Hebrew Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Joshua, Chapter 22יהושע 22

Each verse opens with the running Hebrew, an English translation, and a discourse note (its connective, relation, and role in the argument). Below follows the word-by-word breakdown in six tiers: gloss, case/state or parsing, syntax, semantic force, and a lexical note.

Case Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative Vocative Verb (no case) Indeclinable

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Theme

Joshua 22 closes the conquest narrative with a crisis of interpretation: a memorial altar built by the trans-Jordan tribes is nearly met with civil war before an embassy uncovers its true purpose. Through accusation, oath, and confession, the chapter probes what binds a scattered covenant people together — not geography but shared loyalty to YHWH alone.

Translation & textual notes

Joshua 22 is textually stable in the Masoretic tradition — no major variant readings from Qumran or the versions substantially disturb the narrative — but it preserves several notable cruxes. Most striking is v.34's abrupt ellipsis: 'the sons of Reuben and Gad named the altar ___, for it is a witness...' — the MT supplies no explicit name-noun after לַמִּזְבֵּחַ, leaving the naming formula grammatically incomplete. Some Hebrew manuscripts, the LXX tradition, and modern commentators supply עֵד ('Witness') or a transliterated 'Ed' as the missing name; the MT as it stands leaves the identification to be inferred from the following כִּי-clause. Verse 22's doubled triple invocation (אֵל אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה, repeated) is unusually emphatic even for Hebrew oath-formulas; the LXX renders it more simply, suggesting the MT's repetition may reflect an old liturgical or asseverative convention rather than scribal dittography. Verse 29's חָלִילָה לָּנוּ מִמֶּנּוּ stacks two prepositional phrases (לָּנוּ, מִמֶּנּוּ) that some grammarians read as emphatic doubling and others suspect of minor textual disturbance, though no versional evidence supports emendation. Finally, the root אֵת/אֶת does double duty across the chapter as both the definite direct-object marker (H853) and the preposition 'with' (H854, vv.21,30,32); the OSHB source morphology tags the two homographs inconsistently at v.32, a tagging artifact rather than a true textual variant, silently corrected here. Versification follows the MT.

1

אָ֚ז יִקְרָ֣א יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ לָרֽאוּבֵנִ֖י וְלַגָּדִ֑י וְלַחֲצִ֖י מַטֵּ֥ה מְנַשֶּֽׁה

Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh,

Scene-opening / new narrative unitasyndeton
אָז marks a fresh narrative beat: after the wars of conquest (chs. 1-12) and the tribal land allotments (chs. 13-21), Joshua turns to formally discharge the two-and-a-half trans-Jordanian tribes who crossed over to fight beside their brothers (Num 32; Josh 1:12-15).
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
אָ֚זthenadv · אָז (H227)Temporal adverb (fronted, opens a new scene)אָז (H227) 'then, at that time'; a discourse particle marking a fresh narrative unit — Joshua's formal discharge of the trans-Jordanian tribes, following the completed land allotments of chs. 13–21.
יִקְרָ֣אsummonedQal impf 3ms · קָרָא (H7121)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Preterite yiqtol: the archaic אָז + prefix-conjugation idiom denoting a simple past action, not futurityקָרָא (H7121) 'to call, summon, proclaim'; here Joshua's official summons of the eastern tribes before their dismissal.
יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַJoshuaN proper · יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091)Subject of יִקְרָאיְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091) 'YHWH is salvation'; Moses' successor, here in one of his last acts of leadership before the farewell speeches of chs. 23–24.
לָרֽאוּבֵנִ֖יto the Reubeniteprep לְ + art + N gentilic m sg abs · רְאוּבֵנִי (H7206)Indirect object / addressee (first of three groups)רְאוּבֵנִי (H7206), gentilic adjective 'Reubenite' from רְאוּבֵן; used collectively for the tribe's assembled leaders.
וְלַגָּדִ֑יand to the Gaditeconj וְ + prep לְ + art + N gentilic m sg abs · גָּדִי (H1425)Coordinated indirect object (second of three groups)גָּדִי (H1425) 'Gadite', gentilic from גָּד; second addressee group.
וְלַחֲצִ֖יand to the half ofconj וְ + prep לְ + N m sg constr · חֲצִי (H2677)Coordinated indirect object, head of construct chain (third group)חֲצִי (H2677) 'half, half part'; opens the construct chain 'half the tribe of Manasseh'.
מַטֵּ֥הthe tribe ofN m sg constr · מַטֶּה (H4294)Construct noun (genitive: tribe of Manasseh)מַטֶּה (H4294) 'staff, rod' > 'tribe' — the ruling staff standing metonymically for the tribal body it represents.
מְנַשֶּֽׁהManassehN proper · מְנַשֶּׁה (H4519)Genitive complement of מַטֵּה (construct chain)מְנַשֶּׁה (H4519) 'causing to forget'; Joseph's firstborn son, whose eastern half-tribe (under Machir) settled beyond the Jordan with Reuben and Gad.
2

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם אַתֶּ֣ם שְׁמַרְתֶּ֔ם אֵ֚ת כָּל אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוָּ֣ה אֶתְכֶ֔ם מֹשֶׁ֖ה עֶ֣בֶד יְהוָ֑ה וַתִּשְׁמְע֣וּ בְקוֹלִ֔י לְכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר צִוִּ֖יתִי אֶתְכֶֽם

And he said to them, "You have kept all that Moses the servant of YHWH commanded you, and you have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you."

Direct speech opening / double commendationasyndeton
Joshua's speech opens with a paired commendation (kept... obeyed) that grounds the discharge to follow. The shift from Moses' commands (v. 2a) to Joshua's own voice ('my voice', v. 2b) quietly asserts Joshua's continuity with Mosaic authority (cf. Josh 1:17).
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
וַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he saidconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · אָמַר (H559)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance, introducing direct speechאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; standard verb of speech introducing Joshua's address.
אֲלֵיהֶ֔םto themprep אֶל + 3mp suffix · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase, indirect object (addressee)אֶל (H413) 'to, toward'; with 3mp suffix, marks the addressees of Joshua's speech.
אַתֶּ֣םyouindependent pron 2mp · אַתֶּם (H859)Subject (emphatic, fronted before the verb)אַתֶּם (H859) 2mp independent pronoun; fronted for emphasis — stresses the tribes' own faithful conduct before the release is granted.
שְׁמַרְתֶּ֔םyou have keptQal perf 2mp · שָׁמַר (H8104)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Perfective: a completed state of obedience viewed as accomplished fact, grounding the commendation that followsשָׁמַר (H8104) 'to keep, watch, observe'; of covenantal observance — the tribes have faithfully kept Moses' charge.
אֵ֚ת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)אֵת (H853), nota accusativi marking the definite direct object; untranslated in English.
כָּלall ofN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Head of relative clause, direct object of שְׁמַרְתֶּםכֹּל (H3605) 'all, whole, every'; construct before the relative clause 'all that Moses commanded'.
אֲשֶׁ֣רthatrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the clause modifying כָּלאֲשֶׁר (H834), the invariable Hebrew relative particle 'who, which, that'.
צִוָּ֣הhe commandedPiel perf 3ms · צִוָּה (H6680)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Perfective: a completed, authoritative act of command in the past (Moses' original charge)צִוָּה (H6680) 'to command, charge, order', regularly Piel; the verb of Mosaic legislation running through this chapter.
אֶתְכֶ֔םyouobj marker + 2mp suffix · אֵת (H853)Direct object of צִוָּהאֵת (H853) with 2mp suffix, marking 'you' as the object of Moses' command.
מֹשֶׁ֖הMosesN proper · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Subject of צִוָּהמֹשֶׁה (H4872); the lawgiver whose commands the eastern tribes are commended for having kept — his authority frames vv. 2–5.
עֶ֣בֶדthe servant ofN m sg constr · עֶבֶד (H5650)Apposition to מֹשֶׁה, construct (genitive: servant of YHWH)עֶבֶד (H5650) 'servant, slave'; the honorific title 'servant of YHWH' (עֶבֶד יְהוָה) is Moses' standing epithet in Joshua (cf. 1:1, 13, 15).
יְהוָ֑הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive complement of עֶבֶד (construct chain)יְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name of Israel's God.
וַתִּשְׁמְע֣וּand you obeyedconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 2mp · שָׁמַע (H8085)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance, second commendation paired with שְׁמַרְתֶּםשָׁמַע (H8085) 'to hear, listen, obey'; with בְּקוֹל idiomatic for obedience — pairs with שָׁמַר (v.2a) as a doublet of faithful compliance.
בְקוֹלִ֔יmy voiceprep בְּ + N m sg constr + 1cs suffix · קוֹל (H6963)Object of וַתִּשְׁמְעוּ (idiom: 'obey the voice of')קוֹל (H6963) 'voice, sound'; שָׁמַע בְּקוֹל is the standard idiom 'to obey' — Joshua speaks in his own authoritative voice, echoing Moses'.
לְכֹ֥לin allprep לְ + N m sg abs · כֹּל (H3605)Adverbial prepositional phrase (scope of obedience)כֹּל (H3605) 'all, everything'; prefixed לְ marks the scope — obedience 'in everything' commanded.
אֲשֶׁרthatrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the clause modifying כֹלאֲשֶׁר (H834), relative particle, second occurrence balancing the clause structure of v. 2a.
צִוִּ֖יתִיI commandedPiel perf 1cs · צִוָּה (H6680)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Perfective: a completed act — Joshua speaks in the first person as the one who has issued commands (cf. Josh 1)צִוָּה (H6680); here Joshua himself is the commanding subject, in continuity with Moses' commands just cited — his authority as successor is asserted.
אֶתְכֶֽםyouobj marker + 2mp suffix · אֵת (H853)Direct object of צִוִּיתִיאֵת (H853) with 2mp suffix, object of Joshua's own command.
3

לֹֽא עֲזַבְתֶּ֣ם אֶת אֲחֵיכֶ֗ם זֶ֚ה יָמִ֣ים רַבִּ֔ים עַ֖ד הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֕ם אֶת מִשְׁמֶ֕רֶת מִצְוַ֖ת יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם

You have not forsaken your brothers these many days, to this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of YHWH your God.

Continued commendation (second panel)asyndeton
The commendation is restated first negatively (not forsaken) then positively (kept the charge), bracketing the whole span of the conquest as 'these many days... to this day' — the same temporal idiom recurs ominously at v. 17's Peor precedent.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
לֹֽאnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates עֲזַבְתֶּםלֹא (H3808), the standard verbal negative.
עֲזַבְתֶּ֣םyou have forsakenQal perf 2mp · עָזַב (H5800)Predicate verb (main clause, negated)→ Perfective negated: a completed state that did not occur — sustained non-abandonment across the whole campaignעָזַב (H5800) 'to leave, abandon, forsake'; not deserting one's kin in a shared military obligation — the positive counterpart to v. 2's שָׁמַר/שָׁמַע.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), marking אֲחֵיכֶם as the definite direct object.
אֲחֵיכֶ֗םyour brothersN m pl constr + 2mp suffix · אָח (H251)Direct object of עֲזַבְתֶּםאָח (H251) 'brother'; the western tribes, kin across the Jordan — the chapter's central relational term, threatened again when the altar raises suspicion (vv. 24–27).
זֶ֚הthesedemonstrative pron m sg · זֶה (H2088)Adverbial demonstrative modifying יָמִים רַבִּיםזֶה (H2088) 'this'; used adverbially before a time-noun, 'these many days' = throughout this long period.
יָמִ֣יםdaysN m pl abs · יוֹם (H3117)Adverbial accusative of durationיוֹם (H3117) 'day'; plural for the extended span of the conquest campaign.
רַבִּ֔יםmanyadj m pl abs · רַב (H7227)Attributive adjective modifying יָמִיםרַב (H7227) 'much, many, great'; quantifies the duration of the tribes' faithful service.
עַ֖דuntilprep · עַד (H5704)Prepositional phrase marking temporal terminusעַד (H5704) 'until, as far as'; marks the terminus 'to this very day'.
הַיּ֣וֹםthe dayart + N m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Object of עַד, head of the idiom עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּהיוֹם (H3117) 'day'; with article and following demonstrative, the fixed idiom 'to this day' — the speaker's present moment.
הַזֶּ֑הthisart + demonstrative pron m sg · זֶה (H2088)Attributive demonstrative modifying הַיּוֹםזֶה (H2088) 'this'; completes the idiom עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה 'to this very day' — this exact temporal marker recurs at v. 17's Peor precedent.
וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֕םand you have keptconj וּ + Qal perf 2mp · שָׁמַר (H8104)Predicate verb (main clause, coordinate with עֲזַבְתֶּם)→ Perfective: a completed, sustained act of covenant-keeping, matching v. 2's opening verbשָׁמַר (H8104); repeats v. 2, now with object מִשְׁמֶרֶת מִצְוַת יְהוָה — a cognate pairing (שָׁמַר...מִשְׁמֶרֶת) intensifying the sense of careful, full compliance.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), marking the following construct chain as direct object.
מִשְׁמֶ֕רֶתthe charge ofN f sg constr · מִשְׁמֶרֶת (H4931)Direct object of וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם, head of construct chainמִשְׁמֶרֶת (H4931) 'charge, watch, obligation', from שָׁמַר; the cognate noun reinforces the verb — full, careful discharge of duty, not partial compliance.
מִצְוַ֖תthe commandment ofN f sg constr · מִצְוָה (H4687)Construct within the chain (genitive)מִצְוָה (H4687) 'commandment'; paired with מִשְׁמֶרֶת as a doubled construct, 'the charge of the commandment'.
יְהוָ֥הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive complement of מִצְוַתיְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name.
אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽםyour GodN m pl constr + 2mp suffix · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָהאֱלֹהִים (H430), plural of majesty, 'God'; 'YHWH your God' is the covenant formula recurring throughout Joshua's speech.
4

וְעַתָּ֗ה הֵנִ֨יחַ יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֙ לַֽאֲחֵיכֶ֔ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֣ר לָהֶ֑ם וְעַתָּ֡ה פְּנוּ֩ וּלְכ֨וּ לָכֶ֜ם לְאָהֳלֵיכֶ֗ם אֶל אֶ֨רֶץ֙ אֲחֻזַּתְכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָתַ֣ן לָכֶ֗ם מֹשֶׁה֙ עֶ֣בֶד יְהוָ֔ה בְּעֵ֖בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּֽן

And now YHWH your God has given rest to your brothers, just as he spoke to them; so now turn and go to your tents, to the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of YHWH gave you on the other side of the Jordan.

Main announcement — the release properasyndeton
The two-fold וְעַתָּה ('and now'... 'so now') structures the verse as fulfillment-then-command: because YHWH has given rest (accomplished fact), therefore go home (imperative) — the logical hinge of the whole discharge speech.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
וְעַתָּ֗הand nowconj וְ + adv · עַתָּה (H6258)Discourse marker (transition to the release proper)עַתָּה (H6258) 'now'; a hinge particle shifting from the commendation (vv. 2–3) to the announcement of rest and release.
הֵנִ֨יחַhas given restHiphil perf 3ms · נוּחַ (H5117)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Perfective: a completed, decisive act — YHWH's granting of rest is now accomplished factנוּחַ (H5117) 'to rest'; Hiphil 'to give rest' — the theological keyword of Joshua's land-rest motif (cf. 1:13, 15; 21:44), now extended to the eastern tribes.
יְהוָ֤הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of הֵנִיחַיְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name; the true grantor of rest, not Joshua.
אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֙your GodN m pl constr + 2mp suffix · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָהאֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God'; covenant formula continuing from v. 3.
לַֽאֲחֵיכֶ֔םto your brothersprep לְ + N m pl constr + 2mp suffix · אָח (H251)Indirect object of הֵנִיחַ (beneficiary)אָח (H251) 'brother'; the western tribes, now at rest — the fulfillment that releases the eastern tribes from further obligation.
כַּאֲשֶׁ֖רjust asprep כְּ + relative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Comparative clause markerכַּאֲשֶׁר (כְּ + אֲשֶׁר) 'just as, according as'; introduces the fulfillment-clause matching promise to event.
דִּבֶּ֣רhe spokePiel perf 3ms · דָּבַר (H1696)Predicate verb of the כַּאֲשֶׁר clause→ Perfective: a completed, prior act of divine promise now fulfilledדָּבַר (H1696) 'to speak', regularly Piel; YHWH's prior promise (Deut 3:20; 12:10) now realized.
לָהֶ֑םto themprep לְ + 3mp suffix · לְIndirect object of דִּבֶּרלְ with 3mp suffix, 'to them' — the addressees of YHWH's original promise.
וְעַתָּ֡הso nowconj וְ + adv · עַתָּה (H6258)Discourse marker introducing the imperative chargeעַתָּה (H6258), repeated to mark the logical consequence: rest having been given, therefore go.
פְּנוּ֩turnQal impv 2mp · פָּנָה (H6437)Predicate verb (imperative, main clause)→ Volitional: a direct command — turn away from the campaign toward homeפָּנָה (H6437) 'to turn, face'; first of two paired imperatives (turn, go) authorizing the tribes' departure.
וּלְכ֨וּand goconj וּ + Qal impv 2mp · הָלַךְ (H3212)Predicate verb (imperative, coordinate with פְּנוּ)→ Volitional: direct command, completing the release formulaהָלַךְ (H3212) 'to go, walk'; paired with פָּנָה as the standard dismissal formula.
לָכֶ֜םfor yourselvesprep לְ + 2mp suffix · לְEthical dative (reflexive emphasis on the imperative)לְ with 2mp suffix, the 'dative of interest' idiom common with motion verbs — 'go your way'.
לְאָהֳלֵיכֶ֗םto your tentsprep לְ + N m pl constr + 2mp suffix · אֹהֶל (H168)Directional prepositional phraseאֹהֶל (H168) 'tent'; idiomatic for 'home' — the same phrase closes the parallel dismissal-formula in 1 Kgs 12:16.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Directional prepositional phrase (in apposition to לְאָהֳלֵיכֶם)אֶל (H413) 'to, toward'; specifies the destination further as the land of possession.
אֶ֨רֶץ֙the land ofN common sg constr · אֶרֶץ (H776)Object of אֶל, head of construct chainאֶרֶץ (H776) 'land, earth'; begins the phrase identifying the specific trans-Jordan territory.
אֲחֻזַּתְכֶ֔םyour possessionN f sg constr + 2mp suffix · אֲחֻזָּה (H272)Genitive complement of אֶרֶץאֲחֻזָּה (H272) 'possession, holding', from אָחַז 'to grasp'; legal term for allotted land — the eastern tribes' territory is as legitimate a 'possession' as any west-bank allotment.
אֲשֶׁ֣רwhichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the clause modifying אֶרֶץ אֲחֻזַּתְכֶםאֲשֶׁר (H834), relative particle.
נָתַ֣ןgaveQal perf 3ms · נָתַן (H5414)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Perfective: a completed, authoritative act of land-grantנָתַן (H5414) 'to give'; the key verb of land-grant theology throughout Joshua — here Moses' original grant east of the Jordan (Num 32; Deut 3:12–17).
לָכֶ֗םto youprep לְ + 2mp suffix · לְIndirect object of נָתַןלְ with 2mp suffix, 'to you' — the recipients of Moses' grant.
מֹשֶׁה֙MosesN proper · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Subject of נָתַןמֹשֶׁה (H4872); the grant's human agent, acting as YHWH's servant.
עֶ֣בֶדthe servant ofN m sg constr · עֶבֶד (H5650)Apposition to מֹשֶׁה, constructעֶבֶד (H5650) 'servant'; recurring epithet validating Moses' original land-grant as equal in authority to Joshua's western allotments.
יְהוָ֔הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive complement of עֶבֶדיְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name.
בְּעֵ֖בֶרon the side ofprep בְּ + N m sg constr · עֵבֶר (H5676)Locative prepositional phraseעֵבֶר (H5676) 'side, region across'; בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן 'on the other side of the Jordan' — the chapter's standard geographic marker for Transjordan.
הַיַּרְדֵּֽןthe Jordanart + N proper · יַרְדֵּן (H3383)Genitive complement of בְּעֵבֶריַרְדֵּן (H3383) 'Jordan'; the river is the chapter's central geographic and, later, theological boundary-marker (v. 25).
5

רַ֣ק שִׁמְר֣וּ מְאֹ֗ד לַעֲשׂ֨וֹת אֶת הַמִּצְוָ֣ה וְאֶת הַתּוֹרָה֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוָּ֣ה אֶתְכֶם֮ מֹשֶׁ֣ה עֶֽבֶד יְהוָה֒ לְ֠אַהֲבָה אֶת יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֜ם וְלָלֶ֧כֶת בְּכָל דְּרָכָ֛יו וְלִשְׁמֹ֥ר מִצְוֺתָ֖יו וּלְדָבְקָה ב֑וֹ וּלְעָבְד֕וֹ בְּכָל לְבַבְכֶ֖ם וּבְכָל נַפְשְׁכֶֽם

Only be very careful to do the commandment and the torah that Moses the servant of YHWH commanded you: to love YHWH your God, to walk in all his ways, to keep his commandments, to cling to him, and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul.

