וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אַל־נָ֖א תַּעֲזֹ֣ב אֹתָ֑נוּ כִּ֣י עַל־כֵּ֣ן יָדַ֗עְתָּ חֲנֹתֵ֨נוּ֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר וְהָיִ֥יתָ לָּ֖נוּ לְעֵינָֽיִם׃
And he said, “Please do not leave us, because you know our encampment in the wilderness, and you will be as eyes for us.
Morphology
- וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (va-yomer) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular with waw consecutive; Translation: “And he said”; Notes: Refers to Moshe continuing to speak.
- אַל־ (ʾal) – Root: לא (l-ʾ); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “Do not”; Notes: Used to express prohibition.
- נָ֖א (na) – Root: נא (n-ʾ); Form: Particle of entreaty; Translation: “Please”; Notes: Adds politeness or urgency.
- תַּעֲזֹ֣ב (taʿazov) – Root: עזב (ʿ-z-v); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “Leave”; Notes: Directly addresses Ḥovav.
- אֹתָ֑נוּ (otanu) – Root: את (ʾ-t); Form: Direct object marker with 1st person plural pronoun suffix; Translation: “Us”; Notes: Refers to the Israelites.
- כִּ֣י (ki) – Root: כי (k-y); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “Because”; Notes: Introduces a reason.
- עַל־כֵּ֣ן (ʿal-ken) – Root: כן (k-n); Form: Prepositional phrase; Translation: “Therefore”; Notes: Indicates causation.
- יָדַ֗עְתָּ (yadata) – Root: ידע (y-d-ʿ); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “You know”; Notes: Refers to Ḥovav’s knowledge.
- חֲנֹתֵ֨נוּ֙ (ḥanotenu) – Root: חנה (ḥ-n-h); Form: Qal infinitive construct with 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “Our encampment”; Notes: Refers to Israel’s temporary settlements.
- בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר (ba-midbar) – Root: מדבר (m-d-b-r); Form: Masculine singular noun with definite article; Translation: “In the wilderness”; Notes: Refers to the geographic setting.
- וְהָיִ֥יתָ (ve-hayita) – Root: היה (h-y-h); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular with waw consecutive; Translation: “And you will be”; Notes: Expresses the expected role of Ḥovav.
- לָּ֖נוּ (lanu) – Root: ל (l); Form: Preposition with 1st person plural pronoun suffix; Translation: “For us”; Notes: Refers to the Israelites.
- לְעֵינָֽיִם (le-ʿeinayim) – Root: עין (ʿ-y-n); Form: Dual noun with preposition; Translation: “As eyes”; Notes: Metaphorically refers to guidance or insight.