וְאֵ֛לֶּה אֲשֶׁר־נָחֲל֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן אֲשֶׁ֨ר נִֽחֲל֜וּ אֹותָ֗ם אֶלְעָזָ֤ר הַכֹּהֵן֙ וִיהֹושֻׁ֣עַ בִּן־נ֔וּן וְרָאשֵׁ֛י אֲבֹ֥ות הַמַּטֹּ֖ות לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
And these are the ones whom the sons of Yisraʾel inherited in the land of Kena’an, whom Elʿazar the priest, Yehoshua son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the sons of Yisraʾel apportioned to them.
Morphology
- וְאֵ֛לֶּה (ve-eleh) – Root: אלה (ʾ-l-h); Form: Conjunction + demonstrative pronoun, plural; Translation: “And these”; Notes: Introduces a new section about land inheritance.
- אֲשֶׁר־נָחֲל֥וּ (asher-naḥalu) – Root: נחל (n-ḥ-l); Form: Relative pronoun + verb, Qal perfect 3rd person plural; Translation: “whom they inherited”; Notes: Refers to the land portioned to the Israelites.
- בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (benei-Yisra’el) – Root: בן (b-n) + ישראל (y-s-r-ʾ-l); Form: Construct noun phrase, plural; Translation: “the sons of Yisra’el”; Notes: Indicates the recipients of the inheritance.
- בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן (be-erets Kenaʿan) – Root: ארץ (ʾ-r-ṣ) + כנען (k-n-ʿ-n); Form: Preposition + noun, singular construct; Translation: “in the land of Kena’an”; Notes: Specifies the location of the inheritance.
- אֲשֶׁ֨ר נִֽחֲל֜וּ (asher niḥalu) – Root: נחל (n-ḥ-l); Form: Relative pronoun + verb, Nifal perfect 3rd person plural; Translation: “whom they apportioned”; Notes: Passive form indicating the division of land.
- אֹותָ֗ם (otam) – Root: את (ʾ-t); Form: Direct object marker + pronoun, 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “them”; Notes: Refers to the land portions.
- אֶלְעָזָ֤ר הַכֹּהֵן֙ (Elʿazar ha-Kohen) – Root: אלעזר (ʾ-l-ʿ-z-r) + כהן (k-h-n); Form: Proper noun + noun, masculine singular; Translation: “Elʿazar the priest”; Notes: High Priest responsible for overseeing the land division.
- וִיהֹושֻׁ֣עַ בִּן־נ֔וּן (vi-Yehoshua bin-Nun) – Root: יהושע (y-h-w-sh-ʿ) + בן (b-n) + נון (n-w-n); Form: Proper noun + construct phrase; Translation: “Yehoshua son of Nun”; Notes: Leader of Yisra’el, responsible for conquest and division.
- וְרָאשֵׁ֛י (ve-rashei) – Root: ראש (r-ʾ-sh); Form: Conjunction + noun, masculine plural construct; Translation: “and the heads of”; Notes: Refers to leaders of Israelite families.
- אֲבֹ֥ות (avot) – Root: אב (ʾ-v); Form: Noun, masculine plural; Translation: “fathers”; Notes: Ancestral heads of tribes.
- הַמַּטֹּ֖ות (ha-mattot) – Root: מטה (m-ṭ-h); Form: Noun, masculine plural, definite; Translation: “the tribes”; Notes: Indicates the division among Israelite tribes.
- לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל (livnei Yisra’el) – Root: בן (b-n) + ישראל (y-s-r-ʾ-l); Form: Preposition + construct noun phrase, plural; Translation: “to the sons of Yisra’el”; Notes: Indicates the beneficiaries of the land inheritance.
Syntax Analysis
The sentence presents a list of those who oversaw the division of land. “אֲשֶׁר נָחֲל֥וּ” (“whom they inherited”) is a relative clause describing the inheritance process. The subject of the clause is “בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל” (“the sons of Yisra’el”), while the predicate explains the method of inheritance. The phrase “וְרָאשֵׁ֛י אֲבֹ֥ות הַמַּטֹּ֖ות” (“the heads of the fathers of the tribes”) further details those involved in the land division.
Grammatical Analysis
The verb “נָחֲל֥וּ” appears in Qal perfect, denoting a completed action of receiving land. The use of the definite article in “הַמַּטֹּ֖ות” (“the tribes”) implies specific leadership roles. The Nifal form “נִֽחֲל֜וּ” suggests a passive act of inheritance.
Lexical Semantics
- נחל (naḥal) – “inherit, apportion”: Used in legal and covenantal contexts regarding land distribution.
- מַטֶּה (matteh) – “tribe, staff”: Can refer to both a tribal unit and a physical staff of leadership.
- כהן (kohen) – “priest”: Indicates a religious role but also a significant administrative function.
Word Study
- אֶלְעָזָר (Elʿazar): His role as High Priest follows after Aharon, and he plays a key part in the division of land.
- יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (Yehoshua): The successor of Moshe, his name means “YHWH is salvation.” His role in the conquest and division of the land fulfills the promise given to the patriarchs.
- נַחֲלָה (naḥalah): Refers to an inheritance, primarily land received as a permanent possession within Israelite society. The term conveys both divine promise and legal entitlement.
Textual Criticism
The Masoretic Text (MT) is the primary source for this passage. The Septuagint (LXX) renders “נחלו” with the Greek *κατέλαβον* (katelabon), meaning “they took possession of,” emphasizing active acquisition rather than passive reception. The Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS) do not provide significant variants for this verse. The Peshitta (Syriac) follows a similar pattern to the MT but uses an Aramaic equivalent of “apportioned.” The Vulgate (1592) translates “nacaverunt” as “they inherited,” aligning with the MT’s passive sense of receiving land.