We present low-resolution, near-IR JHK spectra of the weak z=2.39 radio
galaxy 53W002, obtained with the OH-airglow Suppressor spectrograph (OHS) and
Cooled Infrared Spectrograph and Camera for OHS (CISCO) on the Subaru
Telescope. They cover rest-frame wavelengths of 3400-7200 A, and the emission
lines of [O II]3727, Hb, [O III]4959, 5007, Ha, [N II]6548, 6583 and [S
II]6716, 6731 were detected. Using the Ha/Hb line ratio, we find an extinction
of E(B-V)=0.14. The emission-line ratios are reproduced by a cloud of electron
density n_e=1x10^{3-4}(/cm3) with solar metallicity, ionized by an alpha=-0.7
power-law continuum with ionizing parameter U=1x10^-3. In addition to these
emission lines, we make the first spectroscopic confirmation of the Balmer
discontinuity in a high-z radio galaxy. Together with rest-frame UV photometry
from the literature, we show that at least 1/3 of the present stellar mass was
formed in the current starburst. The stellar mass was estimated to be
(1-1.4)x10^11 M_sol by one-component model fitting, which is smaller than that
of typical z~1 B2/6C radio galaxies. We suggest that 53W002 is currently
assembling a large part of its stellar mass through merger events with the
surrounding sub-galactic clumps, some of which can be identified with the Lya
emitters detected in narrow-band imaging. After a few such events over the next
few Gyr, 53W002 will evolve into a massive elliptical galaxy.Comment: 10 pages, including 11 figures. Accepted for publication in
PASJ(2001). Revised 5/15/200