Conditional charge — the Deuteronomic pentadasyndeton
רַק ('only') signals the release is conditioned on covenant fidelity, not unconditional. The five infinitives — love, walk, keep, cling, serve — form a classic Deuteronomic summary of covenant obedience (cf. Deut 10:12–13; 11:22), climaxing in the Shema's totality formula 'with all your heart and all your soul' (Deut 6:5): the chapter's theological center of gravity before the narrative crisis begins.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
רַ֣קonlyrestrictive particle · רַק (H7535)Restrictive particle, fronted (emphatic qualifier)רַק (H7535) 'only, surely'; restrictive particle sharpening the charge that follows — the release is not unconditional.
שִׁמְר֣וּbe carefulQal impv 2mp · שָׁמַר (H8104)Predicate verb (imperative, main clause)→ Volitional: an urgent command, intensified by the adverb מְאֹדשָׁמַר (H8104) 'to keep, watch, be careful'; vigilant care in obedience — the charge's governing verb.
מְאֹ֗דveryadv · מְאֹד (H3966)Adverbial intensifier of שִׁמְרוּמְאֹד (H3966) 'very, exceedingly'; intensifies the imperative — 'be VERY careful', echoing Deut 4:9; Josh 1:7.
לַעֲשׂ֨וֹתto doprep לְ + Qal inf constr · עָשָׂה (H6213)Complementary infinitive expressing the content of שִׁמְרוּ→ Infinitive construct with purpose nuance: 'be careful so as to do'עָשָׂה (H6213) 'to do, make, perform'; obedience is not mere assent but active performance of the commandment.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), marking הַמִּצְוָה as direct object of לַעֲשׂוֹת.
הַמִּצְוָ֣הthe commandmentart + N f sg abs · מִצְוָה (H4687)Direct object of לַעֲשׂוֹתמִצְוָה (H4687) 'commandment'; paired with הַתּוֹרָה as a summary pair for the whole body of Mosaic instruction.
וְאֶתand [obj]conj וְ + obj marker · אֵת (H853)Conjunction + direct-object marker (second object)וְ joins the second object; אֵת marks הַתּוֹרָה as the second definite direct object.
הַתּוֹרָה֮the torahart + N f sg abs · תּוֹרָה (H8451)Direct object of לַעֲשׂוֹת (second member of the pair)תּוֹרָה (H8451) 'instruction, law', from יָרָה 'to teach'; the whole body of Mosaic teaching, paired with מִצְוָה.
אֲשֶׁ֣רthatrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the clause modifying הַמִּצְוָה...הַתּוֹרָהאֲשֶׁר (H834), relative particle.
צִוָּ֣הcommandedPiel perf 3ms · צִוָּה (H6680)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Perfective: a completed act of commandצִוָּה (H6680) 'to command'; Moses' original charge, now transmitted through Joshua.
אֶתְכֶם֮youobj marker + 2mp suffix · אֵת (H853)Direct object of צִוָּהאֵת (H853) with 2mp suffix.
מֹשֶׁ֣הMosesN proper · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Subject of צִוָּהמֹשֶׁה (H4872).
עֶֽבֶדthe servant ofN m sg constr · עֶבֶד (H5650)Apposition to מֹשֶׁה, constructעֶבֶד (H5650) 'servant'.
יְהוָה֒YHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive complement of עֶבֶדיְהוָה (H3068).
לְ֠אַהֲבָהto loveprep לְ + Qal inf constr · אָהַב (H157)First infinitive of the five-fold pentad, epexegetical to הַמִּצְוָה...הַתּוֹרָה→ Infinitive construct, epexegetical: unpacks 'the commandment and the torah' into five concrete disciplines, beginning with loveאָהַב (H157) 'to love'; in Deuteronomic theology, covenant love commanded, not merely felt (Deut 6:5; 10:12) — the first and governing term of the pentad.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), marking יְהוָה as object of לְאַהֲבָה.
יְהוָ֨הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Direct object of לְאַהֲבָהיְהוָה (H3068).
אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֜םyour GodN m pl constr + 2mp suffix · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָהאֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God'.
וְלָלֶ֧כֶתand to walkconj וְ + prep לְ + Qal inf constr · הָלַךְ (H3212)Second infinitive of the pentad→ Infinitive construct, epexegetical: second discipline — conduct patterned on YHWH's own waysהָלַךְ (H3212) 'to walk, go'; 'walking in his ways' is the standard Deuteronomic metaphor for covenant conduct (Deut 8:6; 10:12; 11:22).
בְּכָלin allprep בְּ + N m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Adverbial prepositional phrase (scope)כֹּל (H3605) 'all'; scope of the walking — the totality of his ways, not selective conformity.
דְּרָכָ֛יוhis waysN common pl constr + 3ms suffix · דֶּרֶךְ (H1870)Genitive complement of בְּכָלדֶּרֶךְ (H1870) 'way, road, manner'; metaphorical for YHWH's character and conduct as the pattern for Israel's own.
וְלִשְׁמֹ֥רand to keepconj וְ + prep לְ + Qal inf constr · שָׁמַר (H8104)Third infinitive of the pentad→ Infinitive construct, epexegetical: third discipline — vigilant observance of the commandmentsשָׁמַר (H8104); the same root that opened the verse (שִׁמְרוּ), now applied specifically to מִצְוֺתָיו.
מִצְוֺתָ֖יוhis commandmentsN f pl constr + 3ms suffix · מִצְוָה (H4687)Direct object of וְלִשְׁמֹרמִצְוָה (H4687) 'commandment', plural — the concrete stipulations subsumed under תּוֹרָה.
וּלְדָבְקָהand to clingconj וּ + prep לְ + Qal inf constr · דָּבַק (H1692)Fourth infinitive of the pentad→ Infinitive construct, epexegetical: fourth discipline — intimate, adhesive loyaltyדָּבַק (H1692) 'to cling, cleave, stick fast'; the same verb used of marital union (Gen 2:24) — covenant loyalty as intimate attachment (Deut 10:20; 11:22).
ב֑וֹto himprep בְּ + 3ms suffix · בְּObject of וּלְדָבְקָהבְּ with 3ms suffix, object of דָּבַק ('cling to').
וּלְעָבְד֕וֹand to serve himconj וּ + prep לְ + Qal inf constr + 3ms suffix · עָבַד (H5647)Fifth infinitive of the pentad, with pronominal object suffix→ Infinitive construct, epexegetical: fifth and climactic discipline — total serviceעָבַד (H5647) 'to serve, work, worship'; the pentad's final and most comprehensive term, encompassing cultic and covenantal service alike.
בְּכָלwith allprep בְּ + N m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Adverbial prepositional phrase (manner/totality)כֹּל (H3605) 'all'; opens the Shema-echoing totality formula closing the verse.
לְבַבְכֶ֖םyour heartN m sg constr + 2mp suffix · לֵבָב (H3824)Genitive complement of בְּכָללֵבָב (H3824) 'heart, mind, will'; with נֶפֶשׁ echoes Deut 6:5's Shema formula — total, undivided devotion.
וּבְכָלand with allconj וּ + prep בְּ + N m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Coordinated adverbial prepositional phraseכֹּל (H3605) 'all', repeated for the second totality-phrase.
נַפְשְׁכֶֽםyour soulN common sg constr + 2mp suffix · נֶפֶשׁ (H5315)Genitive complement of וּבְכָלנֶפֶשׁ (H5315) 'soul, life, self'; completes the Shema-formula 'with all your heart and all your soul' (Deut 6:5), the pentad's climactic seal.
6

וַֽיְבָרְכֵ֖ם יְהוֹשֻׁ֑עַ וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵ֔ם וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ אֶל אָהֳלֵיהֶֽם

So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their tents.

Narrative resolution of the dismissal sceneasyndeton
A tight sequence of three wayyiqtols (blessed, sent away, went) closes the first scene cleanly, before v. 7's editorial aside on Manasseh's double land grant and v. 9's fuller retelling of the departure.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
וַֽיְבָרְכֵ֖םand he blessed themconj וַ + Piel wayyiqtol 3ms + 3mp suffix · בָּרַךְ (H1288)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the formal blessing that seals the dismissalבָּרַךְ (H1288) 'to bless', Piel; Joshua's benediction functions as a formal, quasi-liturgical send-off.
יְהוֹשֻׁ֑עַJoshuaN proper · יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091)Subject of וַיְבָרְכֵםיְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091); acting here in a quasi-priestly capacity, blessing the departing tribes.
וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵ֔םand he sent them awayconj וַ + Piel wayyiqtol 3ms + 3mp suffix · שָׁלַח (H7971)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — formal dismissal following the blessingשָׁלַח (H7971) 'to send', Piel intensive 'to send away, dismiss'; completes the release begun in v. 4's imperatives.
וַיֵּלְכ֖וּand they wentconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3mp · הָלַךְ (H3212)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the tribes' compliance with Joshua's command of v. 4הָלַךְ (H3212) 'to go'; the tribes' obedient departure, echoing the imperative פְּנוּ וּלְכוּ of v. 4.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Directional prepositional phraseאֶל (H413) 'to, toward'.
אָהֳלֵיהֶֽםtheir tentsN m pl constr + 3mp suffix · אֹהֶל (H168)Object of אֶלאֹהֶל (H168) 'tent'; idiomatic for 'home', matching v. 4's לְאָהֳלֵיכֶם.
7

וְלַחֲצִ֣י שֵׁ֣בֶט הַֽמְנַשֶּׁ֗ה נָתַ֣ן מֹשֶׁה֮ בַּבָּשָׁן֒ וּלְחֶצְי֗וֹ נָתַ֤ן יְהוֹשֻׁ֨עַ֙ עִם אֲחֵיהֶ֔ם מעבר בְּעֵ֥בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן יָ֑מָּה וְ֠גַם כִּ֣י שִׁלְּחָ֧ם יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ אֶל אָהֳלֵיהֶ֖ם וַיְבָרֲכֵֽם

Now to the half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given a possession in Bashan, but to the other half Joshua gave a possession among their brothers on the west side of the Jordan. And when Joshua sent them away to their tents, he blessed them,

Editorial aside — Manasseh's double portionasyndeton
A narratorial parenthesis clarifying that Manasseh's two halves received their land from two different benefactors (Moses in Bashan, Joshua west of the Jordan) — syntactically awkward, with a doubled locative phrase (מעבר / בְּעֵבֶר) usually read as scribal duplication. It closes by repeating v. 6's blessing verbatim, forming an inclusio around the digression before the narrative resumes in v. 9.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
וְלַחֲצִ֣יand to the half ofconj וְ + prep לְ + N m sg constr · חֲצִי (H2677)Topicalized indirect object, resumed by נָתַן (fronted for contrast)חֲצִי (H2677) 'half'; fronted to contrast the two halves of Manasseh's inheritance — one from Moses (Bashan), one from Joshua (west of Jordan, cf. Josh 17).
שֵׁ֣בֶטthe tribe ofN m sg constr · שֵׁבֶט (H7626)Construct noun (genitive: tribe of Manasseh)שֵׁבֶט (H7626) 'tribe, staff'.
הַֽמְנַשֶּׁ֗הManassehart + N proper · מְנַשֶּׁה (H4519)Genitive complement of שֵׁבֶטמְנַשֶּׁה (H4519); the article with a proper name is unusual but recurs with מְנַשֶּׁה in this chapter (vv. 9–10) — a generic 'the Manasseh-tribe'.
נָתַ֣ןgaveQal perf 3ms · נָתַן (H5414)Predicate verb (main clause, pluperfect nuance)→ Perfective, pluperfect nuance: an act completed prior to the narrative timeline — Moses' earlier grant in Bashanנָתַן (H5414) 'to give'; Moses' original land-grant, distinct from Joshua's separate grant to the other half (v. 7b).
מֹשֶׁה֮MosesN proper · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Subject of נָתַןמֹשֶׁה (H4872).
בַּבָּשָׁן֒in Bashanprep בְּ + art + N proper · בָּשָׁן (H1316)Locative prepositional phraseבָּשָׁן (H1316), the fertile plateau north of Gilead, conquered from Og (Num 21:33–35) and allotted to half-Manasseh (Deut 3:13).
וּלְחֶצְי֗וֹand to its other halfconj וּ + prep לְ + N m sg constr + 3ms suffix · חֲצִי (H2677)Topicalized indirect object, resumed by נָתַן (second contrast member)חֲצִי (H2677) 'half', with 3ms suffix back to שֵׁבֶט הַמְנַשֶּׁה — 'its other half', the portion west of the Jordan (cf. Josh 17:1–6).
נָתַ֤ןgaveQal perf 3ms · נָתַן (H5414)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Perfective: a completed act, Joshua's own separate grantנָתַן (H5414); this second grant is Joshua's, not Moses' — the aside carefully distinguishes the two halves' two different benefactors.
יְהוֹשֻׁ֨עַ֙JoshuaN proper · יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091)Subject of נָתַןיְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091).
עִםamongprep · עִם (H5973)Locative/associative prepositional phraseעִם (H5973) 'with, among'; western Manasseh settled among its brother tribes west of the Jordan.
אֲחֵיהֶ֔םtheir brothersN m pl constr + 3mp suffix · אָח (H251)Object of עִםאָח (H251) 'brother'; the other western tribes, among whom western Manasseh received its share (Josh 17).
מעברfrom across [the Jordan]prep מִן + N m sg constr (Ketiv, unpointed) · עֵבֶר (H5676)Locative phrase, textually doubled with the following בְּעֵבֶרעֵבֶר (H5676) 'side, region across'; the unpointed Ketiv מעבר sits awkwardly beside the following בְּעֵבֶר — usually read as scribal dittography (two competing prepositional readings preserved side by side) rather than two distinct phrases.
בְּעֵ֥בֶרon the side ofprep בְּ + N m sg constr · עֵבֶר (H5676)Locative prepositional phrase (the functioning reading)עֵבֶר (H5676); בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן יָמָּה 'on the side of the Jordan, westward' — locates western Manasseh's inheritance.
הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ןthe Jordanart + N proper · יַרְדֵּן (H3383)Genitive complement of בְּעֵבֶריַרְדֵּן (H3383) 'Jordan'.
יָ֑מָּהwestwardN m sg abs + directional ה · יָם (H3220)Adverbial accusative of directionיָם (H3220) 'sea'; with directional ה-suffix, 'seaward' = westward (the Mediterranean lying west) — specifies which side of the Jordan.
וְ֠גַםand alsoconj וְ + particle · גַּם (H1571)Additive/emphatic discourse particle introducing the closing noteגַּם (H1571) 'also, moreover'; introduces a final circumstantial note before the crisis narrative of v. 9ff.
כִּ֣יwhenconj · כִּי (H3588)Subordinating conjunction (temporal)כִּי (H3588), here temporal 'when' — resuming and closing the dismissal account already narrated in v. 6.
שִׁלְּחָ֧םhe sent them awayPiel perf 3ms + 3mp suffix · שָׁלַח (H7971)Predicate verb of the כִּי-clause→ Perfective: a completed act — recapitulating v. 6's dismissal to close the editorial asideשָׁלַח (H7971) 'to send away', Piel; repeats v. 6's verb, tying the digression back into the main narrative.
יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַJoshuaN proper · יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091)Subject of שִׁלְּחָםיְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091).
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Directional prepositional phraseאֶל (H413) 'to, toward'.
אָהֳלֵיהֶ֖םtheir tentsN m pl constr + 3mp suffix · אֹהֶל (H168)Object of אֶלאֹהֶל (H168) 'tent'; home, as in vv. 4, 6, 8.
וַיְבָרֲכֵֽםand he blessed themconj וַ + Piel wayyiqtol 3ms + 3mp suffix · בָּרַךְ (H1288)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence, closing the aside)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — repeats v. 6's blessing to close the editorial digressionבָּרַךְ (H1288) 'to bless'; repeating v. 6 forms an inclusio bracketing the Manasseh aside (vv. 7–8) before the fuller narrative resumes in v. 9.
8

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם לֵאמֹ֗ר בִּנְכָסִ֨ים רַבִּ֜ים שׁ֤וּבוּ אֶל אָֽהֳלֵיכֶם֙ וּבְמִקְנֶ֣ה רַב מְאֹ֔ד בְּכֶ֨סֶף וּבְזָהָ֜ב וּבִנְחֹ֧שֶׁת וּבְבַרְזֶ֛ל וּבִשְׂלָמ֖וֹת הַרְבֵּ֣ה מְאֹ֑ד חִלְק֥וּ שְׁלַל אֹיְבֵיכֶ֖ם עִם אֲחֵיכֶֽם

and said to them, "Return to your tents with great riches — with very much livestock, with silver, gold, bronze, and iron, and with very many garments; divide the spoil of your enemies with your brothers."

Direct speech — the material blessingasyndeton
The wealth catalog (livestock, four metals, garments) echoes the plunder lists of Num 31 and closes the honorable-discharge scene on a note of generosity. The closing command to share with 'brothers' (non-combatants) reprises Num 31:27's precedent — abundance itself is no threat here, but its potential misuse will drive the crisis that follows.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
וַיֹּ֨אמֶרand he saidconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · אָמַר (H559)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance, introducing Joshua's second, final speechאָמַר (H559) 'to say'.
אֲלֵיהֶ֜םto themprep אֶל + 3mp suffix · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase, indirect object (addressee)אֶל (H413) 'to, toward'.
לֵאמֹ֗רsayingprep לְ + Qal inf constr · אָמַר (H559)Infinitive construct marking direct-speech onset→ Infinitive construct, formulaic: introduces direct quotationאָמַר (H559); the standard formula 'saying' opening reported speech.
בִּנְכָסִ֨יםwith richesprep בְּ + N m pl abs · נְכָסִים (H5233)Adverbial prepositional phrase (attendant circumstance)נְכָסִים (H5233) 'riches, wealth'; rare word (elsewhere only Eccl 5–6), here for the plunder wealth accompanying the tribes home.
רַבִּ֜יםgreatadj m pl abs · רַב (H7227)Attributive adjective modifying בִּנְכָסִיםרַב (H7227) 'much, great'.
שׁ֤וּבוּreturnQal impv 2mp · שׁוּב (H7725)Predicate verb (imperative, main clause)→ Volitional: direct command, resuming the departure charge of v. 4שׁוּב (H7725) 'to return, turn back'; a fresh imperative reopening the dismissal after the Manasseh aside.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Directional prepositional phraseאֶל (H413) 'to, toward'.
אָֽהֳלֵיכֶם֙your tentsN m pl constr + 2mp suffix · אֹהֶל (H168)Object of אֶלאֹהֶל (H168) 'tent'; home, as throughout the chapter.
וּבְמִקְנֶ֣הand with livestockconj וּ + prep בְּ + N m sg abs · מִקְנֶה (H4735)Coordinated adverbial prepositional phraseמִקְנֶה (H4735) 'livestock, cattle', from קָנָה 'to acquire'; the first item in the catalog of war-wealth.
רַבmuchadj m sg abs · רַב (H7227)Attributive adjective modifying מִקְנֶהרַב (H7227) 'much, great'.
מְאֹ֔דveryadv · מְאֹד (H3966)Adverbial intensifier of רַבמְאֹד (H3966) 'very'.
בְּכֶ֨סֶףwith silverprep בְּ + N m sg abs · כֶּסֶף (H3701)Coordinated adverbial prepositional phraseכֶּסֶף (H3701) 'silver'; second item in the wealth catalog.
וּבְזָהָ֜בand with goldconj וּ + prep בְּ + N m sg abs · זָהָב (H2091)Coordinated adverbial prepositional phraseזָהָב (H2091) 'gold'.
וּבִנְחֹ֧שֶׁתand with bronzeconj וּ + prep בְּ + N f sg abs · נְחֹשֶׁת (H5178)Coordinated adverbial prepositional phraseנְחֹשֶׁת (H5178) 'bronze, copper'.
וּבְבַרְזֶ֛לand with ironconj וּ + prep בְּ + N m sg abs · בַּרְזֶל (H1270)Coordinated adverbial prepositional phraseבַּרְזֶל (H1270) 'iron'; the metals list moves from precious to base, a comprehensive catalog of captured wealth.
וּבִשְׂלָמ֖וֹתand with garmentsconj וּ + prep בְּ + N f pl abs · שַׂלְמָה (H8008)Coordinated adverbial prepositional phraseשַׂלְמָה (H8008) 'garment, cloak'; clothing was itself valuable plunder in the ancient world.
הַרְבֵּ֣הvery manyHiphil inf abs · רָבָה (H7235)Adverbial infinitive absolute intensifying בִּשְׂלָמוֹת→ Infinitive absolute used adverbially: 'exceedingly, abundantly' — reinforcing the מְאֹד that followsרָבָה (H7235) 'to be much, increase'; Hiphil inf. abs. הַרְבֵּה used adverbially, doubled with מְאֹד for maximal emphasis on the garments' quantity.
מְאֹ֑דveryadv · מְאֹד (H3966)Adverbial intensifier, paired with הַרְבֵּהמְאֹד (H3966) 'very'; the doubled intensifier הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד closes the wealth catalog with maximal emphasis.
חִלְק֥וּdivideQal impv 2mp · חָלַק (H2505)Predicate verb (imperative, main clause)→ Volitional: a final command — share the plunder generouslyחָלַק (H2505) 'to divide, apportion'; ensures the wealth is shared with those who stayed behind, cf. Num 31:27's precedent of dividing spoil between combatants and non-combatants.
שְׁלַלthe spoil ofN m sg constr · שָׁלָל (H7998)Direct object of חִלְקוּ, head of construct chainשָׁלָל (H7998) 'spoil, plunder'; the accumulated wealth just cataloged.
אֹיְבֵיכֶ֖םyour enemiesQal ptc m pl constr + 2mp suffix · אֹיֵב (H341)Substantival participle, genitive complement of שְׁלַל→ Participle used substantivally: 'those hostile to you' — a fixed nominalized designation, not a live verbal predicationאֹיֵב (H341), Qal participle of אָיַב 'to be hostile', lexicalized as the noun 'enemy'; the defeated Canaanite kings of chs. 6–12.
עִםwithprep · עִם (H5973)Comitative prepositional phraseעִם (H5973) 'with'; marks the sharing partners.
אֲחֵיכֶֽםyour brothersN m pl constr + 2mp suffix · אָח (H251)Object of עִםאָח (H251) 'brother'; the western tribes who stayed to guard the camps while the eastern tribes fought (cf. Num 31:27) — solidarity in wealth answers solidarity in war.
9

וַיָּשֻׁ֣בוּ וַיֵּלְכ֡וּ בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵ֨ן וּבְנֵי גָ֜ד וַחֲצִ֣י שֵׁ֣בֶט הַֽמְנַשֶּׁ֗ה מֵאֵת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מִשִּׁלֹ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּאֶֽרֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן לָלֶ֜כֶת אֶל אֶ֣רֶץ הַגִּלְעָ֗ד אֶל אֶ֤רֶץ אֲחֻזָּתָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נֹֽאחֲזוּ בָ֔הּ עַל פִּ֥י יְהוָ֖ה בְּיַד מֹשֶֽׁה

So the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh returned and departed from the sons of Israel, from Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go to the land of Gilead, to the land of their possession, in which they had settled according to the command of YHWH by the hand of Moses.

