וַֽ֠יִּתְקְעוּ שְׁלֹ֨שֶׁת הָרָאשִׁ֥ים בַּשֹּֽׁופָרֹות֮ וַיִּשְׁבְּר֣וּ הַכַּדִּים֒ וַיַּחֲזִ֤יקוּ בְיַד־שְׂמאֹולָם֙ בַּלַּפִּדִ֔ים וּבְיַ֨ד־יְמִינָ֔ם הַשֹּׁופָרֹ֖ות לִתְקֹ֑ועַ וַֽיִּקְרְא֔וּ חֶ֥רֶב לַֽיהוָ֖ה וּלְגִדְעֹֽון׃
Then the three companies blew the shofars and broke the pitchers, and they held the torches in their left hands and the shofars in their right hands to blow, and they cried out, “A sword for YHWH and for Gideʿon!”
Morphology
- וַֽ֠יִּתְקְעוּ (va-yitqeu) – Root: תקע (t-q-ʿ); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (sequential past) 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “Then they blew”; Notes: Refers to the sounding of the shofars.
- שְׁלֹ֨שֶׁת הָרָאשִׁ֥ים (sheloshet ha-roshim) – Root: שלש (sh-l-sh), ראש (r-ʾ-sh); Form: Numeral construct with definite noun; Translation: “The three companies”; Notes: Refers to the divisions of the Israelite army.
- בַּשֹּֽׁופָרֹות֮ (ba-shofarot) – Root: שופר (sh-w-p-r); Form: Noun, masculine plural with definite article; Translation: “the shofars”; Notes: Used for signaling in battle.
- וַיִּשְׁבְּר֣וּ (va-yishberu) – Root: שבר (sh-b-r); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they broke”; Notes: Refers to smashing the pitchers.
- הַכַּדִּים֒ (ha-kadim) – Root: כד (k-d); Form: Noun, masculine plural with definite article; Translation: “the pitchers”; Notes: Clay vessels used in the strategy.
- וַיַּחֲזִ֤יקוּ (va-yaḥaziqu) – Root: חזק (ḥ-z-q); Form: Hiphil wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they held”; Notes: Describes grasping the torches.
- בְיַד־שְׂמאֹולָם֙ (beyad-semoʾlam) – Root: יד (y-d), שמאל (s-m-ʾ-l); Form: Prepositional phrase; Translation: “in their left hands”; Notes: Specifies hand usage.
- בַּלַּפִּדִ֔ים (ba-lappidim) – Root: לפיד (l-p-y-d); Form: Noun, masculine plural with definite article; Translation: “the torches”; Notes: Used for illumination and confusion in battle.
- וּבְיַ֨ד־יְמִינָ֔ם (u-beyad-yeminam) – Root: יד (y-d), ימין (y-m-y-n); Form: Prepositional phrase; Translation: “and in their right hands”; Notes: Specifies hand usage.
- הַשֹּׁופָרֹ֖ות (ha-shofarot) – Root: שופר (sh-w-p-r); Form: Noun, masculine plural with definite article; Translation: “the shofars”; Notes: Instruments used for battle signals.
- לִתְקֹ֑ועַ (litqoa) – Root: תקע (t-q-ʿ); Form: Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “to blow”; Notes: Purpose clause.
- וַֽיִּקְרְא֔וּ (va-yiqreu) – Root: קרא (q-r-ʾ); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they cried out”; Notes: Indicates the battle cry.
- חֶ֥רֶב לַֽיהוָ֖ה וּלְגִדְעֹֽון (ḥerev la-YHWH u-le-Gidʿon) – Root: חרב (ḥ-r-b); Form: Noun construct with proper nouns; Translation: “A sword for YHWH and for Gidʿon”; Notes: Battle cry invoking divine and human leadership.