וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר מֹשֶׁה֙ אֶל־הָעָ֣ם לֵאמֹ֔ר הֵחָלְצ֧וּ מֵאִתְּכֶ֛ם אֲנָשִׁ֖ים לַצָּבָ֑א וְיִהְיוּ֙ עַל־מִדְיָ֔ן לָתֵ֥ת נִקְמַת־יְהוָ֖ה בְּמִדְיָֽן׃
And Moshe spoke to the people, saying, “Arm men from among you for the army, and let them go against Midyan to execute YHWH’s vengeance on Midyan.
Morphology
- וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר (vayedabber) – Root: דבר (dabar); Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person masculine singular with vav consecutive; Translation: “And he spoke”; Notes: Refers to Moshe addressing the people.
- מֹשֶׁה֙ (Moshe) – Root: משה (Moshe); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Moshe”; Notes: The leader of Yisraʾel.
- אֶל־הָעָ֣ם (ʾel-haʿam) – Root: עם (ʿam); Form: Preposition אֶל + noun masculine singular definite; Translation: “To the people”; Notes: Refers to the assembly of Yisraʾel.
- לֵאמֹ֔ר (leʾemor) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Infinitive construct; Translation: “Saying”; Notes: Introduces the direct speech.
- הֵחָלְצ֧וּ (heḥaltzu) – Root: חלץ (ḥalats); Form: Niphal imperative masculine plural; Translation: “Arm yourselves”; Notes: A call to prepare for battle.
- מֵאִתְּכֶ֛ם (meʾittəkhem) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Preposition מִן + noun feminine singular with 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “From among you”; Notes: Indicates selection from the people.
- אֲנָשִׁ֖ים (ʾanashim) – Root: אנש (ʾenosh); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “Men”; Notes: Refers to those selected for military service.
- לַצָּבָ֑א (latzava) – Root: צבא (tzava); Form: Noun masculine singular with preposition ל; Translation: “For the army”; Notes: Indicates military organization.
- וְיִהְיוּ֙ (veyihyu) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural with vav consecutive; Translation: “And they shall be”; Notes: Indicates their role in the mission.
- עַל־מִדְיָ֔ן (ʿal-Midyan) – Root: מדין (Midyan); Form: Preposition עַל + proper noun; Translation: “Against Midyan”; Notes: Specifies the target of the mission.
- לָתֵ֥ת (latet) – Root: נתן (natan); Form: Infinitive construct; Translation: “To execute”; Notes: Indicates the purpose of the mission.
- נִקְמַת־יְהוָ֖ה (niqmat-YHWH) – Root: נקם (naqam); Form: Noun feminine singular construct; Translation: “YHWH’s vengeance”; Notes: Emphasizes divine retribution.
- בְּמִדְיָֽן׃ (beMidyan) – Root: מדין (Midyan); Form: Preposition בְּ + proper noun; Translation: “On Midyan”; Notes: Specifies the object of vengeance.