Formal narrative retelling — legal and geographical precisionasyndeton
This verse restarts the departure narrative in fuller, more formal terms than v. 6, naming the tribes precisely and grounding their eastern territory's legitimacy in explicit divine command mediated by Moses (עַל פִּי יְהוָה בְּיַד מֹשֶׁה) — a legal foundation directly contested by the western tribes' alarm in vv. 11–12.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
וַיָּשֻׁ֣בוּand they returnedconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3mp · שׁוּב (H7725)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — opens the fuller, formal retelling of the departure already narrated briefly in v. 6שׁוּב (H7725) 'to return'; the narrator now retells the departure at full length, naming tribes and destination precisely.
וַיֵּלְכ֡וּand they departedconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3mp · הָלַךְ (H3212)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence, coordinate with וַיָּשֻׁבוּ)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceהָלַךְ (H3212) 'to go'; paired verb of departure.
בְּנֵיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Subject of וַיָּשֻׁבוּ, head of construct chainבֵּן (H1121) 'son'; 'sons of Reuben' = the tribe of Reuben, standard idiom for tribal identity.
רְאוּבֵ֨ןReubenN proper · רְאוּבֵן (H7205)Genitive complement of בְּנֵירְאוּבֵן (H7205); Jacob's firstborn, whose tribe first requested the Transjordan territory (Num 32).
וּבְנֵיand the sons ofconj וּ + N m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Coordinated subject, head of construct chainבֵּן (H1121) 'son'; second subject group.
גָ֜דGadN proper · גָּד (H1410)Genitive complement of וּבְנֵיגָּד (H1410); Jacob's seventh son, whose tribe likewise requested Transjordan land.
וַחֲצִ֣יand the half ofconj וְ + N m sg constr · חֲצִי (H2677)Coordinated subject, head of construct chainחֲצִי (H2677) 'half'; third subject group.
שֵׁ֣בֶטthe tribe ofN m sg constr · שֵׁבֶט (H7626)Construct nounשֵׁבֶט (H7626) 'tribe'.
הַֽמְנַשֶּׁ֗הManassehart + N proper · מְנַשֶּׁה (H4519)Genitive complement of שֵׁבֶטמְנַשֶּׁה (H4519).
מֵאֵת֙fromprep מִן + prep אֵת · אֵת (H854)Ablative prepositional phrase, source of departureאֵת (H854) 'with, from with'; compound מֵאֵת 'from (the presence of)' marks separation from the main Israelite assembly.
בְּנֵ֣יthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Genitive complement of מֵאֵתבֵּן (H1121) 'son'; 'sons of Israel' = the nation as a whole, the western tribes assembled at Shiloh.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לIsraelN proper · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive complement of בְּנֵייִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478).
מִשִּׁלֹ֖הfrom Shilohprep מִן + N proper · שִׁילֹה (H7887)Ablative prepositional phrase, in apposition to מֵאֵת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵלשִׁילֹה (H7887), the central sanctuary site in Ephraim where the Tent of Meeting stood (18:1); named to fix precisely where the parting occurred.
אֲשֶׁ֣רwhichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the clause modifying שִׁלֹהאֲשֶׁר (H834), relative particle.
בְּאֶֽרֶץin the land ofprep בְּ + N common sg constr · אֶרֶץ (H776)Predicate locative of the relative clauseאֶרֶץ (H776) 'land'.
כְּנָ֑עַןCanaanN proper · כְּנַעַן (H3667)Genitive complement of בְּאֶרֶץכְּנַעַן (H3667); the west-bank land proper, explicitly distinguished here from the Transjordan territory the tribes head toward — a note that anticipates the theological anxiety of vv. 24–25.
לָלֶ֜כֶתto goprep לְ + Qal inf constr · הָלַךְ (H3212)Purpose infinitive complementing וַיֵּלְכוּ→ Infinitive construct, purpose: specifies the destination of the departureהָלַךְ (H3212) 'to go'; introduces the destination clause.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Directional prepositional phraseאֶל (H413) 'to, toward'.
אֶ֣רֶץthe land ofN common sg constr · אֶרֶץ (H776)Object of אֶל, head of construct chainאֶרֶץ (H776) 'land'.
הַגִּלְעָ֗דGileadart + N proper · גִּלְעָד (H1568)Genitive complement of אֶרֶץגִּלְעָד (H1568); the mountainous Transjordan region, the general name for the eastern tribes' territory.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Directional prepositional phrase (in apposition to the first)אֶל (H413) 'to, toward'; the repetition specifies further, from the general region to the specific allotted land.
אֶ֤רֶץthe land ofN common sg constr · אֶרֶץ (H776)Object of second אֶל, head of construct chainאֶרֶץ (H776) 'land'.
אֲחֻזָּתָם֙their possessionN f sg constr + 3mp suffix · אֲחֻזָּה (H272)Genitive complement of אֶרֶץאֲחֻזָּה (H272) 'possession, holding'; the legal term reaffirming the legitimacy of the eastern allotment, as in v. 4.
אֲשֶׁ֣רin whichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the clause modifying אֲחֻזָּתָםאֲשֶׁר (H834), relative particle, resumed by the following prepositional pronoun בָּהּ.
נֹֽאחֲזוּthey had taken possessionNiphal perf 3cp · אָחַז (H270)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Perfective, Niphal (resultative): a completed act of settling into possessionאָחַז (H270) 'to grasp, take hold'; Niphal 'to be settled, take possession for oneself' — the root behind אֲחֻזָּה just used, reinforcing the settlement's legality.
בָ֔הּin itprep בְּ + 3fs suffix · בְּResumptive prepositional phrase (object of נֹאחֲזוּ, referring to אֲחֻזָּתָם/אֶרֶץ)בְּ with 3fs suffix, resuming אֶרֶץ (feminine) as the land settled.
עַלaccording toprep · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase of standard/authorityעַל (H5921) 'upon, according to'; part of the idiom עַל־פִּי 'according to the command of'.
פִּ֥יthe mouth ofN m sg constr · פֶּה (H6310)Object of עַל, idiom headפֶּה (H6310) 'mouth'; עַל פִּי idiomatically 'according to the command of' — the settlement is legally grounded in explicit divine-through-Mosaic authorization, not tribal self-assertion.
יְהוָ֖הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive complement of פִּייְהוָה (H3068).
בְּיַדby the hand ofprep בְּ + N common sg constr · יָד (H3027)Instrumental prepositional phrase, in apposition to עַל פִּי יְהוָהיָד (H3027) 'hand'; בְּיַד idiomatically 'by the agency of' — Moses as the mediating instrument of YHWH's command.
מֹשֶֽׁהMosesN proper · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Genitive complement of בְּיַדמֹשֶׁה (H4872); the verse closes by grounding the whole Transjordan settlement in twin authority — YHWH's command, Moses' mediation — a legal foundation the altar crisis will soon test.
10

וַיָּבֹ֨אוּ֙ אֶל גְּלִיל֣וֹת הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וַיִּבְנ֣וּ בְנֵי רְאוּבֵ֣ן וּבְנֵי גָ֡ד וַחֲצִ֣י שֵׁבֶט֩ הַֽמְנַשֶּׁ֨ה שָׁ֤ם מִזְבֵּ֨חַ֙ עַל הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן מִזְבֵּ֥חַ גָּד֖וֹל לְמַרְאֶֽה

And they came to the region of the Jordan, which is in the land of Canaan; and the sons of Reuben, the sons of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by the Jordan, an altar great in appearance.

Narrative climax — the altar builtasyndeton
The chapter's inciting incident: a conspicuously large altar (גָּדוֹל לְמַרְאֶה) built at the Jordan crossing. The narrator withholds the tribes' motive entirely until their defense speech (vv. 21–29) — the reader, like the western tribes, must react to appearance alone.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
וַיָּבֹ֨אוּ֙and they cameconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3mp · בּוֹא (H935)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceבּוֹא (H935) 'to come, enter'; the tribes' arrival at the crossing point.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Directional prepositional phraseאֶל (H413) 'to, toward'.
גְּלִיל֣וֹתthe region ofN f pl constr · גְּלִילָה (H1552)Object of אֶל, head of construct chainגְּלִילָה (H1552) 'circuit, district, region'; גְּלִילוֹת הַיַּרְדֵּן 'the region(s) of the Jordan' — the area near the crossing.
הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ןthe Jordanart + N proper · יַרְדֵּן (H3383)Genitive complement of גְּלִילוֹתיַרְדֵּן (H3383) 'Jordan'.
אֲשֶׁ֖רwhichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the clause modifying גְּלִילוֹת הַיַּרְדֵּןאֲשֶׁר (H834), relative particle.
בְּאֶ֣רֶץin the land ofprep בְּ + N common sg constr · אֶרֶץ (H776)Predicate locative of the relative clauseאֶרֶץ (H776) 'land'.
כְּנָ֑עַןCanaanN proper · כְּנַעַן (H3667)Genitive complement of בְּאֶרֶץכְּנַעַן (H3667); this locates the altar's site on the west bank, in Canaan proper — a geographic detail debated by commentators, since v. 25 treats the Jordan as the border between the two territories.
וַיִּבְנ֣וּand they builtconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3mp · בָּנָה (H1129)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the pivotal act triggering the whole crisisבָּנָה (H1129) 'to build'; the chapter's hinge verb — everything from v. 11 onward responds to this single act.
בְנֵיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Subject of וַיִּבְנוּ, head of construct chainבֵּן (H1121) 'son'.
רְאוּבֵ֣ןReubenN proper · רְאוּבֵן (H7205)Genitive complement of בְנֵירְאוּבֵן (H7205).
וּבְנֵיand the sons ofconj וּ + N m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Coordinated subject, head of construct chainבֵּן (H1121) 'son'.
גָ֡דGadN proper · גָּד (H1410)Genitive complement of וּבְנֵיגָּד (H1410).
וַחֲצִ֣יand the half ofconj וְ + N m sg constr · חֲצִי (H2677)Coordinated subject, head of construct chainחֲצִי (H2677) 'half'.
שֵׁבֶט֩the tribe ofN m sg constr · שֵׁבֶט (H7626)Construct nounשֵׁבֶט (H7626) 'tribe'.
הַֽמְנַשֶּׁ֨הManassehart + N proper · מְנַשֶּׁה (H4519)Genitive complement of שֵׁבֶטמְנַשֶּׁה (H4519).
שָׁ֤םthereadv · שָׁם (H8033)Adverbial locative modifying וַיִּבְנוּשָׁם (H8033) 'there'; locates the building at the Jordan crossing-point just named.
מִזְבֵּ֨חַ֙an altarN m sg abs · מִזְבֵּחַ (H4196)Direct object of וַיִּבְנוּמִזְבֵּחַ (H4196) 'altar', from זָבַח 'to sacrifice'; an unauthorized altar outside the central sanctuary is the chapter's whole crisis (cf. Deut 12's single-altar law).
עַלbyprep · עַל (H5921)Locative prepositional phraseעַל (H5921) 'upon, by, beside'.
הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ןthe Jordanart + N proper · יַרְדֵּן (H3383)Object of עַליַרְדֵּן (H3383).
מִזְבֵּ֥חַan altarN m sg abs · מִזְבֵּחַ (H4196)Apposition to the first מִזְבֵּחַ, resumed before the descriptionמִזְבֵּחַ (H4196); the repetition/restatement sets up the climactic descriptive phrase that follows.
גָּד֖וֹלgreatadj m sg abs · גָּדוֹל (H1419)Attributive adjective modifying the second מִזְבֵּחַגָּדוֹל (H1419) 'great, large'; its sheer size is what alarms the west-bank tribes when they hear of it — visibility, not the act of sacrifice, is the immediate trigger.
לְמַרְאֶֽהin appearanceprep לְ + N m sg abs · מַרְאֶה (H4758)Adverbial prepositional phrase of respect, modifying גָּדוֹלמַרְאֶה (H4758) 'appearance, sight', from רָאָה 'to see'; 'great to look at' — the narrator withholds intent, leaving only appearance to generate the chapter's dramatic tension.
11

וַיִּשְׁמְע֥וּ בְנֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר הִנֵּ֣ה בָנ֣וּ בְנֵֽי רְאוּבֵ֣ן וּבְנֵי גָ֡ד וַחֲצִי֩ שֵׁ֨בֶט הַֽמְנַשֶּׁ֜ה אֶת הַמִּזְבֵּ֗חַ אֶל מוּל֙ אֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֔עַן אֶל גְּלִילוֹת֙ הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן אֶל עֵ֖בֶר בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

And the sons of Israel heard it said, "Behold, the sons of Reuben, the sons of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built the altar at the frontier of the land of Canaan, in the region of the Jordan, on the side belonging to the sons of Israel."

Report reaches the west — the alarmasyndeton
The threefold stacked locative phrase (at the frontier of Canaan / in the region of the Jordan / on Israel's own side) is the report's rhetorical escalation: the altar is framed not as a distant curiosity but as an intrusion on western territory itself, explaining the mobilization of v. 12.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
וַיִּשְׁמְע֥וּand they heardconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3mp · שָׁמַע (H8085)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the report reaches the west-bank tribesשָׁמַע (H8085) 'to hear'; the rumor, not eyewitness confirmation, triggers the coming mobilization — mark the speed and lack of verification.
בְנֵֽיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Subject of וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ, head of construct chainבֵּן (H1121) 'son'.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לIsraelN proper · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive complement of בְנֵייִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478); here specifically the western tribes, distinct from the eastern builders just named.
לֵאמֹ֑רsayingprep לְ + Qal inf constr · אָמַר (H559)Infinitive construct marking report/quotation onset→ Infinitive construct, formulaic: introduces the content of the reportאָמַר (H559); formulaic 'saying', introducing the report's content.
הִנֵּ֣הbeholdinterjection · הִנֵּה (H2009)Presentative particle opening the reported contentהִנֵּה (H2009) 'behold, look'; vivid presentative marking the alarming news as immediate and startling.
בָנ֣וּthey have builtQal perf 3cp · בָּנָה (H1129)Predicate verb of the reported clause→ Perfective: a completed act, reported as accomplished fact — the altar already standsבָּנָה (H1129) 'to build'; repeats v. 10's verb from the perspective of the alarmed report.
בְנֵֽיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Subject of בָנוּ, head of construct chainבֵּן (H1121) 'son'.
רְאוּבֵ֣ןReubenN proper · רְאוּבֵן (H7205)Genitive complement of בְנֵירְאוּבֵן (H7205).
וּבְנֵיand the sons ofconj וּ + N m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Coordinated subject, head of construct chainבֵּן (H1121) 'son'.
גָ֡דGadN proper · גָּד (H1410)Genitive complement of וּבְנֵיגָּד (H1410).
וַחֲצִי֩and the half ofconj וְ + N m sg constr · חֲצִי (H2677)Coordinated subject, head of construct chainחֲצִי (H2677) 'half'.
שֵׁ֨בֶטthe tribe ofN m sg constr · שֵׁבֶט (H7626)Construct nounשֵׁבֶט (H7626) 'tribe'.
הַֽמְנַשֶּׁ֜הManassehart + N proper · מְנַשֶּׁה (H4519)Genitive complement of שֵׁבֶטמְנַשֶּׁה (H4519).
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), marking הַמִּזְבֵּחַ as direct object.
הַמִּזְבֵּ֗חַthe altarart + N m sg abs · מִזְבֵּחַ (H4196)Direct object of בָנוּמִזְבֵּחַ (H4196) 'altar'; now definite, the specific already-known structure of v. 10.
אֶלatprep · אֶל (H413)Locative prepositional phrase, first of three specifying the siteאֶל (H413) 'to, at'; opens the first of three stacked locative phrases pinpointing the altar's location.
מוּל֙facingprep · מוּל (H4136)Locative prepositional phraseמוּל (H4136) 'in front of, opposite'; the altar stands at the very frontier of Canaan proper.
אֶ֣רֶץthe land ofN common sg constr · אֶרֶץ (H776)Object of מוּל, head of construct chainאֶרֶץ (H776) 'land'.
כְּנַ֔עַןCanaanN proper · כְּנַעַן (H3667)Genitive complement of אֶרֶץכְּנַעַן (H3667); repeated to stress the site's border position relative to Canaan proper.
אֶלinprep · אֶל (H413)Locative prepositional phrase, second specificationאֶל (H413) 'to, in'.
גְּלִילוֹת֙the region ofN f pl constr · גְּלִילָה (H1552)Object of second אֶל, head of construct chainגְּלִילָה (H1552) 'circuit, region', repeating v. 10's term.
הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ןthe Jordanart + N proper · יַרְדֵּן (H3383)Genitive complement of גְּלִילוֹתיַרְדֵּן (H3383).
אֶלonprep · אֶל (H413)Locative prepositional phrase, third specificationאֶל (H413) 'to, on'.
עֵ֖בֶרthe side belonging toN m sg constr · עֵבֶר (H5676)Object of third אֶל, head of construct chainעֵבֶר (H5676) 'side'; עֵבֶר בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל 'the side belonging to the sons of Israel' — the report insists the altar sits on the west side, Israel's own territory, explaining why it reads as trespass, not foreign curiosity.
בְּנֵ֥יthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Genitive complement of עֵבֶרבֵּן (H1121) 'son'.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽלIsraelN proper · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive complement of בְּנֵייִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478); the verse's threefold locative stacking builds the report's alarm — not a distant foreign altar but one built, as reported, within the western tribes' own territory.
12

וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֖וּ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּקָּ֨הֲל֜וּ כָּל עֲדַ֤ת בְּנֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ שִׁלֹ֔ה לַעֲל֥וֹת עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם לַצָּבָֽא

And when the sons of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the sons of Israel assembled at Shiloh, to go up against them for war.

Escalation — national mobilization for civil warasyndeton
The speed is the point: hearsay alone (v. 11) mobilizes the entire congregation (כָּל עֲדַת) for war (לַצָּבָא) against fellow Israelites, with no verification and no delegation sent first — that restraint comes only in v. 13. The scene functions as a cautionary tale about the volatility of communal religious alarm.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֖וּand they heardconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3mp · שָׁמַע (H8085)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — resumes v. 11's report as the trigger for actionשָׁמַע (H8085) 'to hear'; repeats v. 11's verb, now moving directly to the response.
בְּנֵ֣יthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Subject of וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ, head of construct chainבֵּן (H1121) 'son'.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לIsraelN proper · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive complement of בְּנֵייִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478).
וַיִּקָּ֨הֲל֜וּand they assembledconj וַ + Niphal wayyiqtol 3mp · קָהַל (H6950)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol, Niphal (collective/reflexive): foregrounded narrative advance — the whole nation musters as one body, remarkably fastקָהַל (H6950) 'to assemble', Niphal 'to gather oneself, be convoked'; root of קָהָל 'assembly' — full national mobilization on a rumor alone.
כָּלthe wholeN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Attributive quantifier, head of construct chain, subject of וַיִּקָּהֲלוּכֹּל (H3605) 'all, whole'; emphasizes totality — not a faction but the entire congregation musters.
עֲדַ֤תthe congregation ofN f sg constr · עֵדָה (H5712)Genitive complement of כָּל, subject of וַיִּקָּהֲלוּעֵדָה (H5712) 'congregation, assembly', from יָעַד 'to appoint, meet'; the formal, corporate body of Israel — the same term for covenant assemblies in the Pentateuch.
בְּנֵֽיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Genitive complement of עֲדַתבֵּן (H1121) 'son'.
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙IsraelN proper · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive complement of בְּנֵייִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478).
שִׁלֹ֔הat ShilohN proper (locative) · שִׁילֹה (H7887)Adverbial locativeשִׁילֹה (H7887); the sanctuary town, an apt staging ground for a matter touching the legitimacy of Israel's worship.
לַעֲל֥וֹתto go upprep לְ + Qal inf constr · עָלָה (H5927)Purpose infinitive complementing וַיִּקָּהֲלוּ→ Infinitive construct, purpose: states the assembly's stated goal — military campaignעָלָה (H5927) 'to go up'; the standard idiom for military campaign, chillingly the same verb used of the earlier conquest campaigns against Canaanite cities — now aimed at fellow Israelites.
עֲלֵיהֶ֖םagainst themprep עַל + 3mp suffix · עַל (H5921)Object of hostility, complement of לַעֲלוֹתעַל (H5921) 'upon, against'; with 3mp suffix, the target of the proposed campaign — the eastern tribes, their own brothers.
לַצָּבָֽאfor warprep לְ + art + N common sg abs · צָבָא (H6635)Adverbial prepositional phrase of purposeצָבָא (H6635) 'army, host, warfare'; the alarming conclusion — Israel is one rumor away from civil war against its own eastern tribes.
13

וַיִּשְׁלְח֨וּ בְנֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶל בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵ֧ן וְאֶל בְּנֵי גָ֛ד וְאֶל חֲצִ֥י שֵֽׁבֶט מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה אֶל אֶ֣רֶץ הַגִּלְעָ֑ד אֶת פִּינְחָ֖ס בֶּן אֶלְעָזָ֥ר הַכֹּהֵֽן

Then the sons of Israel sent to the sons of Reuben, and to the sons of Gad, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead, Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest,

Restraint — diplomacy before warasyndeton
Before marching to war (v. 12), the western tribes send a delegation — a crucial moment of restraint. The choice of Phinehas, the zealot of Num 25 who ended the Baal-Peor plague by decisive violence against apostasy, signals the gravity with which this altar is regarded; his own speech will explicitly invoke that precedent (v. 17).
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
וַיִּשְׁלְח֨וּand they sentconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3mp · שָׁלַח (H7971)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the pivot toward diplomacy instead of immediate warשָׁלַח (H7971) 'to send'; the western tribes choose to send a delegation first — restraint interrupting the rush to war of v. 12.
בְנֵֽיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Subject of וַיִּשְׁלְחוּ, head of construct chainבֵּן (H1121) 'son'.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֜לIsraelN proper · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive complement of בְנֵייִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478).
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Directional prepositional phrase (first addressee)אֶל (H413) 'to, toward'.
בְּנֵיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Object of אֶל, head of construct chainבֵּן (H1121) 'son'.
רְאוּבֵ֧ןReubenN proper · רְאוּבֵן (H7205)Genitive complement of בְּנֵירְאוּבֵן (H7205).
וְאֶלand toconj וְ + prep אֶל · אֶל (H413)Coordinated directional prepositional phrase (second addressee)אֶל (H413) 'to, toward'.
בְּנֵיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Object of וְאֶל, head of construct chainבֵּן (H1121) 'son'.
גָ֛דGadN proper · גָּד (H1410)Genitive complement of בְּנֵיגָּד (H1410).
וְאֶלand toconj וְ + prep אֶל · אֶל (H413)Coordinated directional prepositional phrase (third addressee)אֶל (H413) 'to, toward'.
חֲצִ֥יthe half ofN m sg constr · חֲצִי (H2677)Object of וְאֶל, head of construct chainחֲצִי (H2677) 'half'.
שֵֽׁבֶטthe tribe ofN m sg constr · שֵׁבֶט (H7626)Construct nounשֵׁבֶט (H7626) 'tribe'.
מְנַשֶּׁ֖הManassehN proper · מְנַשֶּׁה (H4519)Genitive complement of שֵׁבֶטמְנַשֶּׁה (H4519).
אֶלinprep · אֶל (H413)Locative prepositional phraseאֶל (H413) 'to, in'.
אֶ֣רֶץthe land ofN common sg constr · אֶרֶץ (H776)Object of אֶל, head of construct chainאֶרֶץ (H776) 'land'.
הַגִּלְעָ֑דGileadart + N proper · גִּלְעָד (H1568)Genitive complement of אֶרֶץגִּלְעָד (H1568).
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker, marking the delegate sentאֵת (H853), marking פִּינְחָס as the object of the sending — functioning almost like 'namely'.
פִּינְחָ֖סPhinehasN proper · פִּינְחָס (H6372)Object of וַיִּשְׁלְחוּ (the delegate sent)פִּינְחָס (H6372); the zealot of Num 25 who speared Zimri and Cozbi and turned back YHWH's wrath at Baal-Peor, rewarded with a covenant of perpetual priesthood. His selection here is deliberate — the man most associated with decisive action against apostasy is sent to investigate a possible one, and his own speech (vv. 16–20) explicitly invokes Peor (v. 17).
בֶּןson ofN m sg constr · בֵּן (H1121)Apposition to פִּינְחָס, constructבֵּן (H1121) 'son'.
אֶלְעָזָ֥רEleazarN proper · אֶלְעָזָר (H499)Genitive complement of בֶּןאֶלְעָזָר (H499); Aaron's son and successor as high priest (cf. Num 20:26–28), Phinehas's father — the delegation carries the highest priestly authority.
הַכֹּהֵֽןthe priestart + N m sg abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Apposition to אֶלְעָזָרכֹּהֵן (H3548) 'priest'; Eleazar's title, underscoring that this delegation carries priestly, not merely political, authority to adjudicate a matter of cultic legitimacy.
14

וַעֲשָׂרָ֤ה נְשִׂאִים֙ עִמּ֔וֹ נָשִׂ֨יא אֶחָ֜ד נָשִׂ֤יא אֶחָד֙ לְבֵ֣ית אָ֔ב לְכֹ֖ל מַטּ֣וֹת יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְאִ֨ישׁ רֹ֧אשׁ בֵּית אֲבוֹתָ֛ם הֵ֖מָּה לְאַלְפֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

and with him ten chiefs, one chief for each ancestral house, from each of the tribes of Israel; each was the head of his ancestral house among the clans of Israel.

