The Shalshelet Trope in the Torah

The Shalshelet trope, meaning chain, has long been a favorite of mine. And, yet, it only occurs a total of four times in the Torah. Below are the instances, and these will lead you to think about the meaning of the use of this trope, sometimes representing uncertainty, hesitation, or a struggle. Note that in each instance, the Shalshelet trope is placed on the first word of the verse followed by a mafsik, a pause. I often like to ponder the meaning of the trope's placement on the individual word, as well as the meaning of the pause which follows. As in any process of Torah study, while there are often more popular interpretations, one interpretation is not made more official than another.

בראשית י״ט:ט״ז

(טז) וַֽיִּתְמַהְמָ֓הּ ׀ וַיַּחֲזִ֨קוּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֜ים בְּיָד֣וֹ וּבְיַד־אִשְׁתּ֗וֹ וּבְיַד֙ שְׁתֵּ֣י בְנֹתָ֔יו בְּחֶמְלַ֥ת יהוה עָלָ֑יו וַיֹּצִאֻ֥הוּ וַיַּנִּחֻ֖הוּ מִח֥וּץ לָעִֽיר׃

Genesis 19:16

(16) Still he delayed. So the men seized his hand, and the hands of his wife and his two daughters—in Adonai’s mercy on him—and brought him out and left him outside the city.

בראשית כ״ד:י״ב

(יב) וַיֹּאמַ֓ר ׀ יהוה אֱלֹהֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֔ם הַקְרֵה־נָ֥א לְפָנַ֖י הַיּ֑וֹם וַעֲשֵׂה־חֶ֕סֶד עִ֖ם אֲדֹנִ֥י אַבְרָהָֽם׃

Genesis 24:12

(12) And he said, “Adonai, God of my master Abraham, grant me good fortune this day, and deal graciously with my master Abraham:

בראשית ל״ט:ח׳

(ח) וַיְמָאֵ֓ן ׀ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־אֵ֣שֶׁת אֲדֹנָ֔יו הֵ֣ן אֲדֹנִ֔י לֹא־יָדַ֥ע אִתִּ֖י מַה־בַּבָּ֑יִת וְכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־יֶשׁ־ל֖וֹ נָתַ֥ן בְּיָדִֽי׃

Genesis 39:8

(8) But he refused. He said to his master’s wife, “Look, with me here, my master gives no thought to anything in this house, and all that he owns he has placed in my hands.

ויקרא ח׳:כ״ג

(כג) וַיִּשְׁחָ֓ט ׀ וַיִּקַּ֤ח מֹשֶׁה֙ מִדָּמ֔וֹ וַיִּתֵּ֛ן עַל־תְּנ֥וּךְ אֹֽזֶן־אַהֲרֹ֖ן הַיְמָנִ֑ית וְעַל־בֹּ֤הֶן יָדוֹ֙ הַיְמָנִ֔ית וְעַל־בֹּ֥הֶן רַגְל֖וֹ הַיְמָנִֽית׃

Leviticus 8:23

(23) and it was slaughtered. Moses took some of its blood and put it on the ridge of Aaron’s right ear, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot.