Introduction to Joshua 14:4
Joshua 14:4 is part of the allotment of land among the Israelite tribes, specifically highlighting the inheritance of the descendants of יֹוסֵף (Yosef). The verse explains that Yosef’s sons, מְנַשֶּׁה (Menashsheh) and אֶפְרָיִם (Efrayim), were counted as two separate tribes, making up two of the twelve tribal allocations. It also clarifies that the Levites did not receive a land inheritance but were given cities and pasturelands.
Grammatically, this verse presents an important example of construct chains (סְמִיכוּת), a fundamental feature of Biblical Hebrew syntax. Construct chains in Hebrew establish relationships between nouns, indicating possession, association, or description. Understanding these structures helps in properly interpreting the relationships between entities in the text.
כִּֽי־הָי֧וּ בְנֵֽי־יֹוסֵ֛ף שְׁנֵ֥י מַטֹּ֖ות מְנַשֶּׁ֣ה וְאֶפְרָ֑יִם וְלֹֽא־נָתְנוּ֩ חֵ֨לֶק לַלְוִיִּ֜ם בָּאָ֗רֶץ כִּ֤י אִם־עָרִים֙ לָשֶׁ֔בֶת וּמִ֨גְרְשֵׁיהֶ֔ם לְמִקְנֵיהֶ֖ם וּלְקִנְיָנָֽם׃
Analysis of Key Words/Phrases
1. בְנֵֽי־יֹוסֵף (bənē-Yosef) – “The sons of Yosef”: A classic example of a construct chain, where the noun בְנֵי (bənē, “sons of”) is in the construct state and linked to the proper noun יֹוסֵף (Yosef), forming a possessive meaning—”the sons of Yosef.”
2. שְׁנֵי מַטֹּות (shənē matṭōt) – “Two tribes”: Another construct chain, where the number שְׁנֵי (shənē, “two of”) governs מַטֹּות (matṭōt, “tribes”), forming “two tribes.”
3. חֵלֶק לַלְוִיִּם (ḥēleq laləwiyyim) – “A portion for the Levites”: The noun חֵלֶק (ḥēleq, “portion”) governs the plural noun לַלְוִיִּם (laləwiyyim, “for the Levites”), establishing a possessive relationship—”the portion of the Levites.”
4. מִגְרְשֵׁיהֶם לְמִקְנֵיהֶם (migrəshēhem ləmiqənēhem) – “Their pasturelands for their livestock”: A complex construct chain where מִגְרְשֵׁיהֶם (migrəshēhem, “their pasturelands”) is in construct form, governing לְמִקְנֵיהֶם (ləmiqənēhem, “for their livestock”).
Explanation of Grammatical Function
1. Construct Chains as a Key Feature in Biblical Hebrew
Construct chains (סְמִיכוּת) are a defining feature of Hebrew syntax, where two or more nouns are linked together to show possession, qualification, or association. The first noun in the chain (the “construct form”) is grammatically dependent on the final noun, which is in the absolute state. The meaning is typically translated as “X of Y.”
In this verse, several construct chains appear:
– בְנֵי־יֹוסֵף (bənē-Yosef) = “the sons of Yosef”
– שְׁנֵי מַטֹּות (shənē matṭōt) = “two tribes”
– חֵלֶק לַלְוִיִּם (ḥēleq laləwiyyim) = “the portion of the Levites”
– מִגְרְשֵׁיהֶם לְמִקְנֵיהֶם (migrəshēhem ləmiqənēhem) = “their pasturelands for their livestock”
2. Construct Chains and the Absence of Definite Articles
A unique rule of construct chains is that if the final noun is definite (with ה or a proper name), the entire chain is definite. For example, בְנֵי־יֹוסֵף (bənē-Yosef) does not need the definite article הַ to mean “the sons of Yosef” because the proper noun Yosef makes the phrase definite.
However, if the final noun is indefinite, the entire chain remains indefinite. This explains why phrases like שְׁנֵי מַטֹּות (shənē matṭōt, “two tribes”) do not require a definite article.
3. Number and Possession in Construct Chains
The phrase מִגְרְשֵׁיהֶם לְמִקְנֵיהֶם (migrəshēhem ləmiqənēhem) consists of plural construct nouns with pronominal suffixes indicating possession. The -הֶם (-hem) suffix in both words means “their,” showing that both “pasturelands” and “livestock” belong to the Levites.
– מִגְרְשֵׁי (migrəshē) is the construct plural of מִגְרָשׁ (migrāsh, “pastureland”).
– מִקְנֵי (miqənē) is the construct plural of מִקְנֶה (miqneh, “livestock”).
These structures clarify ownership and association within the verse.
The Role of Construct Chains in Understanding Tribal Inheritance
Joshua 14:4 demonstrates the vital role of construct chains in Biblical Hebrew, allowing precise expression of relationships between people, places, and possessions. The phrase בְנֵי־יֹוסֵף (bənē-Yosef, “the sons of Yosef”) indicates tribal identity, while מִגְרְשֵׁיהֶם לְמִקְנֵיהֶם (migrəshēhem ləmiqənēhem, “their pasturelands for their livestock”) clarifies the possessions allocated to the Levites.
Understanding construct chains helps in correctly interpreting Hebrew phrases and maintaining the nuance of possession and association. This passage, which discusses tribal inheritances and legal distinctions, relies on construct chains to make its meaning precise and clear.
