Numeri 31:8 (Numbers 31:8)

Posted on May 28, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 31:8 et reges eorum Evi, et Recem, et Sur, et Hur, et Rebe, quinque principes gentis: Balaam quoque filium Beor interfecerunt gladio.

and their kings, Evi, and Recem, and Sur, and Hur, and Rebe, the five chiefs of the nation; Balaam also, the son of Beor, they killed with the sword.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 et and CONJ
2 reges the kings ACC.PL.M
3 eorum of them GEN.PL.3P.PRON
4 Evi Evi ACC.SG.M.INDECL
5 et and CONJ
6 Recem Rekem ACC.SG.M
7 et and CONJ
8 Sur Zur ACC.SG.M.INDECL
9 et and CONJ
10 Hur Hur ACC.SG.M.INDECL
11 et and CONJ
12 Rebe Reba ACC.SG.M.INDECL
13 quinque five INDECL.CARD.NUM
14 principes chiefs ACC.PL.M
15 gentis of the nation GEN.SG.F
16 Balaam Balaam ACC.SG.M.INDECL
17 quoque also ADV
18 filium the son ACC.SG.M
19 Beor Beor GEN.SG.M.INDECL
20 interfecerunt they killed 3PL.PERF.ACT.IND
21 gladio with the sword ABL.SG.M

Syntax

1. Continuation of the Previous Main Clause
This verse continues the main verb interfecerunt, which is delayed until near the end of the sentence. Everything preceding the verb consists of coordinated direct objects that identify those whom the Israelites killed.

2. First Direct Object
The phrase reges eorum forms the first direct object. reges is accusative plural and functions as the object of interfecerunt, while eorum is a possessive genitive meaning “their,” referring to the Midianites. Thus the construction means “their kings.”

3. Appositional List of Proper Names
The names Evi, Recem, Sur, Hur, et Rebe stand in apposition to reges. Rather than introducing additional objects, they identify the individual kings already mentioned. The repeated conjunction et gives the list a formal and emphatic rhythm.

4. Apposition Explaining the List
The expression quinque principes gentis further explains the five named rulers. principes stands in apposition to the proper names and to reges, while gentis is a possessive genitive modifying principes. The phrase means “the five chiefs of the nation.”

5. Second Coordinated Direct Object
The second principal object is Balaam filium Beor. Balaam is accusative as the direct object of interfecerunt, while filium Beor stands in apposition, identifying him as “the son of Beor.” The adverb quoque (“also”) indicates that Balaam was killed in addition to the Midianite rulers.

6. Apposition within the Balaam Phrase
filium is accusative singular masculine and stands in apposition to Balaam. The proper name Beor is a possessive genitive depending upon filium, specifying Balaam’s father.

7. Main Verb
interfecerunt is a third-person plural perfect active indicative. The subject remains the Israelite warriors from the preceding narrative. The verb governs both coordinated direct objects: the Midianite kings and Balaam.

8. Ablative of Means
The phrase gladio is an ablative of means or instrument. No preposition is required because the ablative alone expresses the means by which the action was accomplished. The phrase means “with the sword.”

9. Overall Sentence Structure
The sentence first lists the principal Midianite rulers, then summarizes them collectively as five chiefs, next adds Balaam as an additional victim, and finally concludes with the governing verb and its instrumental ablative. The delayed placement of interfecerunt allows the narrative to build toward the final statement of execution.