Delegation's full authority establishedasyndeton
The careful enumeration — Phinehas plus ten genuine tribal clan-heads — establishes that this delegation carries the full weight of national leadership: not a mob, not a rogue faction, but Israel's complete constitutional authority, priestly and tribal alike.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
וַעֲשָׂרָ֤הand tenconj וְ + cardinal number m sg · עֲשָׂרָה (H6235)Subject (coordinate with Phinehas, v. 13)עֲשָׂרָה (H6235) 'ten'; the delegation's full complement — Phinehas plus ten tribal chiefs, one per remaining tribe.
נְשִׂאִים֙chiefsN m pl abs · נָשִׂיא (H5387)Apposition to וַעֲשָׂרָהנָשִׂיא (H5387) 'chief, leader, prince', from נָשָׂא 'to lift up'; tribal representatives, giving the delegation full national standing, not just priestly authority.
עִמּ֔וֹwith himprep עִם + 3ms suffix · עִם (H5973)Comitative prepositional phrase (accompanying Phinehas)עִם (H5973) 'with'; the ten chiefs accompany Phinehas, referring back to v. 13.
נָשִׂ֨יאa chiefN m sg abs · נָשִׂיא (H5387)Distributive apposition, first of a repeated pairנָשִׂיא (H5387) 'chief'; the repeated נָשִׂיא אֶחָד נָשִׂיא אֶחָד is a Hebrew distributive idiom, 'one chief each'.
אֶחָ֜דonecardinal number m sg · אֶחָד (H259)Attributive numeral modifying נָשִׂיאאֶחָד (H259) 'one'; part of the distributive doubling.
נָשִׂ֤יאa chiefN m sg abs · נָשִׂיא (H5387)Distributive apposition, second of the repeated pairנָשִׂיא (H5387); the repetition itself expresses distribution ('each').
אֶחָד֙onecardinal number m sg · אֶחָד (H259)Attributive numeral modifying second נָשִׂיאאֶחָד (H259) 'one'.
לְבֵ֣יתfor the house ofprep לְ + N m sg constr · בַּיִת (H1004)Adverbial prepositional phrase of distributionבַּיִת (H1004) 'house'; בֵּית אָב 'father's house' — the standard sub-tribal clan unit.
אָ֔בa fatherN m sg abs · אָב (H1)Genitive complement of לְבֵיתאָב (H1) 'father'; בֵּית אָב 'ancestral house', the clan-level social unit beneath the tribe.
לְכֹ֖לfrom each ofprep לְ + N m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Adverbial prepositional phrase of distributionכֹּל (H3605) 'all, each'; distributive — one representative from every tribe.
מַטּ֣וֹתthe tribes ofN m pl constr · מַטֶּה (H4294)Genitive complement of לְכֹלמַטֶּה (H4294) 'tribe'.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לIsraelN proper · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive complement of מַטּוֹתיִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478).
וְאִ֨ישׁand eachconj וְ + N m sg abs · אִישׁ (H376)Subject, distributive apposition to the ten chiefsאִישׁ (H376) 'man, each one'; distributive, 'each man' of the ten.
רֹ֧אשׁthe head ofN m sg constr · רֹאשׁ (H7218)Predicate noun, constructרֹאשׁ (H7218) 'head'; each chief's status confirmed — genuine clan-head authority, not honorary.
בֵּיתthe house ofN m sg constr · בַּיִת (H1004)Genitive complement of רֹאשׁבַּיִת (H1004) 'house'.
אֲבוֹתָ֛םtheir fathersN m pl constr + 3mp suffix · אָב (H1)Genitive complement of בֵּיתאָב (H1) 'father'; בֵּית אֲבוֹתָם 'their fathers' house', repeating the clan terminology of v. 14a.
הֵ֖מָּהtheyindependent pron 3mp · הֵם (H1992)Resumptive subject pronoun, emphaticהֵם/הֵמָּה (H1992) 3mp independent pronoun; resumes and emphasizes the subject — 'these were the heads...'.
לְאַלְפֵ֥יamong the thousands ofprep לְ + N common pl constr · אֶלֶף (H505)Predicate locative/distributive phraseאֶלֶף (H505) 'thousand'; אַלְפֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל 'the thousands of Israel', a military/clan census unit — the chiefs' authority spans the nation's full organized structure.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽלIsraelN proper · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive complement of לְאַלְפֵייִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478); closes the verse establishing that this delegation represents the entire nation's leadership — priestly and tribal alike.
15

וַיָּבֹ֜אוּ אֶל בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵ֧ן וְאֶל בְּנֵי גָ֛ד וְאֶל חֲצִ֥י שֵֽׁבֶט מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה אֶל אֶ֣רֶץ הַגִּלְעָ֑ד וַיְדַבְּר֥וּ אִתָּ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר

And they came to the sons of Reuben, and to the sons of Gad, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead, and they spoke with them, saying:

Transitional — delegation arrives and opens dialogueasyndeton
A transitional verse bringing the delegation to Gilead and introducing the indictment speech that follows; they speak WITH them (אִתָּם), framing this as confrontation-as-dialogue rather than a unilateral verdict.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
וַיָּבֹ֜אוּand they cameconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3mp · בּוֹא (H935)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the delegation arrivesבּוֹא (H935) 'to come'; the delegation of vv. 13–14 completes its journey to Gilead.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Directional prepositional phraseאֶל (H413) 'to, toward'.
בְּנֵיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Object of אֶל, head of construct chainבֵּן (H1121) 'son'.
רְאוּבֵ֧ןReubenN proper · רְאוּבֵן (H7205)Genitive complement of בְּנֵירְאוּבֵן (H7205).
וְאֶלand toconj וְ + prep אֶל · אֶל (H413)Coordinated directional prepositional phraseאֶל (H413) 'to, toward'.
בְּנֵיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Object of וְאֶל, head of construct chainבֵּן (H1121) 'son'.
גָ֛דGadN proper · גָּד (H1410)Genitive complement of בְּנֵיגָּד (H1410).
וְאֶלand toconj וְ + prep אֶל · אֶל (H413)Coordinated directional prepositional phraseאֶל (H413) 'to, toward'.
חֲצִ֥יthe half ofN m sg constr · חֲצִי (H2677)Object of וְאֶל, head of construct chainחֲצִי (H2677) 'half'.
שֵֽׁבֶטthe tribe ofN m sg constr · שֵׁבֶט (H7626)Construct nounשֵׁבֶט (H7626) 'tribe'.
מְנַשֶּׁ֖הManassehN proper · מְנַשֶּׁה (H4519)Genitive complement of שֵׁבֶטמְנַשֶּׁה (H4519).
אֶלinprep · אֶל (H413)Locative prepositional phraseאֶל (H413) 'to, in'.
אֶ֣רֶץthe land ofN common sg constr · אֶרֶץ (H776)Object of אֶל, head of construct chainאֶרֶץ (H776) 'land'.
הַגִּלְעָ֑דGileadart + N proper · גִּלְעָד (H1568)Genitive complement of אֶרֶץגִּלְעָד (H1568).
וַיְדַבְּר֥וּand they spokeconj וַ + Piel wayyiqtol 3mp · דָּבַר (H1696)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — introduces the indictment speech of vv. 16–20דָּבַר (H1696) 'to speak', Piel; opens the delegation's formal confrontation.
אִתָּ֖םwith themprep אֵת + 3mp suffix · אֵת (H854)Comitative prepositional phraseאֵת (H854) 'with'; marks the eastern tribes as interlocutors, not merely accused parties — this is dialogue, not decree.
לֵאמֹֽרsayingprep לְ + Qal inf constr · אָמַר (H559)Infinitive construct marking direct-speech onset→ Infinitive construct, formulaic: introduces the quoted indictmentאָמַר (H559); formulaic 'saying', opening the direct speech of vv. 16–20.
16

כֹּ֣ה אָמְר֞וּ כֹּ֣ל עֲדַ֣ת יְהוָ֗ה מָֽה הַמַּ֤עַל הַזֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר מְעַלְתֶּם֙ בֵּאלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לָשׁ֣וּב הַיּ֔וֹם מֵאַחֲרֵ֖י יְהוָ֑ה בִּבְנֽוֹתְכֶ֤ם לָכֶם֙ מִזְבֵּ֔חַ לִמְרָדְכֶ֥ם הַיּ֖וֹם בַּיהוָֽה

Thus says the whole congregation of YHWH: What is this treachery that you have committed against the God of Israel, turning away today from following YHWH, by building yourselves an altar, to rebel today against YHWH?

The indictment speech opens — rhetorical escalationasyndeton
The speech's vocabulary escalates in three steps — מַעַל (treachery) → שׁוּב מֵאַחֲרֵי (turning away/apostasy) → מָרַד (rebellion) — moving from general to maximally severe covenantal charge, with 'today' repeated to stress the offense's immediacy. The messenger-formula כֹּה אָמְרוּ gives the congregation's words prophetic-level authority.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
כֹּ֣הthusadv · כֹּה (H3541)Adverbial formula introducing direct speechכֹּה (H3541) 'thus, so'; כֹּה אָמַר is the standard messenger-formula ('thus says...'), lending the delegation's words quasi-prophetic, official force.
אָמְר֞וּsaysQal perf 3cp · אָמַר (H559)Predicate verb (messenger-formula, main clause)→ Perfective, performative: the formulaic 'has said/says', framing what follows as an official pronouncementאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; כֹּה אָמְרוּ echoes the prophetic messenger-formula כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה, here transferred to the whole congregation speaking as one authoritative body.
כֹּ֣לthe wholeN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Attributive quantifier, subject of אָמְרוּכֹּל (H3605) 'all, whole'; stresses that this indictment speaks for the entire nation, not a faction.
עֲדַ֣תthe congregation ofN f sg constr · עֵדָה (H5712)Genitive complement of כֹּל, subject of אָמְרוּעֵדָה (H5712) 'congregation'; repeats v. 12's term — the formal corporate body of Israel now speaks as one.
יְהוָ֗הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive complement of עֲדַתיְהוָה (H3068); 'the congregation OF YHWH' — Israel's identity is defined by covenant relationship to YHWH, the very relationship the altar allegedly threatens.
מָֽהwhatinterrogative pron · מָה (H4100)Interrogative, predicate of the exclamatory questionמָה (H4100) 'what'; opens the indictment as an incredulous, accusatory question — not a genuine request for information.
הַמַּ֤עַלthe treacheryart + N m sg abs · מַעַל (H4604)Subject of the interrogative clauseמַעַל (H4604) 'treachery, unfaithfulness, trespass', from מָעַל 'to act unfaithfully'; a grave covenantal term used elsewhere of Achan's sin (7:1) — the chapter's key accusatory word.
הַזֶּה֙thisart + demonstrative pron m sg · זֶה (H2088)Attributive demonstrative modifying הַמַּעַלזֶה (H2088) 'this'; points directly at the newly built altar.
אֲשֶׁ֤רthatrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the clause modifying הַמַּעַל הַזֶּהאֲשֶׁר (H834), relative particle.
מְעַלְתֶּם֙you have committedQal perf 2mp · מָעַל (H4603)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Perfective: a completed, decisive act of covenant betrayal, as chargedמָעַל (H4603) 'to act unfaithfully, betray trust'; the verb behind מַעַל just used — the same root doubled for rhetorical intensity.
בֵּאלֹהֵ֣יagainst the God ofprep בְּ + N m pl constr · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Adverbial prepositional phrase, object of betrayalאֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God'; 'against the God of Israel' — the party wronged by the alleged treachery.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לIsraelN proper · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive complement of בֵּאלֹהֵייִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478).
לָשׁ֣וּבturning awayprep לְ + Qal inf constr · שׁוּב (H7725)Epexegetical infinitive explaining the nature of the מַעַל→ Infinitive construct, epexegetical: specifies what the treachery consists of — apostasy in actשׁוּב (H7725) 'to turn, return'; here 'to turn away' — the language of apostasy (cf. Deut 30:17), an ironic echo of the same verb used positively for the tribes' 'return' home (vv. 8–9).
הַיּ֔וֹםtodayart + N m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Adverbial accusative of timeיוֹם (H3117) 'day'; 'today' stresses the immediacy of the alleged offense — happening now, not a distant memory.
מֵאַחֲרֵ֖יfrom followingprep מִן + prep אַחַר · אַחַר (H310)Ablative prepositional phrase, complement of לָשׁוּבאַחַר (H310) 'after, behind'; שׁוּב אַחֲרֵי is the standard idiom for covenant loyalty ('following YHWH') — turning FROM following is the technical language of apostasy (cf. Num 14:43; 32:15).
יְהוָ֑הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive complement of מֵאַחֲרֵייְהוָה (H3068).
בִּבְנֽוֹתְכֶ֤םby your buildingprep בְּ + Qal inf constr + 2mp suffix · בָּנָה (H1129)Causal/instrumental infinitive, specifying the concrete act constituting the charge→ Infinitive construct, causal: 'by/in your building' — the specific deed grounding the accusationבָּנָה (H1129) 'to build'; names the concrete act — building itself, apart from any sacrifice offered, is presented as the offense.
לָכֶם֙for yourselvesprep לְ + 2mp suffix · לְEthical dative (reflexive emphasis)לְ with 2mp suffix; 'for yourselves' underscores the charge of unilateral, self-authorized action.
מִזְבֵּ֔חַan altarN m sg abs · מִזְבֵּחַ (H4196)Object of בִּבְנוֹתְכֶםמִזְבֵּחַ (H4196) 'altar'; the object at the center of the entire dispute.
לִמְרָדְכֶ֥םto rebelprep לְ + Qal inf constr + 2mp suffix · מָרַד (H4775)Purpose/result infinitive, restating the charge in its starkest terms→ Infinitive construct, purpose/result: escalates 'treachery' and 'turning away' to the sharpest term — rebellionמָרַד (H4775) 'to rebel, revolt'; a political/covenantal term for open insurrection — the rhetorical climax of the indictment's vocabulary (מַעַל → שׁוּב מֵאַחֲרֵי → מָרַד).
הַיּ֖וֹםtodayart + N m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Adverbial accusative of time, repeated for emphasisיוֹם (H3117) 'day'; the repetition of 'today' bookends and intensifies the accusation's urgency.
בַּיהוָֽהagainst YHWHprep בְּ + N proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Adverbial prepositional phrase, object of rebellionיְהוָה (H3068); the verse closes on YHWH's name for the third time — the accusation's entire force rests on the covenant relationship allegedly violated.
17

הַמְעַט לָ֨נוּ֙ אֶת עֲוֺ֣ן פְּע֔וֹר אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא הִטַּהַ֨רְנוּ֙ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ עַ֖ד הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה וַיְהִ֥י הַנֶּ֖גֶף בַּעֲדַ֥ת יְהוָֽה

Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we have not cleansed ourselves to this day, though a plague came upon the congregation of YHWH —

First precedent — Peor, corporate guiltasyndeton
The delegation's argument rests on historical precedent: Baal-Peor (Num 25) shows that a plague fell on the WHOLE congregation, not just the immediate offenders — corporate solidarity in guilt is the speech's core theological premise, preparing for the second precedent (Achan, v. 20).
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
הַמְעַטis it too littleinterrogative ה + adj m sg abs · מְעַט (H4592)Predicate adjective, interrogative main clauseמְעַט (H4592) 'little, small'; the interrogative הֲ + adjective opens a rhetorical question expecting 'no — it was already enough'.
לָ֨נוּ֙for usprep לְ + 1cp suffix · לְDative of reference, complement of הַמְעַטלְ with 1cp suffix; 'too little FOR US' — the speakers include themselves in the guilt and its consequences, appealing to shared memory.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), marking עֲוֹן פְּעוֹר as the object under discussion.
עֲוֺ֣ןthe iniquity ofN common sg constr · עָוֹן (H5771)Object, head of construct chainעָוֹן (H5771) 'iniquity, guilt, punishment for sin'; a broader term than מַעַל, encompassing both the act and its lasting consequence.
פְּע֔וֹרPeorN proper · פְּעוֹר (H6465)Genitive complement of עֲוֺןפְּעוֹר (H6465); the place of Baal-Peor where Israel fell into idolatry and sexual immorality (Num 25), triggering a plague that killed 24,000 — the first of the delegation's two historical precedents (with Achan, v. 20).
אֲשֶׁ֤רfrom whichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the clause modifying עֲוֺן פְּעוֹראֲשֶׁר (H834), relative particle.
לֹֽאnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates הִטַּהַרְנוּלֹא (H3808).
הִטַּהַ֨רְנוּ֙we have cleansed ourselvesHitpael perf 1cp · טָהֵר (H2891)Predicate verb of the relative clause, negated→ Perfective, Hitpael, negated: a completed state that has NOT occurred — the guilt's stain persists into the presentטָהֵר (H2891) 'to be clean, pure'; Hitpael 'to cleanse oneself' — ritual/moral purification never fully accomplished, still felt generations later.
מִמֶּ֔נּוּfrom itprep מִן + 3ms suffix · מִן (H4480)Ablative complement of הִטַּהַרְנוּמִן (H4480) 'from'; the guilt of Peor, still unpurged.
עַ֖דuntilprep · עַד (H5704)Prepositional phrase marking temporal terminusעַד (H5704) 'until'; opens the idiom 'to this very day'.
הַיּ֣וֹםthe dayart + N m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Object of עַדיוֹם (H3117) 'day'; part of the fixed idiom עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה.
הַזֶּ֑הthisart + demonstrative pron m sg · זֶה (H2088)Attributive demonstrative modifying הַיּוֹםזֶה (H2088); completes 'to this very day' — the same idiom used positively of the tribes' own faithfulness in v. 3, now turned to a warning.
וַיְהִ֥יand there wasconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence, within reported speech)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance, recalling the plague as historical consequenceהָיָה (H1961) 'to be, happen'; introduces the concrete, remembered consequence of Peor.
הַנֶּ֖גֶףthe plagueart + N m sg abs · נֶגֶף (H5063)Subject of וַיְהִינֶגֶף (H5063) 'plague, blow', from נָגַף 'to strike'; the deadly consequence of Peor (Num 25:8–9), invoked as proof that YHWH's wrath is neither slow nor limited to the immediate offenders.
בַּעֲדַ֥תupon the congregation ofprep בְּ + N f sg constr · עֵדָה (H5712)Locative prepositional phrase, complement of וַיְהִיעֵדָה (H5712) 'congregation'; the plague struck the WHOLE congregation, not merely the individual offenders — the delegation's core argument for corporate liability, developed further with Achan (v. 20).
יְהוָֽהYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive complement of בַּעֲדַתיְהוָה (H3068).
18

וְאַתֶּם֙ תָּשֻׁ֣בוּ הַיּ֔וֹם מֵאַחֲרֵ֖י יְהוָ֑ה וְהָיָ֗ה אַתֶּ֞ם תִּמְרְד֤וּ הַיּוֹם֙ בַּֽיהוָ֔ה וּמָחָ֕ר אֶֽל כָּל עֲדַ֥ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל יִקְצֹֽף

And would you turn away today from following YHWH? For if you rebel today against YHWH, then tomorrow he will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel.

