וּלְשֵׁ֨בֶט֙ הַלֵּוִ֔י לֹֽא־נָתַ֥ן מֹשֶׁ֖ה נַחֲלָ֑ה יְהוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ ה֣וּא נַחֲלָתָ֔ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֥ר לָהֶֽם׃
But to the tribe of Levi, Moshe gave no inheritance; YHWH, the God of Yisraʾel, is their inheritance, as He spoke to them.
Morphology
- וּלְשֵׁ֨בֶט֙ (u-le-shevet) – Root: שבט (sh-b-t); Form: Conjunction + noun, masculine singular construct; Translation: “And to the tribe of”; Notes: The phrase introduces the tribe receiving no land.
- הַלֵּוִ֔י (ha-Levi) – Root: לוי (l-w-y); Form: Proper noun, singular, definite; Translation: “the Levi”; Notes: Refers to the Levitical tribe.
- לֹֽא־נָתַ֥ן (lo-natan) – Root: נתן (n-t-n); Form: Negative particle + verb, Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “did not give”; Notes: Expresses a completed action of withholding land.
- מֹשֶׁ֖ה (Mosheh) – Root: משה (m-sh-h); Form: Proper noun, singular; Translation: “Moshe”; Notes: Refers to the leader of Yisra’el.
- נַחֲלָ֑ה (naḥalah) – Root: נחל (n-ḥ-l); Form: Noun, feminine singular; Translation: “inheritance”; Notes: Indicates the land portion normally given to a tribe.
- יְהוָ֞ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (y-h-w-h); Form: Proper noun, singular; Translation: “the LORD”; Notes: Refers to the divine name.
- אֱלֹהֵ֤י (Elohei) – Root: אלה (ʾ-l-h); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct; Translation: “God of”; Notes: Construct form linking to “Yisra’el.”
- יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (Yisra’el) – Root: ישראל (y-s-r-ʾ-l); Form: Proper noun, singular; Translation: “Yisra’el”; Notes: Refers to the nation of Yisra’el.
- ה֣וּא נַחֲלָתָ֔ם (hu naḥalatam) – Root: נחל (n-ḥ-l); Form: Pronoun + noun, feminine singular construct with 3rd person plural suffix; Translation: “He is their inheritance”; Notes: Indicates that YHWH replaces the land portion.
- כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר (kaʾasher) – Root: כאשר (k-ʾ-sh-r); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “as”; Notes: Introduces the fulfillment of a prior statement.
- דִּבֶּ֥ר (dibber) – Root: דבר (d-b-r); Form: Piel perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “He spoke”; Notes: Piel form intensifies the action of declaring.
- לָהֶֽם (lahem) – Root: הם (h-m); Form: Preposition + pronoun, 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “to them”; Notes: Refers to the tribe of Levi.
Syntax Analysis
The verse consists of two clauses. The first clause states that Moshe did not give the Levites an inheritance, using a negated perfect verb (“לֹֽא־נָתַ֥ן“). The second clause explains why, identifying YHWH as their inheritance. The phrase “כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֥ר לָהֶֽם” (“as He spoke to them”) serves as a subordinate clause explaining the divine command.
Grammatical Analysis
The verb “דִּבֶּ֥ר” in the Piel form indicates an emphatic action of speaking. The construct phrase “אֱלֹהֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙” (“God of Yisra’el”) grammatically links “God” with the nation. The phrase “ה֣וּא נַחֲלָתָ֔ם” acts as a subject-predicate structure with “ה֣וּא” (“He”) serving as the subject.
Lexical Semantics
- נחל (naḥal) – “inherit, apportion”: Used frequently in the context of land inheritance.
- שבט (shevet) – “tribe”: Refers to a subdivision of Yisra’el.
- דבר (dabar) – “speak, command”: Commonly used to denote divine speech.
Word Study
- לֵוִ֔י (Levi): The Levites were set apart for priestly service instead of receiving a land portion.
- נַחֲלָ֑ה (naḥalah): This term for “inheritance” is used metaphorically for YHWH as their portion.
Textual Criticism
The Masoretic Text consistently reads “ה֣וּא נַחֲלָתָ֔ם” (“He is their inheritance”), reinforcing YHWH’s unique role for the Levites. The Septuagint translates this concept similarly, emphasizing divine provision rather than land allocation.