Morphology

  1. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Connects this statement with the preceding narrative; Translation: “and”; Notes: Introduces an additional result of the military victory.
  2. reges — Lemma: rex; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: accusative plural masculine, third declension; Function: First direct object of interfecerunt; Translation: “the kings”; Notes: Refers to the rulers of Midian.
  3. eorum — Lemma: is; Part of Speech: Demonstrative pronoun used possessively; Form: genitive plural; Function: Possessive genitive modifying reges; Translation: “of them”; Notes: Refers to the Midianites.
  4. Evi — Lemma: Evi; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: accusative singular masculine, indeclinable; Function: Apposition to reges; Translation: “Evi”; Notes: One of the five Midianite kings.
  5. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Coordinates the proper names; Translation: “and”; Notes: Links the individual rulers.
  6. Recem — Lemma: Recem; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: Apposition to reges; Translation: “Recem”; Notes: Another Midianite king.
  7. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Coordinates the list; Translation: “and”; Notes: Continues the enumeration.
  8. Sur — Lemma: Sur; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: accusative singular masculine, indeclinable; Function: Apposition to reges; Translation: “Sur”; Notes: One of the Midianite rulers.
  9. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Coordinates the list; Translation: “and”; Notes: Links successive names.
  10. Hur — Lemma: Hur; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: accusative singular masculine, indeclinable; Function: Apposition to reges; Translation: “Hur”; Notes: Another of the five kings.
  11. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Coordinates the final name; Translation: “and”; Notes: Completes the series.
  12. Rebe — Lemma: Rebe; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: accusative singular masculine, indeclinable; Function: Apposition to reges; Translation: “Rebe”; Notes: The fifth Midianite king.
  13. quinque — Lemma: quinque; Part of Speech: Cardinal numeral; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Modifies principes; Translation: “five”; Notes: Specifies the number of rulers.
  14. principes — Lemma: princeps; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: accusative plural masculine, third declension; Function: Apposition to reges and the five names; Translation: “chiefs”; Notes: Summarizes the rulers collectively.
  15. gentis — Lemma: gens; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: genitive singular feminine, third declension; Function: Possessive genitive modifying principes; Translation: “of the nation”; Notes: Identifies the people over whom the chiefs ruled.
  16. Balaam — Lemma: Balaam; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: accusative singular masculine, indeclinable; Function: Second direct object of interfecerunt; Translation: “Balaam”; Notes: The prophet who had previously dealt with Balak.
  17. quoque — Lemma: quoque; Part of Speech: Adverb; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Adds Balaam to the preceding list; Translation: “also”; Notes: Indicates an additional victim.
  18. filium — Lemma: filius; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: accusative singular masculine, second declension; Function: Apposition to Balaam; Translation: “the son”; Notes: Identifies Balaam by his parentage.
  19. Beor — Lemma: Beor; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: genitive singular masculine, indeclinable; Function: Possessive genitive modifying filium; Translation: “of Beor”; Notes: Names Balaam’s father.
  20. interfecerunt — Lemma: interficio; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: third-person plural perfect active indicative, third conjugation; Function: Main verb governing both coordinated direct objects; Translation: “they killed”; Notes: Describes the completed execution of the Midianite rulers and Balaam.
  21. gladio — Lemma: gladius; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: ablative singular masculine, second declension; Function: Ablative of means; Translation: “with the sword”; Notes: Expresses the instrument by which the executions were carried out.

 

About Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Born around 346 A.D. in Stridon, St. Jerome was a scholar fluent in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew whose ascetic discipline and deep engagement with Scripture prepared him for a monumental task: translating the Bible into Latin. Commissioned by Pope Damasus I around 382 A.D., Jerome began by revising the flawed Old Latin Gospels, then expanded his work to the entire Bible. For the New Testament, he corrected Latin texts using Greek manuscripts; for the Old Testament, he translated most books directly from Hebrew—a controversial but principled choice. His final Psalter, however, followed the Greek Septuagint tradition for liturgical use. This composite translation, later known as the Vulgate (editio vulgata), became the authoritative biblical text of the Western Church, formally endorsed at the Council of Trent in 1546. The Vulgate’s influence extends beyond theology into textual criticism and Latin education. As one of the earliest translations grounded in original-language scholarship, it offers a vital witness to the state of biblical texts in late antiquity. Jerome’s lexical and syntactic decisions are studied to trace manuscript history and assess variant readings. Its elegant Latin, consistent in grammar and rich in vocabulary, became a model for medieval and Renaissance learning, bridging classical and ecclesiastical Latin. More than a translation, the Vulgate helped define Christian doctrine, preserved the Latin language, and laid essential groundwork for the critical study of Scripture—remaining indispensable to students of Latin, theology, and textual history.
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