| 17. Linguistic Exegesis The initial vav-conjunction appears in uvenayahu {וּבְנָיָהוּ | ū-və-nā-yā-hû} ‘and Benaiah’, coordinating with the preceding narrative. The construct chain ben yehoiada {בֶּן־יְהוֹיָדָע | ben yə-hō-yā-dāʿ} ‘son of Jehoiada’ marks a genitive relationship. The prepositional phrase al hakereti vehapeleti {עַל־הַכְּרֵתִי וְהַפְּלֵתִי | ʿal ha-kkĕ-rē-tî wə-hap-pĕ-lê-tî} ‘over the Kerethites and the Pelethites’ expresses Benaiah’s authoritative command over two elite units. The second vav-conjunction in uvenei david {וּבְנֵי־דָוִיד | ū-ḇə-nē dā-wîd} ‘and sons of David’ introduces a parallel subject. The predicate adjective harishonim {הָרִאשֹׁנִים | hā-rî-šō-nîm} ‘the chief ones’ specifies rank. The spatial prepositional phrase leyad hamelekh {לְיַד הַמֶּלֶךְ | lə-yaḏ ha-me-lêḵ} ‘at the side of the king’ denotes proximity and intimate service. Hebrew syntax employs coordinated vav-conjunctions and construct chains to link parallel offices under David’s rule, rendered in English with corresponding conjunctions and noun phrases to maintain structure and emphasis. |