וַיִּשְׁלַ֧ח מַלְאָכִ֛ים אֶל־אֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְ בְּתָרְמָ֣ה לֵאמֹ֑ר הִנֵּה֩ גַ֨עַל בֶּן־עֶ֤בֶד וְאֶחָיו֙ בָּאִ֣ים שְׁכֶ֔מָה וְהִנָּ֛ם צָרִ֥ים אֶת־הָעִ֖יר עָלֶֽיךָ׃
And he sent messengers to Avimelekh in deceit, saying, “Behold, Gaʿal son of ʿEved and his brothers have come to Shekhem, and behold, they are besieging the city against you.
Morphology
- וַיִּשְׁלַ֧ח (vayyishlaḥ) – Root: שלח (shalaḥ); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he sent”; Notes: Refers to Zebul sending messengers.
- מַלְאָכִ֛ים (malʾakhim) – Root: מלאך (malʾakh); Form: Noun, masculine plural absolute; Translation: “messengers”; Notes: Human envoys rather than divine angels.
- אֶל־אֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְ (el-ʾAvimelekh) – Root: אבימלך (ʾAvimelekh); Form: Proper noun with preposition; Translation: “to Abimelek”; Notes: The recipient of the message.
- בְּתָרְמָ֣ה (bə-tarmah) – Root: תרמה (tarmah); Form: Noun, feminine singular absolute with preposition; Translation: “in deceit”; Notes: Indicates a deceptive intent.
- לֵאמֹ֑ר (leʾemor) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Infinitive construct; Translation: “saying”; Notes: Introduces direct speech.
- הִנֵּה֩ (hinneh) – Root: הנה (hinneh); Form: Interjection; Translation: “Behold”; Notes: Draws attention.
- גַ֨עַל (Gaʿal) – Root: געל (Gaʿal); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Gaal”; Notes: The rebel leader.
- בֶּן־עֶ֤בֶד (ben-ʿEved) – Root: בן (ben) + עבד (ʿEved); Form: Construct noun + proper noun; Translation: “son of Eved”; Notes: Identifies Gaal’s lineage.
- וְאֶחָיו֙ (və-eḥav) – Root: אח (ʾaḥ); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct with 3rd person singular suffix; Translation: “and his brothers”; Notes: His followers.
- בָּאִ֣ים (baʾim) – Root: בוא (bo); Form: Qal participle masculine plural; Translation: “have come”; Notes: Indicates an ongoing action.
- שְׁכֶ֔מָה (Shekhem) – Root: שכם (Shekhem); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Shekhem”; Notes: The city in question.
- וְהִנָּ֛ם (və-hinnam) – Root: הנה (hinneh) + suffix; Form: Interjection with 3rd person plural suffix; Translation: “and behold, they”; Notes: Emphasizing presence.
- צָרִ֥ים (tsarim) – Root: צרר (tsarar); Form: Qal participle masculine plural; Translation: “besieging”; Notes: Indicates an ongoing action.
- אֶת־הָעִ֖יר (et-haʿir) – Root: עיר (ʿir); Form: Noun, feminine singular absolute with definite article; Translation: “the city”; Notes: Refers to Shekhem.
- עָלֶֽיךָ׃ (ʿalekha) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “against you”; Notes: Directs the message to Abimelek.