| 5. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with vayyakhel {וַיַּקְהֵ֤ל | wayyaqqēl} ‘and he assembled,’ using the vav-consecutive with hiphil to advance the narrative and emphasize David’s leadership. The particle et {אֶת־ | ’et} marks kol yisrael {כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל | kol yisrāʼēl} as the national gathering. A geographic range is specified by the prepositional phrases min shihor {מִן־שִׁיח֥וֹר | min šîḥôr} and we’ad ləvo hamath {וְעַד־לְב֣וֹא חֲמָ֑ת | wəʿad ləḇōʼ ḥammāṯ}, setting Israel’s boundary from Egypt to Hamath. The infinitive lehavi {לְהָבִיא֙ | ləḥāvîʼ} functions as a purpose clause for transporting et aron haelohim {אֶת־אֲר֣וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים | ’et ’ărōn hāʼĕlōhîm}, the sacred chest, and the construct miqqiryat yearim {מִקִּרְיַ֖ת יְעָרִֽים׃ | miqqiryāṯ yəʿārîm} identifies its origin at Kiriath Jearim. This structure—vav-consecutive narrative, infinitive purpose clause, and construct chain—has been translated to preserve sequence, purpose, and emphasis on divine provision. |