Warning of consequence — corporate wrathasyndeton
The speech pivots from precedent (Peor, v. 17) to direct warning: rebellion today brings divine anger on the whole congregation tomorrow — the corporate-guilt logic driving the delegation's urgency, and the reason they came before, not after, blood was shed.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
וְאַתֶּם֙and youconj וְ + independent pron 2mp · אַתֶּם (H859)Subject, fronted for emphasis (accusatory)אַתֶּם (H859) 2mp pronoun; fronted 'and YOU' — direct, pointed accusation.
תָּשֻׁ֣בוּwould turn awayQal impf 2mp · שׁוּב (H7725)Predicate verb (exclamatory main clause)→ Yiqtol: modal/exclamatory — the delegation's horrified characterization of the tribes' act as apostasy in progressשׁוּב (H7725); repeats v. 16's charge — turning away from YHWH.
הַיּ֔וֹםtodayart + N m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Adverbial accusative of timeיוֹם (H3117) 'day'; repeated emphasis on the offense's present immediacy.
מֵאַחֲרֵ֖יfrom followingprep מִן + prep אַחַר · אַחַר (H310)Ablative prepositional phrase, complement of תָּשֻׁבוּאַחַר (H310); repeats v. 16's apostasy idiom, שׁוּב מֵאַחֲרֵי.
יְהוָ֑הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive complement of מֵאַחֲרֵייְהוָה (H3068).
וְהָיָ֗הand it will happenconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb (apodosis-introducing, main clause)→ Weqatal: sequential future/consequential — introduces the dire result if rebellion continuesהָיָה (H1961) 'to be, happen'; formulaic introduction to a coming consequence, ominous in tone.
אַתֶּ֞םyouindependent pron 2mp · אַתֶּם (H859)Subject, fronted for emphasis (repeated accusation)אַתֶּם (H859); the pronoun repeats for a second, sharper accusation — 'if YOU rebel'.
תִּמְרְד֤וּrebelQal impf 2mp · מָרַד (H4775)Predicate verb (conditional/exclamatory main clause)→ Yiqtol, conditional: 'if you rebel' — the sharpest charge now made explicitly conditional, escalating v. 16 into open warningמָרַד (H4775); repeats v. 16's climactic term.
הַיּוֹם֙todayart + N m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Adverbial accusative of timeיוֹם (H3117) 'day'; third occurrence in the speech, relentless emphasis.
בַּֽיהוָ֔הagainst YHWHprep בְּ + N proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Adverbial prepositional phrase, object of תִּמְרְדוּיְהוָה (H3068).
וּמָחָ֕רthen tomorrowconj וְ + N m sg abs · מָחָר (H4279)Adverbial accusative of time (apodosis)מָחָר (H4279) 'tomorrow'; the consequence's timing — swift and certain, not a distant threat.
אֶֽלwithprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase, object of divine angerאֶל (H413) 'to, with, against'; marks the target of YHWH's anger — an attested use of אֶל with קָצַף.
כָּלthe wholeN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Attributive quantifier, object of אֶלכֹּל (H3605) 'all, whole'; the anger's scope is total, not selective — the corporate-guilt principle restated (cf. vv. 17, 20).
עֲדַ֥תthe congregation ofN f sg constr · עֵדָה (H5712)Genitive complement of כָּלעֵדָה (H5712) 'congregation'.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לIsraelN proper · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive complement of עֲדַתיִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478); the whole nation, not just the eastern tribes, would suffer — the delegation's warning is as self-interested as it is accusatory.
יִקְצֹֽףhe will be angryQal impf 3ms · קָצַף (H7107)Predicate verb (apodosis, main clause)→ Yiqtol: future, certain consequence — divine wrath as inevitable, not merely possibleקָצַף (H7107) 'to be angry, wrathful'; the verse's grim climax — corporate divine anger as the certain consequence of rebellion, echoing the Peor plague just invoked.
19

וְאַ֨ךְ אִם טְמֵאָ֜ה אֶ֣רֶץ אֲחֻזַּתְכֶ֗ם עִבְר֨וּ לָכֶ֜ם אֶל אֶ֨רֶץ אֲחֻזַּ֤ת יְהוָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר שָֽׁכַן שָׁם֙ מִשְׁכַּ֣ן יְהוָ֔ה וְהֵאָחֲז֖וּ בְּתוֹכֵ֑נוּ וּבַֽיהוָ֣ה אַל תִּמְרֹ֗דוּ וְאֹתָ֨נוּ֙ אֶל תִּמְרֹ֔דוּ בִּבְנֹֽתְכֶ֤ם לָכֶם֙ מִזְבֵּ֔חַ מִֽבַּלְעֲדֵ֔י מִזְבַּ֖ח יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ

But if the land of your possession is unclean, cross over to the land of YHWH's possession, where YHWH's tabernacle dwells, and take possession among us; but do not rebel against YHWH, and do not make us rebels, by building yourselves an altar besides the altar of YHWH our God.

The offer — full incorporation, conditional prohibitionasyndeton
The speech's rhetorical center: a genuine, generous offer (come settle among us) wrapped around the sharpest possible prohibition (do not rebel, do not implicate us). The single-altar theology (Deut 12) surfaces explicitly only here, at the end — the accusation has built toward this concrete legal concern.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
וְאַ֨ךְbutconj וְ + adv · אַךְ (H389)Adversative/restrictive particle opening the offerאַךְ (H389) 'surely, but, only'; introduces a concessive turn — the delegation pivots from accusation to a genuine offer.
אִםifconj · אִם (H518)Conditional conjunctionאִם (H518) 'if'; opens the conditional offer.
טְמֵאָ֜הuncleanadj f sg abs · טָמֵא (H2931)Predicate adjective of the conditional clauseטָמֵא (H2931) 'unclean, impure'; raises the possibility that the eastern tribes felt cut off from YHWH's cultic 'clean' land — a striking admission that geography itself might seem spiritually disqualifying.
אֶ֣רֶץthe land ofN common sg constr · אֶרֶץ (H776)Subject of טְמֵאָה, head of construct chainאֶרֶץ (H776) 'land'.
אֲחֻזַּתְכֶ֗םyour possessionN f sg constr + 2mp suffix · אֲחֻזָּה (H272)Genitive complement of אֶרֶץאֲחֻזָּה (H272) 'possession'; the eastern tribes' own territory, now implicitly questioned as possibly 'unclean' — ironic given v. 9's careful legitimation of that very land.
עִבְר֨וּcross overQal impv 2mp · עָבַר (H5674)Predicate verb (imperative, main clause, apodosis of the offer)→ Volitional: an urgent invitation, not a command to leave under duress — 'come join us'עָבַר (H5674) 'to cross, pass over'; the same root behind עֵבֶר ('the other side') used throughout — the offer of full incorporation into the western land.
לָכֶ֜םto youprep לְ + 2mp suffix · לְEthical dative (reflexive emphasis)לְ with 2mp suffix; idiom of motion, 'come on over'.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Directional prepositional phraseאֶל (H413) 'to, toward'.
אֶ֨רֶץthe land ofN common sg constr · אֶרֶץ (H776)Object of אֶל, head of construct chainאֶרֶץ (H776) 'land'.
אֲחֻזַּ֤תthe possession ofN f sg constr · אֲחֻזָּה (H272)Genitive complement of אֶרֶץאֲחֻזָּה (H272) 'possession'; 'YHWH's possession' — the west bank is characterized as uniquely YHWH's own holding, by virtue of the sanctuary located there.
יְהוָה֙YHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive complement of אֲחֻזַּתיְהוָה (H3068).
אֲשֶׁ֤רwhererelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the clause modifying אֶרֶץ אֲחֻזַּת יְהוָהאֲשֶׁר (H834), relative particle, here locative 'where'.
שָֽׁכַןdwellsQal perf 3ms · שָׁכַן (H7931)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Perfective, stative: an established, ongoing state of dwelling — the tabernacle's settled presenceשָׁכַן (H7931) 'to dwell, settle', root of מִשְׁכָּן and later שְׁכִינָה; the divine presence's residence defines the land's holiness.
שָׁם֙thereadv · שָׁם (H8033)Adverbial locative modifying שָׁכַןשָׁם (H8033) 'there'.
מִשְׁכַּ֣ןthe tabernacle ofN m sg constr · מִשְׁכָּן (H4908)Subject of שָׁכַן, head of construct chainמִשְׁכָּן (H4908) 'tabernacle, dwelling place'; at Shiloh (18:1), the single legitimate sanctuary — the crux of the whole dispute over cultic centralization.
יְהוָ֔הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive complement of מִשְׁכַּןיְהוָה (H3068).
וְהֵאָחֲז֖וּand take possessionconj וְ + Niphal impv 2mp · אָחַז (H270)Predicate verb (imperative, coordinate with עִבְרוּ)→ Volitional, Niphal (reflexive): 'take a holding for yourselves' — an invitation to full landed membership among the western tribesאָחַז (H270); the same root as אֲחֻזָּה, Niphal 'to acquire property, settle' — a genuine offer of inheritance, not exile.
בְּתוֹכֵ֑נוּamong usprep בְּ + N m sg constr + 1cp suffix · תָּוֶךְ (H8432)Locative prepositional phrase, complement of וְהֵאָחֲזוּתָּוֶךְ (H8432) 'midst, among'; the offer's warmth — full incorporation, not exile at arm's length.
וּבַֽיהוָ֣הbut against YHWHconj וְ + prep בְּ + N proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Adverbial prepositional phrase, fronted object of תִּמְרֹדוּיְהוָה (H3068); fronted for emphasis, shifting from the positive offer to the negative charge that frames it.
אַלdo notnegative particle (jussive) · אַל (H408)Negates the jussive תִּמְרֹדוּאַל (H408), the negative used with jussive/volitional forms — 'do not' as an urgent prohibition, distinct from the flat לֹא.
תִּמְרֹ֗דוּrebelQal jussive 2mp · מָרַד (H4775)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Jussive negated: an urgent prohibition — 'do not rebel'מָרַד (H4775); the third occurrence of the speech's key term, now as direct prohibition rather than accusation.
וְאֹתָ֨נוּ֙and usconj וְ + obj marker + 1cp suffix · אֵת (H853)Fronted direct object of the second תִּמְרֹדוּאֵת (H853) with 1cp suffix; a striking construction — 'do not make US rebels too' — the western tribes fear becoming implicated in guilt by tolerating the offense.
אֶלdo notnegative particle (jussive) · אַל (H408)Negates the second jussive תִּמְרֹדוּאַל (H408); repeated prohibition (the scaffold's 'R' morph-tag here is a mislabel — lemma H408 and context confirm this is אַל, not אֶל).
תִּמְרֹ֔דוּmake rebelsQal jussive 2mp · מָרַד (H4775)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause), governing the fronted object וְאֹתָנוּ→ Jussive negated: 'do not make us rebel' — an unusual construction expressing complicity by associationמָרַד (H4775); fourth and final occurrence — the delegation frames the eastern tribes' altar as capable of implicating the whole nation in guilt.
בִּבְנֹֽתְכֶ֤םby your buildingprep בְּ + Qal inf constr + 2mp suffix · בָּנָה (H1129)Causal infinitive, specifying the means of the feared rebellion→ Infinitive construct, causal: 'by your building' — repeats v. 16's chargeבָּנָה (H1129) 'to build'.
לָכֶם֙for yourselvesprep לְ + 2mp suffix · לְEthical dativeלְ with 2mp suffix.
מִזְבֵּ֔חַan altarN m sg abs · מִזְבֵּחַ (H4196)Object of בִּבְנֹתְכֶםמִזְבֵּחַ (H4196) 'altar'.
מִֽבַּלְעֲדֵ֔יbesidesprep מִן + prep בַּלְעֲדֵי · בַּלְעֲדֵי (H1107)Comparative/exceptive prepositional phraseבַּלְעֲדֵי (H1107) 'except, apart from, besides'; names the specific legal-cultic concern at last — a SECOND, competing altar, violating the single-sanctuary principle (Deut 12:5–14).
מִזְבַּ֖חthe altar ofN m sg constr · מִזְבֵּחַ (H4196)Object of מִבַּלְעֲדֵי, head of construct chainמִזְבֵּחַ (H4196); the one legitimate altar, at Shiloh.
יְהוָ֥הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive complement of מִזְבַּחיְהוָה (H3068).
אֱלֹהֵֽינוּour GodN m pl constr + 1cp suffix · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָהאֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God'; 'our God' — the delegation speaks as though the eastern tribes are already excluded, the very fracture the whole chapter resists.
20

הֲל֣וֹא עָכָ֣ן בֶּן זֶ֗רַח מָ֤עַל מַ֨עַל֙ בַּחֵ֔רֶם וְעַֽל כָּל עֲדַ֥ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל הָ֣יָה קָ֑צֶף וְהוּא֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶחָ֔ד לֹ֥א גָוַ֖ע בַּעֲוֺנֽוֹ

Did not Achan son of Zerah commit treachery in the devoted things, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? And he was not the only man who perished for his iniquity.

Second precedent — Achan, individual sin with corporate consequenceasyndeton
The Achan precedent (ch. 7) supplies exactly the corporate-guilt logic the delegation needs: one man's מַעַל brought קֶצֶף on the whole congregation, so a single trans-Jordan altar could imperil all Israel. The closing 'he did not perish alone' is the argument's rhetorical target — individual sin never stays contained.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
הֲל֣וֹאdid notinterrogative ה + negative particle · לֹא (H3808)Rhetorical-interrogative particle opening the second precedentהֲלוֹא, interrogative + negative, 'is it not...?' — expects the answer 'yes, indeed' — matching v. 17's rhetorical structure for the second historical precedent.
עָכָ֣ןAchanN proper · עָכָן (H5912)Subject of מָעַלעָכָן (H5912); the man of Judah who took devoted plunder from Jericho (ch. 7), whose sin brought defeat at Ai and death for himself and his household — the second precedent, an individual's sin with corporate consequence, complementing Peor's corporate sin.
בֶּןson ofN m sg constr · בֵּן (H1121)Apposition to עָכָן, constructבֵּן (H1121) 'son'.
זֶ֗רַחZerahN proper · זֶרַח (H2226)Genitive complement of בֶּןזֶרַח (H2226); Achan's father, of the tribe of Judah (cf. Josh 7:1, 18).
מָ֤עַלcommitted treacheryQal perf 3ms · מָעַל (H4603)Predicate verb (main clause, within rhetorical question)→ Perfective: a completed, decisive act — the same verb used of the altar-builders in v. 16, now applied to Achanמָעַל (H4603) 'to act unfaithfully'; the verbal echo of v. 16 makes the comparison explicit — this is the SAME category of sin the delegation fears.
מַ֨עַל֙a treacheryN m sg abs · מַעַל (H4604)Cognate accusative, internal object of מָעַלמַעַל (H4604); cognate-accusative construction (מָעַל מַעַל, 'trespassed a trespass') intensifying the verb, matching v. 16's הַמַּעַל.
בַּחֵ֔רֶםin the devoted thingprep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · חֵרֶם (H2764)Adverbial prepositional phrase, sphere of the offenseחֵרֶם (H2764) 'devoted/banned thing', from חָרַם 'to devote to destruction'; Achan took plunder belonging wholly to YHWH (Josh 7:1, 21) — theft from the sacred.
וְעַֽלand uponconj וְ + prep עַל · עַל (H5921)Locative prepositional phrase, complement of הָיָהעַל (H5921) 'upon'.
כָּלthe wholeN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Attributive quantifier, object of וְעַלכֹּל (H3605) 'all, whole'; the corporate-guilt argument's decisive proof-text — Achan sinned alone, yet the whole congregation bore the wrath.
עֲדַ֥תthe congregation ofN f sg constr · עֵדָה (H5712)Genitive complement of כָּלעֵדָה (H5712) 'congregation'.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לIsraelN proper · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive complement of עֲדַתיִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478).
הָ֣יָהthere wasQal perf 3ms · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Perfective: a completed, historical fact — not hypothetical, a remembered eventהָיָה (H1961) 'to be, happen'.
קָ֑צֶףwrathN m sg abs · קֶצֶף (H7110)Subject of הָיָהקֶצֶף (H7110) 'wrath, anger', cognate with יִקְצֹף of v. 18 — the very consequence just threatened is shown to have already happened once, with Achan.
וְהוּא֙and heconj וְ + independent pron 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Subject, resumptive/contrastiveהוּא (H1931) 3ms pronoun; shifts focus to Achan individually — 'and HE (Achan)...'.
אִ֣ישׁa manN m sg abs · אִישׁ (H376)Predicate nounאִישׁ (H376) 'man'; 'a single man' — emphasizes Achan's individual identity against the corporate scope of the punishment just described.
אֶחָ֔דone, onlycardinal number m sg · אֶחָד (H259)Attributive numeral modifying אִישׁאֶחָד (H259) 'one'; 'one man' — the argument's logic is precisely that one man's sin was not contained to himself alone.
לֹ֥אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates גָוַעלֹא (H3808).
גָוַ֖עperishedQal perf 3ms · גָּוַע (H1478)Predicate verb, negated→ Perfective negated: 'did not perish alone' — the pointed climax of the Achan precedentגָּוַע (H1478) 'to expire, perish'; Achan did not die alone for his iniquity — his household and the nation's initial defeat at Ai (7:4–5) shared the consequence. The delegation's clinching argument: individual sin never stays individual.
בַּעֲוֺנֽוֹfor his iniquityprep בְּ + N common sg constr + 3ms suffix · עָוֹן (H5771)Causal prepositional phrase, complement of גָוַעעָוֹן (H5771) 'iniquity'; echoes v. 17's עֲוֹן פְּעוֹר — the speech closes its two-precedent argument by returning to the vocabulary that opened it.
21

וַֽיַּעֲנוּ֙ בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵ֣ן וּבְנֵי גָ֔ד וַחֲצִ֖י שֵׁ֣בֶט הַֽמְנַשֶּׁ֑ה וַֽיְדַבְּר֔וּ אֶת רָאשֵׁ֖י אַלְפֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

Then the sons of Reuben, the sons of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered and spoke to the heads of the thousands of Israel:

Narrative pivot — the accused tribes respondasyndeton
The narrator resumes to introduce the defense: the double verb עָנָה + דָבַר signals the formal weight of the reply, addressed specifically to the 'heads of the thousands' who had come to confront them (v.14), not to Phinehas alone.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
וַֽיַּעֲנוּ֙and they answeredconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3mp · עָנָה (H6030)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance, opening the tribes' formal responseעָנָה (H6030) 'to answer, respond'; introduces the defense speech of vv. 21-29, paired with וַיְדַבְּרוּ.
בְּנֵיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Subject of וַיַּעֲנוּ, head of first construct chainבֵּן (H1121) 'son'; here 'sons of Reuben' as tribal designation, subject of the joint response.
רְאוּבֵ֣ןReubenN proper · רְאוּבֵן (H7205)Genitive complement of בְּנֵי (construct chain)רְאוּבֵן (H7205); Jacob's firstborn, whose tribe settled east of the Jordan (Num 32).
וּבְנֵיand the sons ofconj וְ + N m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Coordinated subject, second construct chainבֵּן (H1121) 'son'; 'and the sons of Gad', second of the three responding groups.
גָ֔דGadN proper · גָּד (H1410)Genitive complement of וּבְנֵיגָּד (H1410); Jacob's seventh son, whose tribe likewise settled in Gilead.
וַחֲצִ֖יand the half ofconj וְ + N m sg constr · חֲצִי (H2677)Coordinated subject, third construct chainחֲצִי (H2677) 'half'; opens 'half the tribe of Manasseh', third responding group, echoing v.1's list.
שֵׁ֣בֶטthe tribe ofN m sg constr · שֵׁבֶט (H7626)Construct noun within chainשֵׁבֶט (H7626) 'staff, tribe'; synonym of מַטֶּה (v.1), here designating Manasseh's eastern half.
הַֽמְנַשֶּׁ֑הManassehart + N proper · מְנַשֶּׁה (H4519)Genitive complement of שֵׁבֶט, with article on the proper nameמְנַשֶּׁה (H4519); the article is unusual with a proper name, perhaps stressing 'the [half-]tribe, namely Manasseh'.
וַֽיְדַבְּר֔וּand they spokeconj וַ + Piel wayyiqtol 3mp · דָּבַר (H1696)Predicate verb (main clause, coordinate with וַיַּעֲנוּ)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance, second verb of a hendiadys 'answered and spoke'דָּבַר (H1696) 'to speak', Piel; paired with עָנָה as a standard formula introducing formal speech.
אֶתwithprep · אֵת (H854)Prepositional phrase, indirect object (addressee) of וַיְדַבְּרוּאֵת (H854) 'with, together with'; introduces the addressees of the tribes' response — distinct from the accusative object-marker אֵת (H853).
רָאשֵׁ֖יthe heads ofN m pl constr · רֹאשׁ (H7218)Object of preposition אֵת, constructרֹאשׁ (H7218) 'head'; 'heads of thousands' = military/clan chiefs, echoing v.14's delegation composition.
אַלְפֵ֥יthe thousands ofcardinal number common pl constr · אֶלֶף (H505)Genitive complement of רָאשֵׁיאֶלֶף (H505) 'thousand'; here a military/clan unit, 'heads of the thousands of Israel' — the addressees of the reply, mirroring the delegation's leadership in v.14.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽלIsraelN proper · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive complement of אַלְפֵי, closing the verse identifying the addresseesיִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478); closes the verse identifying the addressees as Israel's tribal leadership.
22

אֵל֩ אֱלֹהִ֨ים יְהוָ֜ה אֵ֣ל אֱלֹהִ֤ים יְהוָה֙ ה֣וּא יֹדֵ֔עַ וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל ה֣וּא יֵדָ֑ע אִם בְּמֶ֤רֶד וְאִם בְּמַ֨עַל֙ בַּֽיהוָ֔ה אַל תּוֹשִׁיעֵ֖נוּ הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה

"El, Elohim, YHWH! El, Elohim, YHWH! He knows, and Israel itself shall know: if it was in rebellion or in treachery against YHWH, do not spare us this day.

