la.vah describes joining oneself to a person or group, and in one verse the accompanying of joy through toil.

The dominant attested use describes persons attaching themselves to another person, group, or the LORD, whether in household relationship, service, communal affiliation, or support. Ecclesiastes 8:15 shows a related use in which joy accompanies a man in his toil.

1. Attach oneself to a person or group · dominant

   The Niphal forms portray people becoming joined to someone or a community: in Genesis 29:34 the APB renders a husband's expected relation as "will be joined to me," while in Esther 9:27 it describes those "who joined themselves" to the Jews. In Numbers 18:2, Isaiah 14:1, Isaiah 56:6, and Daniel 11:34, the clauses likewise concern joining for service, attachment to Israel or the LORD, or support offered "with flattery."

   Genesis 29:34Esther 9:27Numbers 18:2Isaiah 14:1Isaiah 56:6Daniel 11:34
2. Accompany someone through an activity · occasional

   In Ecclesiastes 8:15, the Qal imperfect occurs in the statement that joy "will accompany him in his toil during the days of his life." The clause presents accompaniment alongside a person's continuing work rather than a group joining another group.

   Ecclesiastes 8:15

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly presents the Niphal clauses with "join," "joined," or "join themselves," including attachment to Israel, the LORD, and a priestly addressee. In Ecclesiastes 8:15 it uses "accompany", and Psalm 83:9 does not make this term's contribution identifiable in the supplied English verse.