וַיִּגְּשׁ֨וּ בְנֵֽי־יְהוּדָ֤ה אֶל־יְהֹושֻׁ֨עַ֙ בַּגִּלְגָּ֔ל וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו כָּלֵ֥ב בֶּן־יְפֻנֶּ֖ה הַקְּנִזִּ֑י אַתָּ֣ה יָדַ֡עְתָּ אֶֽת־הַדָּבָר֩ אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֨ר יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֣ה אִישׁ־הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים עַ֧ל אֹדֹותַ֛י וְעַ֥ל אֹדֹותֶ֖יךָ בְּקָדֵ֥שׁ בַּרְנֵֽעַ׃
And the sons of Yehuda approached Yehoshua at the Gilgal, and Kalev son of Yefunne the Qenizzi said to him, “You know the word that YHWH spoke to Moshe, the man of God, concerning me and concerning you in Qadesh-Barnea.
Morphology
- וַיִּגְּשׁ֨וּ (vayyigg’shu) – Root: נגש; Form: Verb, Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “And they approached”; Notes: The use of wayyiqtol indicates sequential narrative action.
- בְנֵֽי־יְהוּדָ֤ה (benei-Yehudah) – Root: יהודה; Form: Construct noun phrase, masculine plural; Translation: “the sons of Yehudah”; Notes: Refers to the tribal members of Yehudah.
- אֶל־יְהֹושֻׁ֨עַ֙ (el-Yehoshua) – Root: יהושע; Form: Proper noun with preposition; Translation: “to Yehoshua”; Notes: The direct object of the verb “approached.”
- בַּגִּלְגָּ֔ל (ba-Gilgal) – Root: גלגל; Form: Noun, proper place name; Translation: “at the Gilgal”; Notes: A location near the Jordan River where Yisra’el camped.
- וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (vayyo’mer) – Root: אמר; Form: Verb, Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he said”; Notes: Indicates direct speech.
- אֵלָ֔יו (elav) – Root: אל; Form: Preposition with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to him”; Notes: Refers to Yehoshua.
- כָּלֵ֥ב (Kalev) – Root: כלב; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Kalev”; Notes: A leader from the tribe of Yehudah.
- בֶּן־יְפֻנֶּ֖ה (ben-Yefunneh) – Root: יפנה; Form: Construct noun phrase; Translation: “son of Yefunneh”; Notes: Identifies Kalev’s lineage.
- הַקְּנִזִּ֑י (ha-Qenizzi) – Root: קנז; Form: Noun, masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “the Qenizzi”; Notes: A sub-group within Yisra’el.
- אַתָּ֣ה (attah) – Root: אתה; Form: Pronoun, masculine singular; Translation: “You”; Notes: Direct address to Yehoshua.
- יָדַ֡עְתָּ (yadata) – Root: ידע; Form: Verb, Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “you know”; Notes: Expresses certainty about prior knowledge.
- אֶֽת־הַדָּבָר֩ (et-ha-davar) – Root: דבר; Form: Noun, masculine singular definite; Translation: “the word”; Notes: Refers to YHWH’s promise.
- אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֨ר (asher-dibber) – Root: דבר; Form: Relative pronoun with verb, Piel perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “which He spoke”; Notes: The verb in Piel indicates an authoritative declaration.
- יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The divine name of God.
- אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֣ה (el-Mosheh) – Root: משה; Form: Proper noun with preposition; Translation: “to Moshe”; Notes: Recipient of YHWH’s command.
- אִישׁ־הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים (ish-haElohim) – Root: איש, אלהים; Form: Construct noun phrase; Translation: “man of God”; Notes: A title signifying Moshe’s prophetic role.
- עַ֧ל אֹדֹותַ֛י (al-odotai) – Root: עוד; Form: Noun, feminine plural construct with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “concerning me”; Notes: Indicates reference to Kalev.
- וְעַ֥ל אֹדֹותֶ֖יךָ (ve’al-odotekha) – Root: עוד; Form: Noun, feminine plural construct with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “and concerning you”; Notes: Refers to Yehoshua.
- בְּקָדֵ֥שׁ בַּרְנֵֽעַ (be-Qadesh Barnea) – Root: קדש, ברנע; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “in Qadesh-Barnea”; Notes: A significant location in the wilderness journey.
Lexical Semantics and Word Study
- דבר (davar): This root signifies “speech, word, or matter.” It is commonly used in divine communication (e.g., Exodus 20:1).
- אִישׁ (ish): The Hebrew word for “man,” often used in a formal or honorific sense. In this verse, it refers to Moshe as the “man of God,” a title given to prophets or divinely appointed leaders.
- אֱלֹהִים (Elohim): A plural form often used for the singular God of Israel, conveying majesty and authority. When paired with איש, it signifies a man dedicated to divine service.
- יָדַע (yada): The root conveys the idea of knowledge, both intellectual and experiential. In biblical Hebrew, it often implies deep, intimate understanding.
- צִוָּה (tsivvah): A verb meaning “to command,” often used in reference to divine instructions given to Moshe and other leaders.
Textual Criticism
- Septuagint (LXX): The Greek translation renders “YHWH” as Κύριος (Kyrios), meaning “Lord,” which reflects the Jewish practice of avoiding vocalization of the Tetragrammaton.
- Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS): Fragments from the Joshua scrolls align closely with the Masoretic Text, preserving “YHWH” as expected.
- Peshitta: The Syriac translation substitutes “Marya” (ܡܳܪܝܳܐ), maintaining the divine reference.
- Vulgate (1592): The Latin text by Jerome uses “Dominus” for YHWH and closely follows the Masoretic order.
Syntax Analysis
- Verb Chains: The wayyiqtol form (וַיִּגְּשׁוּ, וַיֹּאמֶר) indicates sequential action, characteristic of biblical Hebrew narrative.
- Direct Speech: Introduced by וַיֹּאמֶר, the speech of Kalev is structured with an emphatic second-person pronoun (אַתָּה) to engage Yehoshua directly.
- Appositional Phrases: The phrase אִישׁ־הָאֱלֹהִים further defines Moshe, emphasizing his divine commission.
Grammatical Analysis
- Definite Article: The presence of הַקְּנִזִּי specifies Kalev’s ethnic identity.
- Construct State: בְּנֵי־יְהוּדָה and בֶּן־יְפֻנֶּה show genitive relationships, indicating possession.
- Prepositions: בְּ and אֶל function to introduce location (בַּגִּלְגָּל) and recipient (אֶל־יְהֹושֻׁעַ).
Word Study
- גִּלְגָּל (Gilgal): A location where Yisra’el camped after crossing the Jordan. The name means “circle” or “rolling,” possibly referring to the rolling away of Egypt’s reproach (Joshua 5:9).
- קְּנִזִּי (Qenizzi): A reference to an Edomite clan from Esau’s lineage (Genesis 36:11). Kalev’s inclusion in Yehudah’s tribe indicates his assimilation into Yisra’el.
- קָדֵשׁ בַּרְנֵעַ (Qadesh Barnea): A major site during Yisra’el’s wilderness journey, where the twelve spies were sent (Numbers 13:26).