| 6. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative opens with wayyə́hî {וַיְהִי | wayyə́hî} ‘and it became’, introducing the result clause that ʾArām became ʿăvādîm {עֲבָדִים | ʿăvādîm} ‘servants’. The initial wayyā́šem {וַיָּשֶׂם | wayyā́šem} ‘and he placed’ with the construct ba-ʾArām Darmḗśeq {בַּאֲרַ֣ם דַּרְמֶשֶׂק | ba-ʾArām Darmḗśeq} locates David’s garrison deployment. The participle nōśēʾ minḥā́h {נֹשְׂאֵ֣י מִנְחָ֑ה | nōśēʾ minḥā́h} ‘bearers of tribute’ emphasizes subjugation and fiscal obligations. The final hiphil wayyašáʿ {וַיּוֹשַׁע | wayyašáʿ} ‘and he saved’ with subject Yəhōwāh {יְהוָה | Yəhōwāh} and circumstantial phrase bə-kōl ăšer hā-lāḥ {בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר הָלָךְ | bə-kōl ăšer hā-lāḥ} ‘in all that he went’ highlights divine agency across David’s campaigns. |