Introduction to Amos 3:9
Amos 3:9 records a divine summons to the nations, calling them to assemble and witness the injustice occurring in Shomron (Samaria). The verb הֵאָסְפוּ (heʾasəfū) appears in the Nifal imperative form, which is significant because it conveys a command to gather while also implying a passive or reflexive nuance. This analysis will explore its morphological structure, syntactic role, and semantic implications within Biblical Hebrew grammar.
הַשְׁמִ֨יעוּ֙ עַל־אַרְמְנֹ֣ות בְּאַשְׁדֹּ֔וד וְעַֽל־אַרְמְנֹ֖ות בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וְאִמְר֗וּ הֵאָֽסְפוּ֙ עַל־הָרֵ֣י שֹׁמְרֹ֔ון וּרְא֞וּ מְהוּמֹ֤ת רַבֹּות֙ בְּתֹוכָ֔הּ וַעֲשׁוּקִ֖ים בְּקִרְבָּֽהּ׃
Analysis of Key Words/Phrases
The Nifal imperative הֵאָסְפוּ (heʾasəfū) appears in the phrase:
וְאִמְר֗וּ הֵאָֽסְפוּ֙ עַל־הָרֵ֣י שֹׁמְרֹ֔ון
This phrase consists of:
- וְאִמְר֗וּ (vəʾimrū) – “And say” (Qal imperative, second-person masculine plural).
- הֵאָסְפוּ (heʾasəfū) – “Assemble yourselves” (Nifal imperative, second-person masculine plural).
- עַל־הָרֵ֣י שֹׁמְרֹ֔ון (ʿal harei Shomron) – “Upon the mountains of Samaria” (prepositional phrase indicating location).
The verb הֵאָסְפוּ is the focus of our grammatical analysis.
Explanation of Grammatical Function
Morphological Analysis of הֵאָסְפוּ
The imperative הֵאָסְפוּ is derived from the root אָסַף (ʾ-s-p), meaning “to gather, assemble.” It appears in the Nifal stem, which typically conveys passive or reflexive action.
Parsing Details
- Root: אָסַף (ʾ-s-p)
- Form: Nifal Imperative Masculine Plural
- Translation: “Gather yourselves” or “Be gathered.”
The Function of the Nifal Imperative
The Nifal imperative in Hebrew generally conveys a passive or reflexive command. Unlike the Qal imperative, which commands direct action, the Nifal form often implies that the subject is either experiencing the action itself or being acted upon.
Common uses of the Nifal imperative include:
- Reflexive Voice: “Gather yourselves” (implying voluntary participation).
- Passive Voice: “Be gathered” (indicating that an external force is causing the action).
In Amos 3:9, הֵאָסְפוּ most likely carries a reflexive meaning, urging the nations to gather themselves to witness the injustices occurring in Shomron.
Lexical and Semantic Nuances
The root אָסַף (ʾ-s-p) frequently appears in contexts related to gathering people, objects, or ideas, often under divine orchestration:
- Isaiah 11:12 – וְנִפְצוֹת יְהוּדָה יְקַבֵּץ (wənifṣōt yəhūḏāh yəqabbēṣ), “He will gather the dispersed of Judah.”
- Zephaniah 2:1 – הִתְקוֹשְׁשׁוּ וָקוֹשּׁוּ הַגּוֹי לֹא נִכְסָף (hitqōššəšū wāqōššū haggōy lō niḵsaf), “Gather yourselves together, O nation not desired.”
In Amos 3:9, הֵאָסְפוּ emphasizes the act of gathering in response to divine instruction, underscoring the prophetic urgency of the message.
Word Order and Syntax
The phrase וְאִמְר֗וּ הֵאָסְפוּ עַל־הָרֵ֣י שֹׁמְרֹ֔ון follows a verb-imperative-prepositional phrase structure:
- וְאִמְר֗וּ – “And say” (command to deliver the message).
- הֵאָסְפוּ – “Gather yourselves” (imperative, the central action being commanded).
- עַל־הָרֵ֣י שֹׁמְרֹ֔ון – “Upon the mountains of Samaria” (prepositional phrase indicating location).
This structure emphasizes the command to witness, drawing attention to the events in Samaria.
The Role of הֵאָסְפוּ in Amos 3:9
The Nifal imperative הֵאָסְפוּ in Amos 3:9 is essential for illustrating the prophetic call to observation. The reflexive form reinforces the idea that the nations must take initiative to assemble, highlighting their role as witnesses to divine judgment.
This grammatical choice underscores the prophetic urgency of Amos’s message, making the audience responsible for recognizing the moral corruption in Shomron and responding accordingly.
