| 38. Linguistic Exegesis The verse utilizes a series of vav conjunctive clauses to enumerate personnel, starting with ve’oved edom {וְעֹבֵד אֱדֹ֛ם | wə-ʿō-ḇēḏ ʾĕ-ḏōm} “and Obed-Edom,” followed by va’acheihem {וַאֲחֵיהֶ֖ם | wa-ʾă-ḥê-hēm} “and their brothers.” The numerals shishim {שִׁשִּׁים | šiš-šîm} “sixty” and ushemonah {וּשְׁמוֹנָ֑ה | ū-šnō-nāh} “and eight” conform to Hebrew tens-units order. An appositional repetition of Obed-Edom paired with ben-yeḏiṯûn {בֶּן־יְדִית֛וּן | ben-yə-ḏî-ṯûn} “son of Jeduthun,” and veḥōśeh {וְחֹסָ֖ה | wə-ḥō-śāh} “and Hosah” specifies individual identities. The final phrase lešoʿārîm {לְשֹׁעֲרִים | lə-šô-‘ā-rîm} “for gatekeepers” denotes their official function. The coordinated structure underscores clear role designation. |