| 22. Linguistic Exegesis The verse introduces a new participant with the waw-attached proper name u-kenanyahu {וּכְנַנְיָהוּ | û-ḵənanyāhû} ‘and Kenaniah,’ linking his role to the larger procession narrative. The construct chain sar-halleviyyim {שַׂר־הַלְוִיִּם | śar-hal-ləwiyyim} ‘chief of the Levites’ functions appositionally, identifying his office. The prepositional phrase be-massa {בְּמַשָּׂא | bə-masśāʾ} ‘in carrying’ sets the sphere of responsibility, and the following verb yasor {יָסֹר | yāsōr} ‘he instructed’ presents his active oversight. The repetition of massa in a second, more definite form ba-massa {בַּמַּשָּׂא | ba-masśāʾ} ‘in the carrying’ tightens the focus, emphasizing that his instruction concerned that specific task. The causal clause introduced by ki {כִּי | kî} ‘because’ grounds his appointment in competence: the participle mevin {מֵבִין | mēvîn} ‘understanding’ states his capability, and the independent pronoun hu {הוּא | hûʾ} ‘he’ adds emphasis, marking him as notably qualified. Since massa can be associated with “lifting/bearing,” the translation “carrying” reflects both its common sense and the immediate context of transporting the ark. |