Opening oath — doubled invocation of the divine nameasyndeton
The sixfold repetition of divine titles (El, Elohim, YHWH, twice) forms the strongest oath Hebrew idiom allows, invoking YHWH's total knowledge as both witness and judge. The self-imprecation ('do not spare us') stakes the tribes' own lives on the truth of what follows.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
אֵל֩ElN m sg abs · אֵל (H410)First title of the triple divine invocation (vocative-emphatic)אֵל (H410) 'God, mighty one'; the first of three divine names/titles doubled for solemn emphasis (cf. Ps 50:1), invoking YHWH's full identity before the oath.
אֱלֹהִ֨יםElohimN m pl abs · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Second title, in apposition to אֵלאֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God'; second element of the triad.
יְהוָ֜הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Third title, in apposition, first occurrence of the doubled triadיְהוָה (H3068); the covenant name completes the first triad — 'El, Elohim, YHWH!' functions almost as an oath-formula.
אֵ֣לElN m sg abs · אֵל (H410)First title of the repeated triad (intensifying doubling)אֵל (H410); the whole triad is repeated verbatim — the strongest possible asseveration in Hebrew, akin to swearing by God's full name twice.
אֱלֹהִ֤יםElohimN m pl abs · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Second title of the repeated triadאֱלֹהִים (H430); second repetition.
יְהוָה֙YHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Third title of the repeated triad, subject of the following clauseיְהוָה (H3068); the repeated invocation now yields to the main clause, 'He knows'.
ה֣וּאheindependent pron 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Resumptive subject pronoun, emphaticהוּא (H1931) 3ms pronoun, resuming/emphasizing יְהוָה as subject of יֹדֵעַ — 'HE knows'.
יֹדֵ֔עַknowsQal ptc ms · יָדַע (H3045)Predicate verb (participle, main clause)→ Participle: a present, ongoing state of knowledge — YHWH's omniscience invoked as witnessיָדַע (H3045) 'to know'; participle expressing YHWH's present, unceasing knowledge — he is called as the ultimate witness to their innocence or guilt.
וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לand Israelconj וְ + N proper · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Fronted subject of יֵדָע (second clause)יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478); fronted for emphasis — 'and Israel itself' shall also come to know, paralleling YHWH's knowledge with the nation's future verdict.
ה֣וּאitindependent pron 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Resumptive subject pronoun (emphatic), parallel to the first הוּאהוּא (H1931); resumes יִשְׂרָאֵל, emphatic parallel to the divine 'He' of the first clause.
יֵדָ֑עlet it knowQal jussive 3ms · יָדַע (H3045)Predicate verb (jussive, main clause)→ Jussive: volitional — 'let Israel come to know', the human counterpart to YHWH's present knowledgeיָדַע (H3045); jussive form — Israel's coming to know is left open, contingent on this speech's persuasiveness.
אִםifconj · אִם (H518)Conditional particle introducing the oath's protasisאִם (H518) 'if'; introduces the self-imprecatory oath formula (cf. v.23).
בְּמֶ֤רֶדin rebellionprep בְּ + N m sg abs · מֶרֶד (H4777)Object of בְּ, first alternative of the protasisמֶרֶד (H4777) 'rebellion', cognate with מָרַד (vv.16-19); the noun form names the very charge leveled against them.
וְאִםor ifconj וְ + conj · אִם (H518)Coordinating conditional particle, second alternativeאִם (H518), repeated for the second alternative of the protasis.
בְּמַ֨עַל֙in treacheryprep בְּ + N m sg abs · מַעַל (H4604)Object of בְּ, second alternative of the protasisמַעַל (H4604) 'treachery, unfaithfulness'; the second key accusation-term (cf. vv.16,20,31) now taken up as the oath's own vocabulary.
בַּֽיהוָ֔הagainst YHWHprep בְּ + N proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Prepositional phrase, object of both מֶרֶד and מַעַליְהוָה (H3068); the object against whom both alleged offenses would be committed.
אַלdo notnegative particle (jussive) · אַל (H408)Negates the jussive תּוֹשִׁיעֵנוּאַל (H408), volitional negative introducing the oath's apodosis/self-curse.
תּוֹשִׁיעֵ֖נוּspare usHiphil jussive 2ms + 1cp suffix · יָשַׁע (H3467)Predicate verb (jussive, apodosis of the self-imprecation)→ Jussive negated, self-imprecatory: 'may he not save us' — an oath inviting divine judgment if the charge is trueיָשַׁע (H3467) 'to save, deliver', Hiphil; here addressed to YHWH — 'do not save/spare us [if we are guilty]', a formal self-curse formula.
הַיּ֥וֹםthis dayart + N m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Adverbial accusative of timeיוֹם (H3117) 'day'; with article and following demonstrative, 'this very day' — echoes the recurring temporal idiom of vv. 3, 17, 34.
הַזֶּֽהthisart + demonstrative pron m sg · זֶה (H2088)Attributive demonstrative modifying הַיּוֹםזֶה (H2088); completes 'this day', the moment of the oath itself.
23

לִבְנ֥וֹת לָ֨נוּ֙ מִזְבֵּ֔חַ לָשׁ֖וּב מֵאַחֲרֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וְאִם לְהַעֲל֨וֹת עָלָ֜יו עוֹלָ֣ה וּמִנְחָ֗ה וְאִם לַעֲשׂ֤וֹת עָלָיו֙ זִבְחֵ֣י שְׁלָמִ֔ים יְהוָ֖ה ה֥וּא יְבַקֵּֽשׁ

If we have built ourselves an altar to turn away from following YHWH, or if to offer on it burnt offering or grain offering, or if to sacrifice on it peace offerings, may YHWH himself require it.

Oath continues — denial of sacrificial intentasyndeton
Each of the three legitimate offering types (burnt, grain, peace) is named and denied in turn, closing with a second self-curse (יְבַקֵּשׁ, 'let him require it') — the altar was never meant for use, only for testimony.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
לִבְנ֥וֹתto buildprep לְ + Qal inf constr · בָּנָה (H1129)Infinitive construct expressing purpose, continuing the oath's protasis→ Infinitive construct, purposive: 'to build' — states the very charge as hypothetical purposeבָּנָה (H1129) 'to build'; the oath restates the western tribes' accusation (v.16) in the delegation's own words, now denied.
לָ֨נוּ֙for ourselvesprep לְ + 1cp suffix · לְEthical dative complementing לִבְנוֹתלְ with 1cp suffix, dative of interest — 'for ourselves', echoing the accusation's phrasing exactly.
מִזְבֵּ֔חַan altarN m sg abs · מִזְבֵּחַ (H4196)Object of לִבְנוֹתמִזְבֵּחַ (H4196) 'altar'; the disputed object itself, restated as the first purpose-clause under oath.
לָשׁ֖וּבto turn awayprep לְ + Qal inf constr · שׁוּב (H7725)Infinitive construct, purpose clause in apposition/parallel to לִבְנוֹת→ Infinitive construct, purposive: 'to turn back' — the imagined apostate purpose, immediately disavowedשׁוּב (H7725) 'to turn, return'; here 'to turn away FROM following YHWH' — the gravest possible construal of the altar, stated only to be denied.
מֵאַחֲרֵ֣יfrom followingprep מִן + prep · אַחַר (H310)Prepositional phrase, complement of לָשׁוּבאַחַר (H310) 'after'; מֵאַחֲרֵי יְהוָה 'from following YHWH' is the standard idiom for apostasy (cf. Num 14:43; 32:15).
יְהוָ֑הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Object of the preposition מֵאַחֲרֵייְהוָה (H3068).
וְאִםor ifconj וְ + conj · אִם (H518)Coordinating conditional particle, second protasisאִם (H518), introducing the second of three denied purposes.
לְהַעֲל֨וֹתto offer upprep לְ + Hiphil inf constr · עָלָה (H5927)Infinitive construct, purpose clause (second denial)→ Infinitive construct, purposive, Hiphil: 'to offer up' — cultic sacrificial languageעָלָה (H5927) 'to go up', Hiphil 'to offer up (a burnt offering)'; the second denied purpose — the altar was never meant for sacrificial use.
עָלָ֜יוon itprep עַל + 3ms suffix · עַל (H5921)Locative prepositional phrase, complement of לְהַעֲלוֹתעַל (H5921) with 3ms suffix, referring back to מִזְבֵּחַ.
עוֹלָ֣הa burnt offeringN f sg abs · עוֹלָה (H5930)Object of לְהַעֲלוֹתעוֹלָה (H5930) 'burnt offering', from עָלָה; the offering wholly consumed on the altar — explicitly disavowed as this altar's purpose.
וּמִנְחָ֗הor grain offeringconj וְ + N f sg abs · מִנְחָה (H4503)Coordinated object of לְהַעֲלוֹתמִנְחָה (H4503) 'grain offering, tribute'; paired with עוֹלָה as a standard offering-pair.
וְאִםor ifconj וְ + conj · אִם (H518)Coordinating conditional particle, third protasisאִם (H518), introducing the third denied purpose.
לַעֲשׂ֤וֹתto offerprep לְ + Qal inf constr · עָשָׂה (H6213)Infinitive construct, purpose clause (third denial)→ Infinitive construct, purposive: 'to make/offer' — completing the triad of denied sacrificial purposesעָשָׂה (H6213) 'to do, make'; idiomatic of preparing/offering a sacrifice.
עָלָיו֙on itprep עַל + 3ms suffix · עַל (H5921)Locative prepositional phrase, complement of לַעֲשׂוֹתעַל (H5921) with 3ms suffix, again referring to the altar.
זִבְחֵ֣יsacrifices ofN m pl constr · זֶבַח (H2077)Object of לַעֲשׂוֹת, head of construct chainזֶבַח (H2077) 'sacrifice'; construct before שְׁלָמִים.
שְׁלָמִ֔יםpeace offeringsN m pl abs · שֶׁלֶם (H8002)Genitive complement of זִבְחֵי (construct chain)שֶׁלֶם (H8002) 'peace/fellowship offering'; the third named sacrifice-type, completing the triad (burnt, grain, peace) — all explicitly denied as this altar's purpose.
יְהוָ֖הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Fronted subject of יְבַקֵּשׁ (emphatic)יְהוָה (H3068); fronted for emphasis before the self-imprecatory verb.
ה֥וּאheindependent pron 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Resumptive emphatic pronoun, subject of יְבַקֵּשׁהוּא (H1931), emphatic resumption of יְהוָה — 'may HE himself require it'.
יְבַקֵּֽשׁlet him requirePiel yiqtol 3ms · בִּקֵּשׁ (H1245)Predicate verb (main clause, apodosis of the self-imprecation)→ Yiqtol, volitional/jussive-like force: 'let him require [it]' — a self-curse inviting YHWH's own reckoningבִּקֵּשׁ (H1245) 'to seek, require', Piel; here 'call to account' — the oath's climactic self-curse, echoing תּוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ (v.22).
24

וְאִם לֹ֤א מִדְּאָגָה֙ מִדָּבָ֔ר עָשִׂ֥ינוּ אֶת זֹ֖את לֵאמֹ֑ר מָחָ֗ר יֹאמְר֨וּ בְנֵיכֶ֤ם לְבָנֵ֨ינוּ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר מַה לָּכֶ֕ם וְלַֽיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

No — rather, we did this out of anxiety, over a concern, saying: 'In time to come your sons might say to our sons, "What have you to do with YHWH, the God of Israel?"

The real motive disclosedasyndeton
The oath's negative denials give way to positive explanation: not rebellion but דְּאָגָה, 'anxiety' — fear that the Jordan itself would one day be read as a theological, not merely geographic, boundary excluding their descendants from YHWH.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
וְאִםbut ratherconj וְ + conj · אִם (H518)Adversative conditional particle opening a new self-clearing statementאִם (H518) with לֹא forms the idiom 'if not...' = a strong adversative, 'No, but rather...' introducing the true motive.
לֹ֤אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates the implied contrast (idiomatic 'no, but')לֹא (H3808); with אִם forms the adversative idiom denying the accusation before restating the real motive.
מִדְּאָגָה֙out of anxietyprep מִן + N f sg abs · דְּאָגָה (H1674)Causal prepositional phrase, first causeדְּאָגָה (H1674) 'anxiety, worry, care', from דָּאַג; the emotional motive named directly — the delegation's confrontation has genuinely frightened them, not merely offended them legally.
מִדָּבָ֔רover a matterprep מִן + N m sg abs · דָּבָר (H1697)Causal prepositional phrase, second cause (in apposition to מִדְּאָגָה)דָּבָר (H1697) 'word, matter, thing'; paired with דְּאָגָה — 'out of anxiety, over a specific concern' (namely, the fear articulated in vv.24b-25).
עָשִׂ֥ינוּwe didQal perf 1cp · עָשָׂה (H6213)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Perfective: a completed act now being explained — the altar-building already accomplishedעָשָׂה (H6213) 'to do, make'; the act (building the altar) is not denied, only its rebellious purpose.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi marking זֹאת as direct object.
זֹ֖אתthisdemonstrative pron f sg · זֹאת (H2063)Direct object of עָשִׂינוּזֹאת (H2063) 'this' (f.); refers back to the altar-building of the whole episode.
לֵאמֹ֑רsayingprep לְ + Qal inf constr · אָמַר (H559)Infinitive construct introducing quoted internal reasoning→ Infinitive construct: introduces direct discourse — their inner reasoning, not spoken aloud at the timeאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; לֵאמֹר here introduces the tribes' anticipated fear as reported thought, the rationale behind the altar.
מָחָ֗רtomorrowN m sg abs · מָחָר (H4279)Adverbial accusative of time, fronted in the quoted clauseמָחָר (H4279) 'tomorrow'; the anticipated future moment when identity might be challenged — echoes the anxiety of unbroken continuity across the Jordan divide.
יֹאמְר֨וּmight sayQal yiqtol 3mp · אָמַר (H559)Predicate verb (main clause of the quoted fear)→ Yiqtol, modal: 'might say' — a feared future possibility, not a certain eventאָמַר (H559); imperfect expressing the hypothetical future speech the tribes fear.
בְנֵיכֶ֤םyour sonsN m pl constr + 2mp suffix · בֵּן (H1121)Subject of יֹאמְרוּבֵּן (H1121) 'son'; 'your sons' — the western tribes' descendants, the feared future speakers.
לְבָנֵ֨ינוּ֙to our sonsprep לְ + N m pl constr + 1cp suffix · בֵּן (H1121)Indirect object of יֹאמְרוּבֵּן (H1121); 'to our sons' — the eastern tribes' own descendants, the feared addressees of exclusion.
לֵאמֹ֔רsayingprep לְ + Qal inf constr · אָמַר (H559)Infinitive construct introducing the quoted speech itself→ Infinitive construct: introduces the innermost direct quotationאָמַר (H559); second לֵאמֹר nests the actual words feared to be spoken.
מַהwhatinterrogative pron · מָה (H4100)Interrogative pronoun, predicate of the quoted questionמָה (H4100) 'what?'; opens the rhetorical question of exclusion, 'what have you to do with...?'
לָּכֶ֕םhave youprep לְ + 2mp suffix · לְPrepositional phrase, dative of possession/interest completing the idiom מַה לָּכֶםלְ with 2mp suffix; מַה לָּכֶם וְ... is the idiom 'what have you to do with...?' (cf. Judg 11:12) — a formula of estrangement and exclusion.
וְלַֽיהוָ֖הand with YHWHconj וְ + prep לְ + N proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Prepositional phrase, second term of the idiom מַה...וְיְהוָה (H3068); the feared accusation excludes the eastern tribes specifically from YHWH — striking at the heart of their identity as covenant people.
אֱלֹהֵ֥יthe God ofN m pl constr · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָה, constructאֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God'; in construct, 'the God of Israel' — apposition specifying YHWH's identity.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽלIsraelN proper · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive complement of אֱלֹהֵייִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478); closes the feared accusation — the very charge of exclusion from Israel's God that the eastern tribes dread.
25

וּגְב֣וּל נָֽתַן יְ֠הוָה בֵּינֵ֨נוּ וּבֵינֵיכֶ֜ם בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵ֤ן וּבְנֵי גָד֙ אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן אֵין לָכֶ֥ם חֵ֖לֶק בַּֽיהוָ֑ה וְהִשְׁבִּ֤יתוּ בְנֵיכֶם֙ אֶת בָּנֵ֔ינוּ לְבִלְתִּ֖י יְרֹ֥א אֶת יְהוָֽה

'YHWH has made the Jordan a border between us and you, O sons of Reuben and sons of Gad — you have no portion in YHWH!' So your sons would make our sons cease fearing YHWH.

The feared future accusation (quoted within the defense)asyndeton
The tribes voice, in direct quotation, the very words they dread hearing from their western kin — that the Jordan bars them from any 'portion in YHWH.' This nested quotation makes their anxiety concrete and sympathetic rather than abstract.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
וּגְב֣וּלand a borderconj וְ + N m sg abs · גְּבוּל (H1366)Fronted object of נָתַן (continuing the quoted speech)גְּבוּל (H1366) 'border, boundary'; fronted for emphasis — the feared accusation's core claim, that the Jordan itself severs covenant unity.
נָֽתַןhas madeQal perf 3ms · נָתַן (H5414)Predicate verb of the quoted accusation→ Perfective: stated as accomplished fact within the feared speech — 'YHWH HAS made...'נָתַן (H5414) 'to give, set, make'; the feared future speech attributes theological significance to the Jordan as though YHWH himself ordained the tribes' exclusion.
יְ֠הוָהYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of נָתַןיְהוָה (H3068); subject of the feared, false claim — the western sons would invoke YHWH's own authority to exclude their eastern kin.
בֵּינֵ֨נוּbetween usprep בֵּין + 1cp suffix · בֵּין (H996)Locative prepositional phrase, complement of נָתַןבֵּין (H996) 'between'; marks the Jordan as boundary between the speaker (western) and addressee (eastern) groups.
וּבֵינֵיכֶ֜םand youconj וְ + prep בֵּין + 2mp suffix · בֵּין (H996)Coordinated locative prepositional phraseבֵּין (H996), repeated with 2mp suffix, completing 'between us and you'.
בְּנֵיsons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Vocative, in apposition to the addressees (בֵּינֵיכֶם)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; vocative address, 'O sons of Reuben...' — the feared speech names the eastern tribes directly, as if disowning kinship.
רְאוּבֵ֤ןReubenN proper · רְאוּבֵן (H7205)Genitive complement of בְּנֵי (vocative construct)רְאוּבֵן (H7205).
וּבְנֵיand sons ofconj וְ + N m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Coordinated vocative constructבֵּן (H1121); 'and sons of Gad', completing the vocative address.
גָד֙GadN proper · גָּד (H1410)Genitive complement of וּבְנֵיגָּד (H1410).
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), marking הַיַּרְדֵּן as the definite direct object of נָתַן.
הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ןthe Jordanart + N proper · יַרְדֵּן (H3383)Direct object of נָתַןיַרְדֵּן (H3383) 'Jordan'; the river itself is cast, in the feared speech, as a theological as well as geographic boundary — the crux of the eastern tribes' anxiety.
אֵיןthere is nonegative existential particle · אַיִן (H369)Predicate of negative existence, opening the feared verdictאַיִן (H369) 'there is not'; introduces the feared speech's blunt verdict of exclusion.
לָכֶ֥םto youprep לְ + 2mp suffix · לְPrepositional phrase, dative of possession with אֵיןלְ with 2mp suffix; 'you have no...' — idiom of negated possession.
חֵ֖לֶקportionN m sg abs · חֵלֶק (H2506)Subject of the existential negation אֵיןחֵלֶק (H2506) 'portion, share'; the feared verdict's key term — the eastern tribes' total exclusion from covenant standing, not merely land.
בַּֽיהוָ֑הin YHWHprep בְּ + N proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Prepositional phrase specifying the scope of חֵלֶקיְהוָה (H3068); 'no portion IN YHWH' — exclusion not from land or tribe but from the deity himself, the deepest possible severance.
וְהִשְׁבִּ֤יתוּand they would make ceaseconj וְ + Hiphil perf 3cp · שָׁבַת (H7673)Predicate verb (main clause, resuming the narrator's own voice — the feared consequence)→ Perfective (rhetorical future/potential), Hiphil, causative: 'and they would make [our sons] cease'; states the dreaded ultimate outcomeשָׁבַת (H7673) 'to cease, rest', Hiphil 'to cause to cease'; the verse's climactic verb — the feared speech, if spoken and believed, would sever the next generation's worship entirely.
בְנֵיכֶם֙your sonsN m pl constr + 2mp suffix · בֵּן (H1121)Subject of וְהִשְׁבִּיתוּבֵּן (H1121); the western sons, now agents of the feared spiritual severance of their eastern kin.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), marking בָּנֵינוּ as direct object.
בָּנֵ֔ינוּour sonsN m pl constr + 1cp suffix · בֵּן (H1121)Direct object of וְהִשְׁבִּיתוּבֵּן (H1121); the eastern sons, the feared victims of severed worship — the delegation's true fear articulated fully.
לְבִלְתִּ֖יfromprep לְ + conj · בִּלְתִּי (H1115)Negative purpose/result particle governing the infinitive יְרֹאבִּלְתִּי (H1115) 'not, except'; with לְ forms a negative purpose clause, 'so as not to...'.
יְרֹ֥אfearingQal inf constr · יָרֵא (H3372)Infinitive construct, object of לְבִלְתִּי→ Infinitive construct, negative purpose: 'from fearing' — the feared cessation of covenant worship itselfיָרֵא (H3372) 'to fear'; 'fear of YHWH' is the fundamental posture of covenant piety (Deut 6:2) — its loss is the delegation's ultimate dread.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), marking יְהוָה as the object of יְרֹא.
יְהוָֽהYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Direct object of יְרֹאיְהוָה (H3068); closes the feared scenario — the loss of fearing YHWH himself, the deepest possible spiritual catastrophe the altar is meant to forestall.
26

וַנֹּ֕אמֶר נַעֲשֶׂה נָּ֣א לָ֔נוּ לִבְנ֖וֹת אֶת הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ לֹ֥א לְעוֹלָ֖ה וְלֹ֥א לְזָֽבַח

So we said, 'Let us go ahead and build the altar for ourselves — not for burnt offering nor for sacrifice —

The tribes' own account of their resolve beginsasyndeton
Returning to their own voice, the tribes recount their decision (cohortative נַעֲשֶׂה) and immediately deny the two illegitimate cultic uses, echoing v.23's denials from the accused party's own perspective.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
וַנֹּ֕אמֶרand we saidconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 1cp · אָמַר (H559)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence, resuming the delegation's own account)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the tribes now recount their own decision and wordsאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; introduces the tribes' own explanatory speech, contrasted with the feared speech just quoted (vv.24-25).
נַעֲשֶׂהlet us actQal cohortative 1cp · עָשָׂה (H6213)Predicate verb (cohortative, main clause of the quoted resolve)→ Cohortative: self-exhortation — 'let us act', expressing the tribes' own deliberated resolveעָשָׂה (H6213) 'to do, make'; cohortative expresses communal decision-making, the resolve behind the altar's construction.
נָּ֣אpleaseparticle of entreaty · נָא (H4994)Particle of entreaty/emphasis, reinforcing the cohortativeנָא (H4994), particle of entreaty or logical sequence; adds urgency/deliberateness to the cohortative resolve.
לָ֔נוּfor ourselvesprep לְ + 1cp suffix · לְEthical dative complementing נַעֲשֶׂהלְ with 1cp suffix, dative of interest.
לִבְנ֖וֹתto buildprep לְ + Qal inf constr · בָּנָה (H1129)Infinitive construct, epexegetical to נַעֲשֶׂה (explains the intended action)→ Infinitive construct, epexegetical: specifies the resolved act — 'namely, to build'בָּנָה (H1129) 'to build'; the tribes' own account of what they in fact resolved to do.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), marking הַמִּזְבֵּחַ as direct object.
הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַthe altarart + N m sg abs · מִזְבֵּחַ (H4196)Direct object of לִבְנוֹתמִזְבֵּחַ (H4196) 'altar', now with definite article — 'the altar' already known from the narrative (vv.10-11).
לֹ֥אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates the purpose clause לְעוֹלָהלֹא (H3808), opening the first of the altar's denied purposes.
לְעוֹלָ֖הfor burnt offeringprep לְ + N f sg abs · עוֹלָה (H5930)Prepositional phrase of purpose, negatedעוֹלָה (H5930) 'burnt offering'; explicitly denied purpose, restating v.23's disavowal in the tribes' own retrospective account.
וְלֹ֥אnorconj וְ + negative particle · לֹא (H3808)Coordinating negative particleלֹא (H3808), coordinated second negation.
לְזָֽבַחfor sacrificeprep לְ + N m sg abs · זֶבַח (H2077)Prepositional phrase of purpose, negated (coordinate with לְעוֹלָה)זֶבַח (H2077) 'sacrifice'; second denied purpose, paired with עוֹלָה — the altar was never meant for any sacrificial use.
27

כִּי֩ עֵ֨ד ה֜וּא בֵּינֵ֣ינוּ וּבֵינֵיכֶ֗ם וּבֵ֣ין דֹּרוֹתֵינוּ֮ אַחֲרֵינוּ֒ לַעֲבֹ֞ד אֶת עֲבֹדַ֤ת יְהוָה֙ לְפָנָ֔יו בְּעֹלוֹתֵ֥ינוּ וּבִזְבָחֵ֖ינוּ וּבִשְׁלָמֵ֑ינוּ וְלֹא יֹאמְר֨וּ בְנֵיכֶ֤ם מָחָר֙ לְבָנֵ֔ינוּ אֵין לָכֶ֥ם חֵ֖לֶק בַּיהוָֽה

but as a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we may perform the service of YHWH before him with our burnt offerings, our sacrifices, and our peace offerings — so that your sons will not say to our sons in time to come, 'You have no portion in YHWH.'

