| 7. Linguistic Exegesis The verse employs a vav-consecutive narrative sequence: vayyiskeru {וַיִּשְׂכְּרוּ֣ | wayyiškə-rû} ‘and they hired,’ vay-yā-ḇōʾû {וַיָּבֹ֕אוּ | vay-yā-ḇōʾû} ‘and they came,’ and vay-yaḥănû {וַֽיַּחֲנוּ | way-yaḥănû} ‘and they camped,’ marking progressive military actions. The numeral phrase shenayim usheloshim elef {שְׁנַיִם֩ וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֨ים אֶ֜לֶף | šnayim ū-šəlōšîm ʾēleph} follows the Hebrew multiplicative pattern ‘(2+30)×1,000’ to yield 32,000. The definite direct-object marker we-et- {וְאֶת־ | wə-ʾet-} highlights the inclusion of melek Maʿakah and ʿammô. The construct chain uvene ammon {וּבְנֵ֣י עַמּ֗וֹן | ū-bənē ʿammôn} foregrounds the Ammonite forces, while the Nifʿal perfect ne-esfu {נֶאֶסְפוּ֙ | nǝʾæs̆pū} ‘were gathered’ indicates passive assembly. The prepositional phrase lammilchamah {לַמִּלְחָמָֽה | la-milḥā-mâ} ‘to the battle’ conveys purpose. The coordinated vav structure reflects a structured account of alliance and mobilization. |