form: Noun, feminine plural with definite article; Translation: “the hideouts”; Notes: Secret refuges in the mountains.
- אֲשֶׁ֣ר (asher) – Root: אשר (asher); Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “that”; Notes: Introduces description.
- בֶּֽהָרִ֔ים (be-harim) – Root: הר (har); Form: Noun, masculine plural with preposition; Translation: “in the mountains”; Notes: Indicates their location.
- וְאֶת־הַמְּעָרֹ֖ות (ve-et-ha-meʿarot) – Root: מערה (meʿarah); Form: Noun, feminine plural with definite article; Translation: “and the caves”; Notes: Another form of refuge.
- וְאֶת־הַמְּצָדֹֽות׃ (ve-et-ha-metsadot) – Root: מצד (metsad); Form: Noun, feminine plural with definite article; Translation: “and the strongholds”; Notes: Fortified places of defense.