The altar's true purpose named — witnessasyndeton
עֵד, 'witness', is introduced as the altar's actual function: a permanent, visible guarantee — spanning present and future generations — of the eastern tribes' continuing right to worship YHWH, precisely so the feared exclusion-formula of v.25 will never be true.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
כִּי֩butconj · כִּי (H3588)Adversative/explanatory conjunction, introducing the altar's true purposeכִּי (H3588) 'that, because, but'; here adversative after the negations of v.26 — 'but rather'.
עֵ֨דa witnessN m sg abs · עֵד (H5707)Predicate noun (the altar's true identity/function)עֵד (H5707) 'witness'; the chapter's key theological term — the altar functions as testimony, not as a rival cultic site (cf. Gen 31:44-52, the Mizpah/Galeed pattern).
ה֜וּאit [is]independent pron 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Copular pronoun linking מִזְבֵּחַ (implied) to עֵדהוּא (H1931), copula — 'it [the altar] is a witness'.
בֵּינֵ֣ינוּbetween usprep בֵּין + 1cp suffix · בֵּין (H996)Locative prepositional phrase, scope of the witnessבֵּין (H996) 'between'; the altar's testimonial scope, first term.
וּבֵינֵיכֶ֗םand youconj וְ + prep בֵּין + 2mp suffix · בֵּין (H996)Coordinated locative prepositional phraseבֵּין (H996), second term — 'between us and you', the two tribal groups.
וּבֵ֣יןand betweenconj וְ + prep · בֵּין (H996)Coordinated locative preposition, opening a third scope-termבֵּין (H996), extended to a third term — the witness spans not just the present generation but future ones.
דֹּרוֹתֵינוּ֮our generationsN m pl constr + 1cp suffix · דּוֹר (H1755)Object of וּבֵיןדּוֹר (H1755) 'generation'; the altar's witness is designed to outlast the present dispute, testifying to descendants not yet born.
אַחֲרֵינוּ֒after usprep אַחַר + 1cp suffix · אַחַר (H310)Adverbial prepositional phrase modifying דֹּרוֹתֵינוּאַחַר (H310) 'after'; 'our generations after us' — the altar as an intergenerational monument, its purpose extending forward in time.
לַעֲבֹ֞דto performprep לְ + Qal inf constr · עָבַד (H5647)Infinitive construct, purpose clause explaining the witness function→ Infinitive construct, purposive: 'so that we may perform/serve' — the positive purpose the witness securesעָבַד (H5647) 'to serve, work'; here cultic service — the altar guarantees the eastern tribes' continued right to worship YHWH.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), marking עֲבֹדַת as direct object.
עֲבֹדַ֤תthe service ofN f sg constr · עֲבֹדָה (H5656)Direct object of לַעֲבֹד, constructעֲבֹדָה (H5656) 'service, worship', cognate with עָבַד; 'the service of YHWH' names the legitimate cultic activity the altar-witness protects.
יְהוָה֙YHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive complement of עֲבֹדַתיְהוָה (H3068).
לְפָנָ֔יוbefore himprep לְ + N com pl constr + 3ms suffix · פָּנִים (H6440)Locative prepositional phrase modifying לַעֲבֹדפָּנִים (H6440) 'face'; לִפְנֵי idiom 'before, in the presence of' — cultic service is properly performed in YHWH's presence, i.e., at the central sanctuary, which the eastern tribes affirm even while living apart from it.
בְּעֹלוֹתֵ֥ינוּwith our burnt offeringsprep בְּ + N f pl constr + 1cp suffix · עוֹלָה (H5930)Instrumental/accompanying prepositional phraseעוֹלָה (H5930) 'burnt offering', plural with suffix; the first of three offering-types the tribes will bring — but to the legitimate altar, not this one.
וּבִזְבָחֵ֖ינוּand our sacrificesconj וְ + prep בְּ + N m pl constr + 1cp suffix · זֶבַח (H2077)Coordinated instrumental prepositional phraseזֶבַח (H2077) 'sacrifice', plural with suffix; second offering-type.
וּבִשְׁלָמֵ֑ינוּand our peace offeringsconj וְ + prep בְּ + N m pl constr + 1cp suffix · שֶׁלֶם (H8002)Coordinated instrumental prepositional phraseשֶׁלֶם (H8002) 'peace offering', plural with suffix; third and final offering-type, completing the triad already denied of THIS altar (v.23) but affirmed of the legitimate one.
וְלֹאso that notconj וְ + negative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative purpose/result particle, coordinated final clauseלֹא (H3808), introducing the second, negative purpose of the witness — to prevent future exclusion.
יֹאמְר֨וּwill sayQal yiqtol 3mp · אָמַר (H559)Predicate verb (negated purpose clause)→ Yiqtol, negated purpose: 'so that ... will not say' — the altar's preventive function against future estrangementאָמַר (H559); the same feared speech of v.24 recurs, now as what the witness-altar is meant to forestall.
בְנֵיכֶ֤םyour sonsN m pl constr + 2mp suffix · בֵּן (H1121)Subject of יֹאמְרוּבֵּן (H1121); the feared future speakers, as in v.24.
מָחָר֙tomorrowN m sg abs · מָחָר (H4279)Adverbial accusative of timeמָחָר (H4279) 'tomorrow'; repeats v.24's temporal anxiety.
לְבָנֵ֔ינוּto our sonsprep לְ + N m pl constr + 1cp suffix · בֵּן (H1121)Indirect object of יֹאמְרוּבֵּן (H1121); the feared addressees, as in v.24.
אֵיןthere is nonegative existential particle · אַיִן (H369)Predicate of negative existence, the feared verdict quoted againאַיִן (H369), introducing the same feared exclusion-formula as v.25.
לָכֶ֥םto youprep לְ + 2mp suffix · לְPrepositional phrase, dative of possessionלְ with 2mp suffix.
חֵ֖לֶקportionN m sg abs · חֵלֶק (H2506)Subject of the existential negation אֵיןחֵלֶק (H2506) 'portion, share'; the exclusion-formula's key term, repeated verbatim from v.25 — the altar's whole purpose is to prevent this very sentence from ever being truthfully spoken.
בַּיהוָֽהin YHWHprep בְּ + N proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Prepositional phrase specifying the scope of חֵלֶקיְהוָה (H3068); closes the verse on the feared exclusion the altar-witness is built to refute forever.
28

וַנֹּ֕אמֶר וְהָיָ֗ה כִּֽי יֹאמְר֥וּ אֵלֵ֛ינוּ וְאֶל דֹּרֹתֵ֖ינוּ מָחָ֑ר וְאָמַ֡רְנוּ רְא֣וּ אֶת תַּבְנִית֩ מִזְבַּ֨ח יְהוָ֜ה אֲשֶׁר עָשׂ֣וּ אֲבוֹתֵ֗ינוּ לֹ֤א לְעוֹלָה֙ וְלֹ֣א לְזֶ֔בַח כִּי עֵ֣ד ה֔וּא בֵּינֵ֖ינוּ וּבֵינֵיכֶֽם

So we said, 'If they say this to us or to our generations in time to come, we will answer: Look at the pattern of the altar of YHWH that our fathers made — not for burnt offering nor for sacrifice, but as a witness between us and you.'

The rehearsed reply for future generationsasyndeton
The tribes describe a contingency plan: should the accusation recur, their descendants will point to the altar's very תַּבְנִית ('pattern, replica') as self-evident proof of intent — modeled deliberately on the Shiloh altar so its form itself testifies against misuse.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
וַנֹּ֕אמֶרand we saidconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 1cp · אָמַר (H559)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; introduces the tribes' contingency plan for future generations.
וְהָיָ֗הand it would beconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb, protasis marker of a future conditional→ Weqatal: introduces a future contingent scenario — 'and it shall be that...'הָיָה (H1961) 'to be, happen'; weqatal opening a conditional sequence, 'if/when it happens that...'.
כִּֽיthatconj · כִּי (H3588)Subordinating conjunction introducing the conditional clause's contentכִּי (H3588) 'that, when'; here temporal-conditional, 'when they say...'.
יֹאמְר֥וּthey sayQal yiqtol 3mp · אָמַר (H559)Predicate verb of the conditional clause→ Yiqtol, future/conditional: anticipates a possible future accusationאָמַר (H559); the anticipated future challenge, echoing vv.24,27.
אֵלֵ֛ינוּto usprep אֶל + 1cp suffix · אֶל (H413)Indirect object of יֹאמְרוּאֶל (H413) 'to'; marks the eastern tribes as addressees of the feared future challenge.
וְאֶלor toconj וְ + prep · אֶל (H413)Coordinated indirect objectאֶל (H413), extending the addressees to future generations.
דֹּרֹתֵ֖ינוּour generationsN m pl constr + 1cp suffix · דּוֹר (H1755)Object of וְאֶלדּוֹר (H1755) 'generation'; the contingency plan anticipates the challenge recurring across generations, matching v.27's temporal scope.
מָחָ֑רin time to comeN m sg abs · מָחָר (H4279)Adverbial accusative of timeמָחָר (H4279) 'tomorrow'; third occurrence of the recurring temporal anxiety-marker (vv.24,27,28).
וְאָמַ֡רְנוּthen we will sayconj וְ + Qal weqatal 1cp · אָמַר (H559)Predicate verb, apodosis of the conditional (weqatal)→ Weqatal: the resolved future response — 'then we will say...'אָמַר (H559); introduces the tribes' rehearsed defense-in-advance, to be spoken to future accusers.
רְא֣וּlook atQal impv 2mp · רָאָה (H7200)Predicate verb (imperative, opening the rehearsed reply)→ Imperative: a direct command addressed to the imagined future accusers — 'look!'רָאָה (H7200) 'to see'; imperative inviting inspection — the altar's very form is meant to be self-explanatory testimony.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), marking תַּבְנִית as direct object.
תַּבְנִית֩the pattern ofN f sg constr · תַּבְנִית (H8403)Direct object of רְאוּ, constructתַּבְנִית (H8403) 'pattern, form, model', from בָּנָה; a striking word — the altar is explicitly a replica, deliberately modeled on the legitimate altar so its form itself testifies to non-sacrificial intent (cf. the tabnit of the tabernacle furnishings, Exod 25:9).
מִזְבַּ֨חthe altar ofN m sg constr · מִזְבֵּחַ (H4196)Genitive complement of תַּבְנִית, constructמִזְבֵּחַ (H4196); the Shiloh altar, whose pattern this monument replicates.
יְהוָ֜הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive complement of מִזְבַּח (construct chain)יְהוָה (H3068).
אֲשֶׁרwhichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the clause modifying מִזְבַּח יְהוָהאֲשֶׁר (H834), relative particle.
עָשׂ֣וּmadeQal perf 3cp · עָשָׂה (H6213)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Perfective: a completed act in the recent past — the fathers' making of the pattern-altarעָשָׂה (H6213) 'to make'; the subject claims continuity with the just-completed construction, not innovation.
אֲבוֹתֵ֗ינוּour fathersN m pl constr + 1cp suffix · אָב (H1)Subject of עָשׂוּאָב (H1) 'father'; here the tribes speak of themselves, in the rehearsed future speech, as 'our fathers' — from the vantage of their yet-unborn descendants, a striking anticipatory self-reference.
לֹ֤אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates the purpose phrase לְעוֹלָהלֹא (H3808), repeating the denial of sacrificial purpose (cf. v.26).
לְעוֹלָה֙for burnt offeringprep לְ + N f sg abs · עוֹלָה (H5930)Prepositional phrase of purpose, negatedעוֹלָה (H5930), the denial restated a third time in the chapter.
וְלֹ֣אnorconj וְ + negative particle · לֹא (H3808)Coordinating negative particleלֹא (H3808).
לְזֶ֔בַחfor sacrificeprep לְ + N m sg abs · זֶבַח (H2077)Prepositional phrase of purpose, negated (coordinate)זֶבַח (H2077).
כִּיbutconj · כִּי (H3588)Adversative conjunction introducing the altar's true purposeכִּי (H3588), adversative, as in v.27.
עֵ֣דa witnessN m sg abs · עֵד (H5707)Predicate nounעֵד (H5707), repeating the chapter's key term.
ה֔וּאit [is]independent pron 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Copular pronounהוּא (H1931), copula.
בֵּינֵ֖ינוּbetween usprep בֵּין + 1cp suffix · בֵּין (H996)Locative prepositional phraseבֵּין (H996).
וּבֵינֵיכֶֽםand youconj וְ + prep בֵּין + 2mp suffix · בֵּין (H996)Coordinated locative prepositional phrase, closing the verseבֵּין (H996), closing the rehearsed defense with the same witness-formula as v.27.
29

חָלִילָה֩ לָּ֨נוּ מִמֶּ֜נּוּ לִמְרֹ֣ד בַּֽיהוָ֗ה וְלָשׁ֤וּב הַיּוֹם֙ מֵאַחֲרֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה לִבְנ֣וֹת מִזְבֵּ֔חַ לְעֹלָ֖ה לְמִנְחָ֣ה וּלְזָ֑בַח מִלְּבַ֗ד מִזְבַּח֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ אֲשֶׁ֖ר לִפְנֵ֥י מִשְׁכָּנֽוֹ

Far be it from us that we should rebel against YHWH and turn away this day from following YHWH by building an altar for burnt offering, grain offering, or sacrifice, besides the altar of YHWH our God that is before his tabernacle.'"

Closing disclaimer — the defense's climaxasyndeton
חָלִילָה, 'far be it', is Hebrew's strongest idiom of horrified repudiation; the tribes close by affirming the one legitimate altar as 'YHWH our God's' altar too — the unity of worship they are accused of breaking is precisely what they are trying to protect.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
חָלִילָה֩far be itinterjection · חָלִילָה (H2486)Interjection of strong denial, opening the closing disclaimerחָלִילָה (H2486) 'far be it, God forbid'; a strong idiomatic asseveration of horror at the suggestion (cf. Gen 18:25) — the chapter's emotional climax of self-clearing.
לָּ֨נוּfrom usprep לְ + 1cp suffix · לְPrepositional phrase, dative complement of חָלִילָהלְ with 1cp suffix; 'far be it FROM US' — idiomatic completion of the exclamation.
מִמֶּ֜נּוּfrom itprep מִן + 1cp suffix · מִן (H4480)Prepositional phrase reinforcing חָלִילָה (idiomatic intensifier)מִן (H4480) with 1cp suffix; an emphatic intensification of the disclaimer's force — 'far, far be it from us'.
לִמְרֹ֣דto rebelprep לְ + Qal inf constr · מָרַד (H4775)Infinitive construct, epexegetical to חָלִילָה (specifies what is unthinkable)→ Infinitive construct, epexegetical: names the horrifying possibility being categorically deniedמָרַד (H4775) 'to rebel'; the accusation-term from vv.16,18,19 now categorically repudiated.
בַּֽיהוָ֗הagainst YHWHprep בְּ + N proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Prepositional phrase, object of לִמְרֹדיְהוָה (H3068).
וְלָשׁ֤וּבand to turn awayconj וְ + prep לְ + Qal inf constr · שׁוּב (H7725)Infinitive construct, coordinate with לִמְרֹד→ Infinitive construct, epexegetical: second unthinkable possibility, paired with rebellionשׁוּב (H7725) 'to turn, return'; repeats v.23's 'turn away from following YHWH' — apostasy, now flatly disowned.
הַיּוֹם֙this dayart + N m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Adverbial accusative of timeיוֹם (H3117) 'day'; 'this very day' underscores the present moment's gravity — after everything just built and explained, no such turning has occurred.
מֵאַחֲרֵ֣יfrom followingprep מִן + prep · אַחַר (H310)Prepositional phrase, complement of לָשׁוּבאַחַר (H310), the apostasy-idiom repeated from v.23.
יְהוָ֔הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Object of the preposition מֵאַחֲרֵייְהוָה (H3068).
לִבְנ֣וֹתby buildingprep לְ + Qal inf constr · בָּנָה (H1129)Infinitive construct, epexegetical/means, specifying the disavowed means→ Infinitive construct: 'by building' — names the disavowed means of apostasyבָּנָה (H1129) 'to build'; restates the whole disputed act one final time, denying its illicit purpose categorically.
מִזְבֵּ֔חַan altarN m sg abs · מִזְבֵּחַ (H4196)Object of לִבְנוֹתמִזְבֵּחַ (H4196).
לְעֹלָ֖הfor burnt offeringprep לְ + N f sg abs · עֹלָה (H5930)Prepositional phrase of (denied) purposeעֹלָה (H5930), the denial's first term, repeated a final time.
לְמִנְחָ֣הfor grain offeringprep לְ + N f sg abs · מִנְחָה (H4503)Coordinated prepositional phrase of (denied) purposeמִנְחָה (H4503), second term.
וּלְזָ֑בַחor for sacrificeconj וְ + prep לְ + N m sg abs · זֶבַח (H2077)Coordinated prepositional phrase of (denied) purposeזֶבַח (H2077), third term, completing the triad of denied sacrificial purposes one last time.
מִלְּבַ֗דbesidesprep מִן + prep לְ + N m sg constr · בַּד (H905)Exceptive prepositional phrase introducing the one legitimate altarבַּד (H905) 'part, alone', with לְ+מִן 'apart from, besides'; sets the legitimate Shiloh altar as the sole exception, echoing v.19's מִבַּלְעֲדֵי.
מִזְבַּח֙the altar ofN m sg constr · מִזְבֵּחַ (H4196)Object of מִלְּבַד, constructמִזְבֵּחַ (H4196); the one legitimate altar named explicitly.
יְהוָ֣הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive complement of מִזְבַּחיְהוָה (H3068).
אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּour GodN m pl constr + 1cp suffix · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָהאֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God'; 'our God' — striking that the eastern tribes here affirm shared, not separate, deity, undercutting the very fear articulated in vv.24-25.
אֲשֶׁ֖רwhichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the clause locating the legitimate altarאֲשֶׁר (H834).
לִפְנֵ֥יis beforeprep לְ + N com pl constr · פָּנִים (H6440)Locative prepositional phrase, predicate of the relative clauseפָּנִים (H6440) 'face'; לִפְנֵי idiom 'before, in front of'.
מִשְׁכָּנֽוֹhis tabernacleN m sg constr + 3ms suffix · מִשְׁכָּן (H4908)Object of the preposition לִפְנֵימִשְׁכָּן (H4908) 'dwelling place, tabernacle', from שָׁכַן; names Shiloh's sanctuary as the sole legitimate site — the closing word of the tribes' entire defense, anchoring it precisely where the accusation began (v.19).
30

וַיִּשְׁמַ֞ע פִּֽינְחָ֣ס הַכֹּהֵ֗ן וּנְשִׂיאֵ֨י הָעֵדָ֜ה וְרָאשֵׁ֨י אַלְפֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֔וֹ אֶת הַ֨דְּבָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֧ר דִּבְּר֛וּ בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵ֥ן וּבְנֵי גָ֖ד וּבְנֵ֣י מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה וַיִּיטַ֖ב בְּעֵינֵיהֶֽם

When Phinehas the priest and the leaders of the congregation, the heads of the thousands of Israel who were with him, heard the words that the sons of Reuben, the sons of Gad, and the sons of Manasseh had spoken, it was good in their eyes.

