וְאַ֨ךְ אִם־טְמֵאָ֜ה אֶ֣רֶץ אֲחֻזַּתְכֶ֗ם עִבְר֨וּ לָכֶ֜ם אֶל־אֶ֨רֶץ אֲחֻזַּ֤ת יְהוָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר שָֽׁכַן־שָׁם֙ מִשְׁכַּ֣ן יְהוָ֔ה וְהֵאָחֲז֖וּ בְּתֹוכֵ֑נוּ וּבַֽיהוָ֣ה אַל־תִּמְרֹ֗דוּ וְאֹתָ֨נוּ֙ אֶל־תִּמְרֹ֔דוּ בִּבְנֹֽתְכֶ֤ם לָכֶם֙ מִזְבֵּ֔חַ מִֽבַּלְעֲדֵ֔י מִזְבַּ֖ח יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃
But if the land of your possession is unclean, pass over for yourselves to the land of the possession of YHWH, where the dwelling place of YHWH abides, and take possession among us. But do not rebel against YHWH, and do not rebel against us by building for yourselves an altar besides the altar of YHWH our God.
Morphology
- וְאַ֨ךְ (ve-ʾakh) – Root: אך (ʾakh); Form: Adverb; Translation: “But”; Notes: Expresses contrast or emphasis.
- אִם־טְמֵאָ֜ה (ʾim-temeʾah) – Root: טמא (tameʾ); Form: Conditional particle + adjective, feminine singular absolute; Translation: “if it is unclean”; Notes: Introduces a hypothetical condition.
- אֶ֣רֶץ אֲחֻזַּתְכֶ֗ם (ʾerets aḥuzzatkhem) – Root: ארץ, אחז (ʾerets, aḥaz); Form: Noun, feminine singular absolute + construct noun, feminine singular + 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “the land of your possession”; Notes: Refers to their inherited land.
- עִבְר֨וּ (ʿivru) – Root: עבר (ʿavar); Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “pass over”; Notes: A command to cross over.
- לָכֶ֜ם (lakhem) – Root: לכם (lakhem); Form: Preposition with 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “for yourselves”; Notes: Indicates benefit for them.
- אֶל־אֶ֨רֶץ (el-ʾerets) – Root: ארץ (ʾerets); Form: Noun, feminine singular absolute with preposition; Translation: “to the land of”; Notes: Indicates movement towards a destination.
- אֲחֻזַּ֤ת יְהוָה֙ (aḥuzzat YHWH) – Root: אחז (aḥaz); Form: Construct noun, feminine singular + proper noun; Translation: “the possession of YHWH”; Notes: Refers to the sacred land.
- אֲשֶׁ֤ר (ʾasher) – Root: אשר (ʾasher); Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “where”; Notes: Introduces a relative clause.
- שָֽׁכַן־שָׁם֙ (shakhan-sham) – Root: שכן (shakhan); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular + adverb; Translation: “where it abides”; Notes: Refers to YHWH’s dwelling place.
- מִשְׁכַּ֣ן יְהוָ֔ה (mishkan YHWH) – Root: שכן (shakhan); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct + proper noun; Translation: “the dwelling place of YHWH”; Notes: Refers to the Tabernacle.
- וְהֵאָחֲז֖וּ (ve-heʾaḥazu) – Root: אחז (aḥaz); Form: Nifal imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “take possession”; Notes: A call to settle among them.
- בְּתֹוכֵ֑נוּ (be-tokhenu) – Root: תוך (tokh); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct + 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “among us”; Notes: Suggests unity.
- וּבַֽיהוָ֣ה (u-va-YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun with preposition; Translation: “but against YHWH”; Notes: Warning against rebellion.
- אַל־תִּמְרֹ֗דוּ (ʾal-timrodu) – Root: מרד (marad); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural with negative particle; Translation: “do not rebel”; Notes: A warning.
- וְאֹתָ֨נוּ֙ (ve-otanu) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Preposition with 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “and against us”; Notes: Refers to the assembly.
- אֶל־תִּמְרֹ֔דוּ (el-timrodu) – Root: מרד (marad); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural with negative particle; Translation: “do not rebel”; Notes: Repeated warning.
- בִּבְנֹֽתְכֶ֤ם (bivnotkhem) – Root: בנה (banah); Form: Qal infinitive construct with 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “in your building”; Notes: Refers to their action.
- מִזְבֵּ֔חַ (mizbeaḥ) – Root: מזבח (mizbeaḥ); Form: Noun, masculine singular absolute; Translation: “an altar”; Notes: The object of concern.
- מִֽבַּלְעֲדֵ֔י (mi-balaʿadei) – Root: בלע (balaʿ); Form: Preposition; Translation: “besides”; Notes: Indicates exclusivity.
- מִזְבַּ֖ח יְהוָ֥ה (mizbaḥ YHWH) – Root: מזבח (mizbeaḥ); Form: Construct noun, masculine singular + proper noun; Translation: “the altar of YHWH”; Notes: The only acceptable altar.