Introduction to Nehemiah 10:33
Nehemiah 10:33 describes various offerings and sacrifices in the context of temple service. The verse contains multiple construct chains (smikhut), a fundamental grammatical feature in Biblical Hebrew. These construct chains indicate possessive or descriptive relationships between nouns. Understanding their structure is crucial for accurate translation and interpretation of the verse.
לְלֶ֣חֶם הַֽמַּעֲרֶ֡כֶת וּמִנְחַ֣ת הַתָּמִ֣יד וּלְעֹולַ֣ת הַ֠תָּמִיד הַשַּׁבָּתֹ֨ות הֶחֳדָשִׁ֜ים לַמֹּועֲדִ֗ים וְלַקֳּדָשִׁים֙ וְלַ֣חַטָּאֹ֔ות לְכַפֵּ֖ר עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְכֹ֖ל מְלֶ֥אכֶת בֵּית־אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃
Analysis of Key Words/Phrases
Several construct chains appear in this verse, each demonstrating different nuances of noun relationships. Below are the primary examples:
1. לֶחֶם הַמַּעֲרֶכֶת (leḥem hama‘arekhet) – “the bread of the arrangement” (Showbread)
2. מִנְחַת הַתָּמִיד (minḥat hatamid) – “the regular grain offering”
3. עֹולַת הַתָּמִיד (‘olat hatamid) – “the regular burnt offering”
4. מְלֶאכֶת בֵּית־אֱלֹהֵינוּ (mele’khet beit-’Eloheinu) – “the work of the house of our God”
Explanation of Grammatical Function
1. Construct Chains in Biblical Hebrew
A construct chain (smikhut) consists of at least two nouns, where the first noun (construct form) depends on the second noun (absolute form) to complete its meaning. The construct noun often loses its definite article, while definiteness is determined by the absolute noun.
For example:
– לֶחֶם הַמַּעֲרֶכֶת (leḥem hama‘arekhet) – The word לֶחֶם (leḥem, “bread”) lacks a definite article, but הַמַּעֲרֶכֶת (hama‘arekhet, “the arrangement”) has one, making the whole phrase definite: “the bread of the arrangement.”
2. Construct Chains with Adjectives
In עֹולַת הַתָּמִיד (‘olat hatamid), “the regular burnt offering,” the adjective הַתָּמִיד (hatamid, “regular”) modifies the entire phrase. Adjectives in construct chains typically follow the absolute noun and take its definiteness.
3. The Construct Form with “House of God”
The phrase בֵּית־אֱלֹהֵינוּ (beit-’Eloheinu, “the house of our God”) demonstrates another important rule: when the second noun in the construct chain is a proper noun (such as אֱלֹהֵינוּ), the first noun automatically becomes definite, even without an article.
4. Compound Construct Chains
A more complex example is מְלֶאכֶת בֵּית־אֱלֹהֵינוּ (mele’khet beit-’Eloheinu), meaning “the work of the house of our God.” Here, מְלֶאכֶת (mele’khet, “work of”) is in construct with בֵּית (beit, “house of”), which is in turn in construct with אֱלֹהֵינוּ (’Eloheinu, “our God”). This hierarchical structure allows for more nuanced meanings.
Construct Chains in Sacrificial Terminology and Temple Worship
Construct chains are a vital feature of sacrificial and temple-related terminology in the Hebrew Bible. Their usage in Nehemiah 10:33 clarifies the hierarchical relationships between different elements of temple service. Mastery of construct chains is essential for understanding how Hebrew phrases convey definiteness, ownership, and descriptions.
By analyzing these structures, we gain insight into the precision of Biblical Hebrew syntax and how it shapes theological and liturgical meaning.