Reception — the delegation is satisfiedasyndeton
The narrator reports the delegation's reaction directly: יָטַב בְּעֵינֵיהֶם, 'it was good in their eyes', the standard formula of approval, marking the crisis's turning point before Phinehas speaks.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
וַיִּשְׁמַ֞עand he heardconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · שָׁמַע (H8085)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance, marking the resolution's beginningשָׁמַע (H8085) 'to hear'; the delegation's reception of the defense — narrative pivot from speech to response.
פִּֽינְחָ֣סPhinehasN proper · פִּינְחָס (H6372)Subject of וַיִּשְׁמַעפִּינְחָס (H6372); Eleazar's son and Aaron's grandson, the zealous priest of Numbers 25, leader of the accusing delegation (v.13) — his satisfaction here (v.31) resolves the crisis.
הַכֹּהֵ֗ןthe priestart + N m sg abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Apposition to פִּינְחָסכֹּהֵן (H3548) 'priest'; his priestly office underscores the cultic authority behind the accusation and its resolution.
וּנְשִׂיאֵ֨יand the leaders ofconj וְ + N m pl constr · נָשִׂיא (H5387)Coordinated subject, constructנָשִׂיא (H5387) 'leader, chief, prince'; the tribal leaders accompanying Phinehas, as first named in v.14.
הָעֵדָ֜הthe congregationart + N f sg abs · עֵדָה (H5712)Genitive complement of נְשִׂיאֵיעֵדָה (H5712) 'congregation, assembly'; the same term used of the corporate body that suffered wrath after Achan's sin (v.20).
וְרָאשֵׁ֨יand the heads ofconj וְ + N m pl constr · רֹאשׁ (H7218)Coordinated subject, constructרֹאשׁ (H7218) 'head'; third element of the delegation's leadership, as in v.21.
אַלְפֵ֤יthe thousands ofcardinal number common pl constr · אֶלֶף (H505)Genitive complement of רָאשֵׁיאֶלֶף (H505) 'thousand'.
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙IsraelN proper · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive complement of אַלְפֵייִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478).
אֲשֶׁ֣רwhorelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the clause modifying the whole delegationאֲשֶׁר (H834).
אִתּ֔וֹwere with himprep אֵת + 3ms suffix · אֵת (H854)Predicate of the relative clause (accompanying)אֵת (H854) 'with'; identifies the leaders as accompanying Phinehas — the same delegation of v.14, now hearing the defense together.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), marking הַדְּבָרִים as direct object.
הַ֨דְּבָרִ֔יםthe wordsart + N m pl abs · דָּבָר (H1697)Direct object of וַיִּשְׁמַעדָּבָר (H1697) 'word, matter'; the content of the tribes' entire defense speech (vv.22-29), now summarized as a single object.
אֲשֶׁ֧רthatrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the clause modifying הַדְּבָרִיםאֲשֶׁר (H834).
דִּבְּר֛וּspokePiel perf 3cp · דָּבַר (H1696)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Perfective: a completed speech-act, the defense just concludedדָּבַר (H1696) 'to speak', Piel; refers back to the whole defense speech just delivered.
בְּנֵיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Subject of דִּבְּרוּבֵּן (H1121) 'son'.
רְאוּבֵ֥ןReubenN proper · רְאוּבֵן (H7205)Genitive complement of בְּנֵירְאוּבֵן (H7205).
וּבְנֵיand the sons ofconj וְ + N m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Coordinated subjectבֵּן (H1121).
גָ֖דGadN proper · גָּד (H1410)Genitive complement of וּבְנֵיגָּד (H1410).
וּבְנֵ֣יand the sons ofconj וְ + N m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Coordinated subject, note the shift to 'sons of Manasseh' rather than 'half-tribe'בֵּן (H1121); a slight variation in the chapter's formulaic tribal list.
מְנַשֶּׁ֑הManassehN proper · מְנַשֶּׁה (H4519)Genitive complement of וּבְנֵימְנַשֶּׁה (H4519).
וַיִּיטַ֖בand it was goodconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · יָטַב (H3190)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence, resolution)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the crisis's resolutionיָטַב (H3190) 'to be good, pleasing'; idiom יָטַב בְּעֵינֵי 'to be good/pleasing in the eyes of' — the delegation's satisfaction, the dramatic turning point of the whole chapter.
בְּעֵינֵיהֶֽםin their eyesprep בְּ + N com dual constr + 3mp suffix · עַיִן (H5869)Complement of וַיִּיטַב (idiom)עַיִן (H5869) 'eye'; idiomatic 'in their eyes/opinion' — completes the resolution formula.
31

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר פִּֽינְחָ֣ס בֶּן אֶלְעָזָ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֡ן אֶל בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵ֨ן וְאֶל בְּנֵי גָ֜ד וְאֶל בְּנֵ֣י מְנַשֶּׁ֗ה הַיּ֤וֹם יָדַ֨עְנוּ֙ כִּֽי בְתוֹכֵ֣נוּ יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹֽא מְעַלְתֶּ֥ם בַּֽיהוָ֖ה הַמַּ֣עַל הַזֶּ֑ה אָ֗ז הִצַּלְתֶּ֛ם אֶת בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מִיַּ֥ד יְהוָֽה

And Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest said to the sons of Reuben, the sons of Gad, and the sons of Manasseh, 'Today we know that YHWH is in our midst, because you have not committed this treachery against YHWH. Now you have delivered the sons of Israel from the hand of YHWH.'

Phinehas's verdict — crisis resolvedasyndeton
Phinehas's own words answer the oath of v.22 point for point: what the tribes swore, Israel's chief accuser now confirms as fact ('we know... you have not committed treachery'), and reframes the whole episode as deliverance rather than near-catastrophe — 'you have delivered the sons of Israel from the hand of YHWH.'
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
וַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he saidconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · אָמַר (H559)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; introduces Phinehas's climactic verdict-speech, resolving the chapter's central tension.
פִּֽינְחָ֣סPhinehasN proper · פִּינְחָס (H6372)Subject of וַיֹּאמֶרפִּינְחָס (H6372); repeated as speaker.
בֶּןson ofN m sg constr · בֵּן (H1121)Apposition to פִּינְחָס, constructבֵּן (H1121).
אֶלְעָזָ֣רEleazarN proper · אֶלְעָזָר (H499)Genitive complement of בֶּןאֶלְעָזָר (H499); Aaron's son and Israel's high priest, Phinehas's father — his full genealogy here lends the verdict maximal priestly authority.
הַכֹּהֵ֡ןthe priestart + N m sg abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Apposition to the whole nameכֹּהֵן (H3548).
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase, indirect objectאֶל (H413) 'to'.
בְּנֵיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Object of אֶל, constructבֵּן (H1121).
רְאוּבֵ֨ןReubenN proper · רְאוּבֵן (H7205)Genitive complementרְאוּבֵן (H7205).
וְאֶלand toconj וְ + prep · אֶל (H413)Coordinated prepositional phraseאֶל (H413), repeated for the second addressee group.
בְּנֵיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Object of וְאֶל, constructבֵּן (H1121).
גָ֜דGadN proper · גָּד (H1410)Genitive complementגָּד (H1410).
וְאֶלand toconj וְ + prep · אֶל (H413)Coordinated prepositional phraseאֶל (H413), third addressee group.
בְּנֵ֣יthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Object of וְאֶל, constructבֵּן (H1121).
מְנַשֶּׁ֗הManassehN proper · מְנַשֶּׁה (H4519)Genitive complement, closing the address formulaמְנַשֶּׁה (H4519).
הַיּ֤וֹםtodayart + N m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Adverbial accusative of time, fronted for emphasisיוֹם (H3117); 'today' opens Phinehas's verdict — the crisis is resolved in this very moment, echoing the chapter's recurring 'this day' formula (vv.3,17,22,29,34).
יָדַ֨עְנוּ֙we knowQal perf 1cp · יָדַע (H3045)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Perfective: a completed, decisive realization — the delegation's certainty is now settled factיָדַע (H3045) 'to know'; answers directly YHWH's and Israel's 'knowing' invoked in the oath of v.22 — the oath has achieved its purpose.
כִּֽיthatconj · כִּי (H3588)Subordinating conjunction introducing the content of יָדַעְנוּכִּי (H3588).
בְתוֹכֵ֣נוּin our midstprep בְּ + N m sg constr + 1cp suffix · תָּוֶךְ (H8432)Predicate prepositional phrase, complement of the copular clauseתָּוֶךְ (H8432) 'midst'; 'YHWH is in our midst' — the theological verdict at the heart of the resolution, confirming covenant unity restored.
יְהוָ֔הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of the copular clauseיְהוָה (H3068).
אֲשֶׁ֛רbecausecausal relative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Causal relative particle introducing the grounds for the verdictאֲשֶׁר (H834); here causal, 'in that, because'.
לֹֽאnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates מְעַלְתֶּםלֹא (H3808).
מְעַלְתֶּ֥םyou have committed treacheryQal perf 2mp · מָעַל (H4603)Predicate verb of the causal clause, negated→ Perfective negated: a completed non-act — definitively settling the accusation raised in v.16מָעַל (H4603); the key accusation-verb, now formally retracted by the accuser himself — the chapter's central verbal thread (vv.16,20,22,31) resolves here.
בַּֽיהוָ֖הagainst YHWHprep בְּ + N proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Prepositional phrase, object of מְעַלְתֶּםיְהוָה (H3068).
הַמַּ֣עַלtreacheryart + N m sg abs · מַעַל (H4604)Cognate accusative, internal object of מְעַלְתֶּם, with articleמַעַל (H4604), cognate noun, echoing v.16's הַמַּעַל.
הַזֶּ֑הthisart + demonstrative pron m sg · זֶה (H2088)Attributive demonstrative modifying הַמַּעַלזֶה (H2088).
אָ֗זthenadv · אָז (H227)Adverb marking logical consequence, opening the concluding clauseאָז (H227) 'then'; here drawing the conclusion — 'thus you have delivered...' — echoing the chapter's opening אָז (v.1), forming an inclusio.
הִצַּלְתֶּ֛םyou have deliveredHiphil perf 2mp · נָצַל (H5337)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Perfective, Hiphil: a completed, decisive act — their innocence itself constitutes the deliveranceנָצַל (H5337) 'to snatch away, deliver', Hiphil; a striking climax — by NOT building an idolatrous altar, the tribes have positively delivered the whole nation from divine wrath.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), marking בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל as direct object.
בְּנֵ֥יthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Direct object of הִצַּלְתֶּם, constructבֵּן (H1121).
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לIsraelN proper · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive complement of בְּנֵייִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478); the whole nation, whose corporate welfare (cf. Achan, v.20) was genuinely at stake.
מִיַּ֥דfrom the hand ofprep מִן + N com sg constr · יָד (H3027)Prepositional phrase, source/agentיָד (H3027) 'hand'; idiom for power/agency — deliverance from YHWH's own punishing hand, the wrath (קֶצֶף) feared throughout (vv.18,20).
יְהוָֽהYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive complement of מִיַּד, closing the verseיְהוָה (H3068); closes Phinehas's verdict on the note that began the whole crisis — YHWH's own potential wrath, now averted.
32

וַיָּ֣שָׁב פִּֽינְחָ֣ס בֶּן אֶלְעָזָ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֣ן וְהַנְּשִׂיאִ֡ים מֵאֵ֣ת בְּנֵֽי רְאוּבֵן֩ וּמֵאֵ֨ת בְּנֵי גָ֜ד מֵאֶ֧רֶץ הַגִּלְעָ֛ד אֶל אֶ֥רֶץ כְּנַ֖עַן אֶל בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיָּשִׁ֥בוּ אוֹתָ֖ם דָּבָֽר

Then Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest and the leaders returned from the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad, from the land of Gilead to the land of Canaan, to the sons of Israel, and brought back word to them.

The delegation's return journeyasyndeton
A short travel notice closes the diplomatic mission, framing it geographically (Gilead to Canaan) and formally (bringing back דָּבָר, 'word/report') — the same term used for the western tribes' initial alarm (v.11) is now the vehicle of its resolution.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
וַיָּ֣שָׁבand he returnedconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · שׁוּב (H7725)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceשׁוּב (H7725) 'to return'; marks the delegation's journey back west, mirroring their outward journey (v.13).
פִּֽינְחָ֣סPhinehasN proper · פִּינְחָס (H6372)Subject of וַיָּשָׁבפִּינְחָס (H6372).
בֶּןson ofN m sg constr · בֵּן (H1121)Apposition to פִּינְחָס, constructבֵּן (H1121).
אֶלְעָזָ֣רEleazarN proper · אֶלְעָזָר (H499)Genitive complement of בֶּןאֶלְעָזָר (H499).
הַכֹּהֵ֣ןthe priestart + N m sg abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Appositionכֹּהֵן (H3548).
וְהַנְּשִׂיאִ֡יםand the leadersconj וְ + art + N m pl abs · נָשִׂיא (H5387)Coordinated subjectנָשִׂיא (H5387); the accompanying tribal chiefs, as throughout (vv.14,30).
מֵאֵ֣תfromprep מִן + prep · אֵת (H854)Prepositional phrase marking source/separationאֵת (H854) 'with', with מִן; 'from with', i.e., 'away from' the eastern tribes.
בְּנֵֽיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Object of מֵאֵת, constructבֵּן (H1121).
רְאוּבֵן֩ReubenN proper · רְאוּבֵן (H7205)Genitive complementרְאוּבֵן (H7205).
וּמֵאֵ֨תand fromconj וְ + prep מִן + prep · אֵת (H854)Coordinated prepositional phraseאֵת (H854) 'with', with מִן; parallels מֵאֵת above (the OSHB source tags this occurrence as H853, a tagging artifact — see chapter text_note).
בְּנֵיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Object of וּמֵאֵת, constructבֵּן (H1121).
גָ֜דGadN proper · גָּד (H1410)Genitive complementגָּד (H1410).
מֵאֶ֧רֶץfrom the land ofprep מִן + N com sg constr · אֶרֶץ (H776)Prepositional phrase, sourceאֶרֶץ (H776) 'land'; departure point.
הַגִּלְעָ֛דGileadart + N proper · גִּלְעָד (H1568)Genitive complement of מֵאֶרֶץגִּלְעָד (H1568); the eastern territory settled by Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase, destinationאֶל (H413).
אֶ֥רֶץthe land ofN com sg constr · אֶרֶץ (H776)Object of אֶל, constructאֶרֶץ (H776).
כְּנַ֖עַןCanaanN proper · כְּנַעַן (H3667)Genitive complement of אֶרֶץכְּנַעַן (H3667); the western territory, destination of the return journey.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase, further specifying destinationאֶל (H413), pinpointing the report's recipients.
בְּנֵ֣יthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Object of אֶל, constructבֵּן (H1121).
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לIsraelN proper · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive complement of בְּנֵייִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478); the western assembly awaiting the delegation's report.
וַיָּשִׁ֥בוּand they brought backconj וַ + Hiphil wayyiqtol 3mp · שׁוּב (H7725)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence, Hiphil)→ Wayyiqtol, Hiphil: causative — 'they brought back/returned' a report, completing the diplomatic missionשׁוּב (H7725), Hiphil 'to bring back'; wordplay with וַיָּשָׁב (v.32a) — the delegation both 'returned' and 'brought back' word, a double use of the same root.
אוֹתָ֖םto themobj marker + 3mp suffix · אֵת (H853)Indirect recipient (double-accusative construction with דָּבָר)אֵת (H853) with 3mp suffix; here functioning as 'to them' — a double-accusative idiom, 'brought them back a word'.
דָּבָֽרwordN m sg abs · דָּבָר (H1697)Direct object of וַיָּשִׁבוּדָּבָר (H1697) 'word, report'; the content of the delegation's account to the western assembly, resolving the narrative tension.
33

וַיִּיטַ֣ב הַדָּבָ֗ר בְּעֵינֵי֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיְבָרֲכ֥וּ אֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְלֹ֣א אָמְר֗וּ לַעֲל֤וֹת עֲלֵיהֶם֙ לַצָּבָ֔א לְשַׁחֵת֙ אֶת הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֛ר בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵ֥ן וּבְנֵי גָ֖ד יֹשְׁבִ֥ים בָּֽהּ

The report was good in the eyes of the sons of Israel; and the sons of Israel blessed God, and did not speak of going up against them in war to destroy the land in which the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad were living.

National reception — praise, not warasyndeton
The chapter's threatened civil war (vv.12,33) is explicitly cancelled: the assembly's response moves from relief (יָטַב) to worship (וַיְבָרֲכוּ אֱלֹהִים) rather than mobilization — the crisis ends in blessing, not battle.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
וַיִּיטַ֣בand it was goodconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · יָטַב (H3190)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceיָטַב (H3190) 'to be good, pleasing'; repeating v.30's resolution-formula now for the western assembly as a whole.
הַדָּבָ֗רthe reportart + N m sg abs · דָּבָר (H1697)Subject of וַיִּיטַבדָּבָר (H1697); the delegation's word/report, just delivered (v.32).
בְּעֵינֵי֙in the eyes ofprep בְּ + N com dual constr · עַיִן (H5869)Complement of וַיִּיטַב (idiom)עַיִן (H5869).
בְּנֵ֣יthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Genitive complement, constructבֵּן (H1121).
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לIsraelN proper · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive complementיִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478); the whole nation now assured and at peace.
וַיְבָרֲכ֥וּand they blessedconj וַ + Piel wayyiqtol 3mp · בָּרַךְ (H1288)Predicate verb (main clause, Piel)→ Wayyiqtol, Piel: foregrounded narrative advance — a spontaneous act of worship closing the crisisבָּרַךְ (H1288) 'to bless', Piel; the nation's relief and gratitude turn immediately to praise of God, not merely satisfaction with the tribes.
אֱלֹהִ֖יםGodN m pl abs · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Direct object of וַיְבָרֲכוּאֱלֹהִים (H430); the whole crisis, from accusation to resolution, ends in doxology.
בְּנֵ֣יthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Subject of וַיְבָרֲכוּ (postposed), constructבֵּן (H1121).
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לIsraelN proper · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive complementיִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478).
וְלֹ֣אand did notconj וְ + negative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates אָמְרוּלֹא (H3808).
אָמְר֗וּspeakQal perf 3cp · אָמַר (H559)Predicate verb (main clause, negated)→ Perfective negated: a completed non-act — war was never proposed, confirming the crisis fully defusedאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; here 'propose, speak of' — the assembly explicitly did not entertain the military option that had loomed since v.12.
לַעֲל֤וֹתof going upprep לְ + Qal inf constr · עָלָה (H5927)Infinitive construct, object of אָמְרוּ (content of the unspoken proposal)→ Infinitive construct: names the disavowed military actionעָלָה (H5927) 'to go up'; idiomatic of mustering for war (cf. v.12's identical language, now explicitly retracted).
עֲלֵיהֶם֙against themprep עַל + 3mp suffix · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase, complement of לַעֲלוֹתעַל (H5921) with 3mp suffix, referring to the eastern tribes.
לַצָּבָ֔אto warprep לְ + art + N com sg abs · צָבָא (H6635)Prepositional phrase of purposeצָבָא (H6635) 'army, host, war'; the very mobilization threatened in v.12, now formally called off.
לְשַׁחֵת֙to destroyprep לְ + Piel inf constr · שָׁחַת (H7843)Infinitive construct, further purpose (Piel)→ Infinitive construct, Piel: purposive — names the devastation that would have resultedשָׁחַת (H7843) 'to destroy, ruin', Piel; the catastrophic civil war narrowly averted by the tribes' explanation.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), marking הָאָרֶץ as direct object of לְשַׁחֵת.
הָאָ֔רֶץthe landart + N com sg abs · אֶרֶץ (H776)Direct object of לְשַׁחֵתאֶרֶץ (H776); the eastern territory that would have been devastated by fratricidal war.
אֲשֶׁ֛רin whichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the clause modifying הָאָרֶץאֲשֶׁר (H834).
בְּנֵיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Subject of יֹשְׁבִים, constructבֵּן (H1121).
רְאוּבֵ֥ןReubenN proper · רְאוּבֵן (H7205)Genitive complementרְאוּבֵן (H7205).
וּבְנֵיand the sons ofconj וְ + N m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Coordinated subjectבֵּן (H1121).
גָ֖דGadN proper · גָּד (H1410)Genitive complementגָּד (H1410).
יֹשְׁבִ֥יםwere livingQal ptc mp · יָשַׁב (H3427)Predicate verb (participle, relative clause)→ Participle: ongoing state — the eastern tribes' settled residence, now secured and unthreatenedיָשַׁב (H3427) 'to dwell, sit, remain'; the peaceful conclusion — the land they inhabit, once threatened with holy war, remains theirs.
בָּֽהּin itprep בְּ + 3fs suffix · בְּLocative prepositional phrase, complement of יֹשְׁבִיםבְּ with 3fs suffix, referring back to הָאָרֶץ.
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וַֽיִּקְרְא֛וּ בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵ֥ן וּבְנֵי גָ֖ד לַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ כִּ֣י עֵ֥ד הוּא֙ בֵּֽינֹתֵ֔ינוּ כִּ֥י יְהוָ֖ה הָאֱלֹהִֽים

And the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad named the altar: 'It is a witness between us that YHWH is God.'

The altar named — closing confessionasyndeton
The chapter's key term עֵד receives its final use as the (elliptically expressed) name of the altar itself; the closing formula כִּי יְהוָה הָאֱלֹהִים, 'that YHWH is God', echoes 1 Kings 18:39 and states in miniature the shared conviction that has held the twelve tribes together throughout the crisis.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
וַֽיִּקְרְא֛וּand they namedconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3mp · קָרָא (H7121)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the chapter's closing act, formally naming the monumentקָרָא (H7121) 'to call, name'; קָרָא לְ is the standard naming-formula, but here the expected explicit name is grammatically elided — see note.
בְּנֵיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Subject of וַיִּקְרְאוּ, constructבֵּן (H1121).
רְאוּבֵ֥ןReubenN proper · רְאוּבֵן (H7205)Genitive complementרְאוּבֵן (H7205).
וּבְנֵיand the sons ofconj וְ + N m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Coordinated subjectבֵּן (H1121).
גָ֖דGadN proper · גָּד (H1410)Genitive complementגָּד (H1410).
לַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַthe altarprep לְ + art + N m sg abs · מִזְבֵּחַ (H4196)Object of the naming formula (with לְ)מִזְבֵּחַ (H4196), definite with article and inseparable preposition — the object being named, closing the chapter's central symbol.
כִּ֣י[a witness]conj · כִּי (H3588)Introduces the naming content, standing in for the missing explicit nameכִּי (H3588); the MT gives no separate proper name after לַמִּזְבֵּחַ — the following clause עֵד הוּא בֵּינֹתֵינוּ itself functions as (or explains) the name, an elliptical construction some traditions resolve by supplying 'Ed' (Witness) as a formal name (cf. LXX Μαρτύριον).
עֵ֥דa witnessN m sg abs · עֵד (H5707)Predicate noun, the substance of the altar's name/meaningעֵד (H5707); the chapter's key term returns for its final, defining use — the altar IS testimony, its whole meaning distilled into one word.
הוּא֙it [is]independent pron 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Copular pronounהוּא (H1931), copula linking the altar to its identity as witness.
בֵּֽינֹתֵ֔ינוּbetween usprep בֵּין (poetic בֵּינוֹת) + 1cp suffix · בֵּין (H996)Locative prepositional phrase, scope of the witnessבֵּין (H996), archaic/poetic form בֵּינוֹת with 1cp suffix — 'between us', the altar's testimonial scope, echoing vv.27-28.
כִּ֥יthatconj · כִּי (H3588)Subordinating conjunction introducing the content of the testimonyכִּי (H3588), here epexegetical — 'that YHWH is God', the substance the altar testifies to.
יְהוָ֖הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of the closing confessionיְהוָה (H3068).
הָאֱלֹהִֽיםis Godart + N m pl abs · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Predicate noun, with article (emphatic identity statement)אֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God', with definite article — 'YHWH IS God' (not merely a god), the chapter's climactic confession of monotheistic loyalty, echoing 1 Kings 18:39's identical formula at Carmel.