בְּצֵ֥ל חֶשְׁבֹּ֛ון עָמְד֖וּ מִכֹּ֣חַ נָסִ֑ים כִּֽי־אֵ֞שׁ יָצָ֣א מֵחֶשְׁבֹּ֗ון וְלֶֽהָבָה֙ מִבֵּ֣ין סִיחֹ֔ון וַתֹּ֨אכַל֙ פְּאַ֣ת מֹואָ֔ב וְקָדְקֹ֖ד בְּנֵ֥י שָׁאֹֽון׃
“In the shadow of Ḥeshbon they stood, powerless, fleeing; for fire went out from Ḥeshbon, and a flame from between Siḥon, and it devoured the corner of Moʾav and the crown of the sons of tumult.
Morphology
- בְּצֵל (be-tzel) – Root: צל; Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “in the shadow of”; Notes: Expresses dependence or protection sought in Ḥeshbon.
- חֶשְׁבֹּון (Ḥeshbon) – Root: —; Form: Proper noun, place name; Translation: “Ḥeshbon”; Notes: Capital city in the Mishor, once Amorite, later Moabite.
- עָמְדוּ (ʿamdu) – Root: עמד; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person common plural; Translation: “they stood”; Notes: Describes those taking position or refuge.
- מִכֹּחַ (mi-koach) – Root: כח; Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “without strength”; Notes: Literally “from strength,” idiomatic for being powerless.
- נָסִים (nasim) – Root: נוס; Form: Qal participle masculine plural; Translation: “fleeing”; Notes: Describes those attempting escape from calamity.
- כִּי (ki) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces the cause of devastation.
- אֵשׁ (ʾesh) – Root: —; Form: Noun feminine singular absolute; Translation: “fire”; Notes: Symbol of destruction and judgment.
- יָצָא (yatsaʾ) – Root: יצא; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “went out”; Notes: Indicates the origin of the destructive force.
- מֵחֶשְׁבֹּון (me-Ḥeshbon) – Root: —; Form: Preposition מִן + proper noun; Translation: “from Ḥeshbon”; Notes: The place where destruction originates.
- וְלֶהָבָה (ve-lehavah) – Root: להב; Form: Conjunction וְ + noun feminine singular absolute; Translation: “and a flame”; Notes: Parallel to “fire,” intensifying the imagery.
- מִבֵּין (mi-bein) – Root: בין; Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “from between”; Notes: Indicates origin within a location.
- סִיחֹון (Siḥon) – Root: —; Form: Proper noun, personal name; Translation: “Siḥon”; Notes: King of the Amorites, remembered in conquest traditions.
- וַתֹּאכַל (va-toʾkhal) – Root: אכל; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “and it devoured”; Notes: Feminine subject “fire/flame” as the devouring force.
- פְּאַת (peʾat) – Root: פאה; Form: Noun feminine singular construct; Translation: “the corner of”; Notes: Suggests extremity or boundary of the land.
- מֹואָב (Moʾav) – Root: —; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Moʾav”; Notes: The nation consumed by fire.
- וְקָדְקֹד (ve-qodqod) – Root: קדקד; Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “and the crown/top of the head”; Notes: Symbol of authority or pride, now destroyed.
- בְּנֵי (bene) – Root: בן; Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “sons of”; Notes: Collective, describing inhabitants.
- שָׁאֹון (shaʾon) – Root: שׁאון; Form: Noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “tumult”; Notes: Symbolic for noisy, tumultuous people; refers to Moʾav’s warriors or proud populace.