וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ אֶל־בִּלְעָ֑ם וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ לֹ֗ו כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ בָּלָ֣ק בֶּן־צִפֹּ֔ור אַל־נָ֥א תִמָּנַ֖ע מֵהֲלֹ֥ךְ אֵלָֽי׃
And they came to Bilʿam and said to him, “Thus says Balaq, son of Tsippor: Please do not withhold from coming to me.
Morphology
- וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ (vayavo’u) – Root: בוא (bo); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural with vav-consecutive; Translation: “And they came”; Notes: Refers to the messengers of Balak arriving.
- אֶל־בִּלְעָ֑ם (el-Bilʿam) – Root: בלע (balaʿ); Form: Preposition with proper noun; Translation: “to Bilʿam”; Notes: Indicates the recipient of their arrival.
- וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ (vayomru) – Root: אמר (amar); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural with vav-consecutive; Translation: “And they said”; Notes: Introduces their speech.
- לֹ֗ו (lo) – Root: לו (lo); Form: Preposition with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to him”; Notes: Refers to Bilʿam.
- כֹּ֤ה (koh) – Root: כה (koh); Form: Adverb; Translation: “Thus”; Notes: Introduces a direct quote.
- אָמַר֙ (amar) – Root: אמר (amar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “says”; Notes: Refers to Balak’s words.
- בָּלָ֣ק (Balak) – Root: בלק (Balak); Form: Proper noun, masculine singular; Translation: “Balak”; Notes: The speaker identified in the quote.
- בֶּן־צִפֹּ֔ור (ben-Tsippor) – Root: צפר (Tsippor); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct with proper noun; Translation: “son of Tsippor”; Notes: Specifies Balak’s lineage.
- אַל־נָ֥א (al-na) – Root: אל (al); Form: Negative particle with particle of entreaty; Translation: “Please do not”; Notes: A polite request.
- תִמָּנַ֖ע (timmana) – Root: מנע (manaʿ); Form: Nifal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “withhold yourself”; Notes: Refers to Bilʿam’s hesitation.
- מֵהֲלֹ֥ךְ (mehalokh) – Root: הלך (halakh); Form: Preposition with Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “from going”; Notes: Indicates the action Balak requests.
- אֵלָֽי׃ (elai) – Root: אל (el); Form: Preposition with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “to me”; Notes: Refers to Balak’s request for Bilʿam’s presence.