וַיִּתֵּ֣ן מֹשֶׁ֔ה לַחֲצִ֖י שֵׁ֣בֶט מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה וַיְהִ֗י לַחֲצִ֛י מַטֵּ֥ה בְנֵֽי־מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה לְמִשְׁפְּחֹותָֽם׃
And Moshe gave to the half-tribe of Menashshe, and it was for the half-tribe of the sons of Menashshe according to their families.
Morphology
- וַיִּתֵּ֣ן (vayitten) – Root: נתן (n-t-n); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (sequential imperfect) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he gave”; Notes: Sequential form indicating past action.
- מֹשֶׁ֔ה (Mosheh) – Root: משה (m-sh-h); Form: Proper noun, singular; Translation: “Moshe”; Notes: The subject of the verb.
- לַחֲצִ֖י (la-ḥaṣi) – Root: חצי (ḥ-ts-y); Form: Noun, masculine singular, prefixed with ל (to); Translation: “to the half of”; Notes: Indicates division.
- שֵׁ֣בֶט (shevet) – Root: שבט (sh-v-t); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “tribe”; Notes: Often used to refer to Israelite tribes.
- מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה (Menasheh) – Root: מנשה (m-n-sh-h); Form: Proper noun, singular; Translation: “Menasheh”; Notes: Refers to the son of Yoseph and the tribe named after him.
- וַיְהִ֗י (vayehi) – Root: היה (h-y-h); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (sequential imperfect) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And it was”; Notes: Used to indicate an event or occurrence.
- לַחֲצִ֛י (la-ḥaṣi) – Root: חצי (ḥ-ts-y); Form: Noun, masculine singular, prefixed with ל (to); Translation: “to the half of”; Notes: Repetition emphasizes division.
- מַטֵּ֥ה (matteh) – Root: מטה (m-t-h); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “tribe, staff”; Notes: Used synonymously with “שֵׁ֣בֶט” for “tribe” in some contexts.
- בְנֵֽי־מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה (benei-Menasheh) – Root: בן + מנשה (b-n + M-n-sh-h); Form: Construct phrase, noun plural + proper noun; Translation: “the sons of Menasheh”; Notes: Refers to the descendants of Menasheh.
- לְמִשְׁפְּחֹותָֽם׃ (le-mishpeḥotam) – Root: משפחה (m-sh-p-ḥ); Form: Preposition ל + noun, feminine plural, suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “according to their families”; Notes: Specifies how the inheritance was divided.
Syntax Analysis
The verse contains two main clauses, both introduced by wayyiqtol verbs (“וַיִּתֵּ֣ן” and “וַיְהִ֗י“), indicating sequential past actions. The subject, “Moshe,” performs the action of giving to the “half-tribe of Menasheh,” while the second clause clarifies that this portion was for them according to their families.
Grammatical Analysis
The repetition of “לַחֲצִ֛י” (to the half) and the use of “מַטֵּ֥ה” (tribe) alongside “שֵׁ֣בֶט” highlights an emphasis on the division of land among the subgroups within the tribe. The phrase “לְמִשְׁפְּחֹותָֽם” (according to their families) confirms that the division of land was organized by familial units.
Lexical Semantics
- שֵׁבֶט (shevet) – “tribe, staff”: Used for an Israelite tribe, but also means a rod or staff.
- מַטֶּה (matteh) – “tribe, staff”: Synonymous with שֵׁבֶט in many contexts, but can also refer to authority.
- נַחֲלָה (naḥalah) – “inheritance”: The division of land to the tribes of Israel.
Word Study
- שֵׁבֶט (shevet) – “tribe”: Appears throughout the Torah as a designation for the different Israelite groups.
- נַחֲלָה (naḥalah) – “inheritance”: Often denotes divinely allotted portions of land.
- מַטֶּה (matteh) – “staff, tribe”: Used both for a rod of leadership and a subdivision of Israel.
Textual Criticism