אַחַ֣ר הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֗לֶּה גִּדַּל֩ הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרֹ֜ושׁ אֶת־הָמָ֧ן בֶּֽן־הַמְּדָ֛תָא הָאֲגָגִ֖י וַֽיְנַשְּׂאֵ֑הוּ וַיָּ֨שֶׂם֙ אֶת־כִּסְאֹ֔ו מֵעַ֕ל כָּל־הַשָּׂרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתֹּֽו׃
(Esther 3:1)
After these things the king Ahasuerus exalted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite and he lifted him up and he set his throne above all the officials who were with him.
Introduction to the Verse
Esther 3:1 introduces the elevation of Haman to a position of high authority. The verb forms in this verse follow the wayyiqtol construction, which is a primary narrative tense in Biblical Hebrew. This tense is essential in structuring sequential events in biblical storytelling.
Understanding the Wayyiqtol Form
1. What is Wayyiqtol?
– The wayyiqtol form is a past narrative tense used frequently in biblical prose.
– It consists of the conjunction וַ (va-) attached to the imperfect verb, forming a consecutive preterite (past tense narrative sequence).
– It is used to advance a storyline, marking each step in a sequence of events.
2. Examples of Wayyiqtol in Esther 3:1
– וַֽיְנַשְּׂאֵ֑הוּ (Vaynasʾehu) – “And he exalted him”
– This verb comes from נ־שׂ־א (n-s-ʾ), meaning “to lift up, exalt.”
– The wayyiqtol form (וַ + imperfect) shows that this action follows the previous statement chronologically.
– It moves the narrative forward, showing the progression of Haman’s promotion.
– וַיָּ֨שֶׂם֙ (Vayasem) – “And he placed”
– This verb comes from ש־י־ם (s-y-m), meaning “to set, place.”
– The wayyiqtol form shows that after exalting Haman, the king assigned him a position of higher authority.
– Each wayyiqtol verb builds upon the previous event, creating a structured timeline.
The Function of the Wayyiqtol Form in This Verse
1. Structuring the Narrative
– The wayyiqtol verbs (וַֽיְנַשְּׂאֵ֑הוּ and וַיָּ֨שֶׂם֙) indicate that Haman’s rise to power was a step-by-step process in the king’s decision-making.
– First, the king exalted him, and then he placed him above the other officials.
2. Highlighting Sequential Authority
– The double use of wayyiqtol emphasizes progressive honor:
– First, Haman is lifted up (וַֽיְנַשְּׂאֵ֑הוּ).
– Then, his seat is positioned above others (וַיָּ֨שֶׂם֙ אֶת־כִּסְאֹ֔ו מֵעַ֕ל כָּל־הַשָּׂרִ֖ים).
– This linguistic choice reinforces Haman’s status elevation and shows the formal process of his promotion.
The Role of Wayyiqtol in Esther 3:1
Esther 3:1 effectively uses wayyiqtol verbs to narrate sequential actions in a structured way:
– The first wayyiqtol verb (וַֽיְנַשְּׂאֵ֑הוּ) shows Haman’s promotion.
– The second wayyiqtol verb (וַיָּ֨שֶׂם֙) shows his appointment over all officials.
– This grammatical structure ensures a smooth and logical flow of the narrative.
The wayyiqtol form is a key tool in Biblical Hebrew storytelling, ensuring that events unfold in a clear and ordered manner, as seen in Haman’s rise to power.
