אֶת־לֵ֖ב

Alphabet Analysis

The word

1. word🔊 אֶת־לֵ֖ב

   et-LEV

   {direct object marker} heart of
2. clause🔊 וַיְגַנֵּב֙ אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם אֶת־לֵ֖ב אַנְשֵׁ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

   va-ye-gan-NEV av-sha-LOM et-LEV an-SHE yis-ra-EL

   and he stole Absalom {direct object marker} heart of men of Israel
3. sentence🔊 וַיַּ֨עַשׂ אַבְשָׁל֜וֹם כַּדָּבָ֤ר הַזֶּה֙ לְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁר־יָבֹ֥אוּ לַמִּשְׁפָּ֖ט אֶל־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיְגַנֵּב֙ אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם אֶת־לֵ֖ב אַנְשֵׁ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

   va-ya-AS av-sha-LOM ka-da-VAR ha-ZE le-KHOL-yis-ra-EL a-SHER-ya-VO-u lam-mish-PAT el-ha-ME-lekh va-ye-gan-NEV av-sha-LOM et-LEV an-SHE yis-ra-EL

   and he did Absalom according to the word or matter of this to all Israel who would come to the judgment to the king and he stole Absalom {direct object marker} heart of men of Israel

Exegesis

The sequential Piel imperfect vayegannev {וַיְגַנֵּב | wayyeganneb} ‘and he stole’ introduces the result, and the construct et-lev anshei-Yisrael {אֶת-לֵב אַנְשֵׁי יִשְׂרָאֵל | ʾet-lēḇ ʾănšê Yiśrāʾēl} ‘the heart of the men of Israel’ highlights internal influence. The parallel clauses underscore cause and effect between Absalom’s conduct and its impact on his audience’s loyalty.

Root and etymology

Root🔊 ל־ב־בlamed–bet–bet

“heart”