וַֽיִּגְּשׁ֗וּ רָאשֵׁי֙ אֲבֹ֣ות הַלְוִיִּ֔ם אֶל־אֶלְעָזָר֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְאֶל־יְהֹושֻׁ֖עַ בִּן־נ֑וּן וְאֶל־רָאשֵׁ֛י אֲבֹ֥ות הַמַּטֹּ֖ות לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
Then the heads of the fathers of the Levites approached Eleʿazar the priest, and Yehoshuaʿ son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the sons of Yisraʾel.
Morphology
- וַֽיִּגְּשׁ֗וּ (vayiggeshu) – Root: נגש (n-g-sh); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (sequential imperfect) 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “Then they approached”; Notes: Indicates a sequential action.
- רָאשֵׁי֙ (rashei) – Root: ראש (r-ʾ-sh); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct; Translation: “heads of”; Notes: Indicates leaders or chiefs.
- אֲבֹ֣ות (avot) – Root: אב (ʾ-b); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct; Translation: “fathers”; Notes: Refers to ancestral lineage.
- הַלְוִיִּ֔ם (ha-leviyyim) – Root: לוי (l-w-y); Form: Noun, masculine plural, definite; Translation: “the Levites”; Notes: Identifies the priestly class.
- אֶל־אֶלְעָזָר֙ (el-Elʿazar) – Root: אלאזר (ʾ-l-ʿ-z-r); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “to Elʿazar”; Notes: Name of the high priest.
- הַכֹּהֵ֔ן (ha-kohen) – Root: כהן (k-h-n); Form: Noun, masculine singular, definite; Translation: “the priest”; Notes: Denotes the religious office.
- וְאֶל־יְהֹושֻׁ֖עַ (ve-el Yehoshuaʿ) – Root: יהושע (y-h-w-sh-ʿ); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “and to Yehoshuaʿ”; Notes: The leader of Yisra’el.
- בִּן־נ֑וּן (bin-Nun) – Root: נון (n-w-n); Form: Construct phrase; Translation: “son of Nun”; Notes: Identifies Yehoshuaʿ’s lineage.
- וְאֶל־רָאשֵׁ֛י (ve-el rashei) – Root: ראש (r-ʾ-sh); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct; Translation: “and to the heads of”; Notes: Leaders of the tribes.
- אֲבֹ֥ות (avot) – Root: אב (ʾ-b); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct; Translation: “fathers”; Notes: Refers to tribal elders.
- הַמַּטֹּ֖ות (ha-mattot) – Root: מטה (m-t-h); Form: Noun, masculine plural, definite; Translation: “the tribes”; Notes: Refers to the divisions of Yisra’el.
- לִבְנֵ֥י (livnei) – Root: בן (b-n); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct; Translation: “of the sons of”; Notes: Possessive relationship.
- יִשְׂרָאֵֽל (Yisra’el) – Root: ישראל (y-s-r-ʾ-l); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisra’el”; Notes: Refers to the nation of Yisra’el.