| 4. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the vav-consecutive verb vayye'esof {וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ף | wayyēʾăṣōp̄} ‘and he gathered’, introducing the narrative action in a VSO order when followed by the subject David {דָּוִד | dāwīd}. The particle et {אֶת־ | ʾet} marks each definite object, here bnei Aharon {בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן | bə-nê ʾăhărōn} ‘sons/descendants of Aaron’, while ve'et {וְאֶת־ | wəʾet} coordinates the second object haleviyim {הַלְוִיִּם | haləwīyim} ‘the Levites’. In translating into English, the Hebrew VSO becomes SVO for clarity, preserving the construct relationship to highlight David’s authoritative summoning of these priestly groups for temple service. |