הָב֥וּ לָכֶ֛ם שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה אֲנָשִׁ֖ים לַשָּׁ֑בֶט וְאֶשְׁלָחֵ֗ם וְיָקֻ֜מוּ וְיִֽתְהַלְּכ֥וּ בָאָ֛רֶץ וְיִכְתְּב֥וּ אֹותָ֛הּ לְפִ֥י נַֽחֲלָתָ֖ם וְיָבֹ֥אוּ אֵלָֽי׃
Provide for yourselves three men for each tribe, and I will send them, and they shall arise and walk through the land and write it according to their inheritance, and they shall return to me.
Explanation of Feature
This verse from Joshua 18:4 presents a rich combination of imperatives, coordinated wayyiqtol verbs, and an infinitive phrase expressing purpose. The passage outlines a step-by-step procedure for land surveying, with verbs clearly sequenced through the wayyiqtol form.
The verse begins with an imperative: הָבוּ (“provide” or “select”), a second-person masculine plural command. This is followed by a series of wayyiqtol verbs that narrate what will happen once the instruction is carried out.
Examples from Joshua 18:4
| Verb or Phrase | Form & Parsing | Function |
|---|---|---|
| הָבוּ | Imperative, Qal, 2mp | Command: “Provide” or “Select” (men from each tribe) |
| וְאֶשְׁלָחֵם | Wayyiqtol, Qal, 1cs + 3mp suffix | “And I will send them” – promise of action following the imperative |
| וְיָקֻמוּ וְיִתְהַלְּכוּ | Wayyiqtol, Qal, 3mp | “And they shall arise and walk” – sequential narrative of their activity |
| וְיִכְתְּבוּ אֹותָהּ | Wayyiqtol, Qal, 3mp + obj. suffix | “And they shall write it” – i.e., describe or record the land |
| לְפִי נַחֲלָתָם | Preposition + noun in construct + suffix | “According to their inheritance” – purpose or standard for the writing |
| וְיָבֹאוּ אֵלָי | Wayyiqtol, Qal, 3mp + preposition + suffix | “And they shall come to me” – final step in the process |
Related Grammatical Insight
– Imperative followed by wayyiqtol: Hebrew often places a command first and then narrates the expected outcome with wayyiqtol forms.
– Wayyiqtol verbs express sequential actions or a procedure, especially in instructions or narratives.
– Infinitive purpose phrases (like לְפִי נַחֲלָתָם) provide the criteria or aim for the preceding action.
This verse demonstrates how Hebrew syntax tightly links command, action, and purpose in legal or procedural contexts, especially concerning land division in the tribal system.
