| 2. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative begins with the vav-consecutive verb wayyikkāḥ {וַיִּקַּ֣ח | wayyikkāḥ} ‘and he took’, signaling a continuation of David’s campaign. The direct object marker ’et-’ateret-malkam {אֶת־עֲטֶרֶת־מַלְכָּם | ’eṯ-‘ă·ṭe·reṯ-mal·kām} specifies the construct noun “crown of their king” as the definite object. The prepositional phrase me-’al rōšô {מֵעַל רֹאשׁוֹ | me-‘al rōšô} ‘from above his head’ emphasizes the removal of royal insignia. The parenthetical clause wayyimṣā’āh mišqāl kikkar-zāhāv {וַיִּמְצָאָהּ מִשְׁקַל כִּכַּר־זָהָב | wayyiṃṣā’āh miš·qāl kiqqār zāhāv} ‘and it was found to weigh a talent of gold’ provides descriptive detail. The sequence ūvāh ’eḇen yəqārā {וּבָהּ אֶבֶן יְקָרָה | ūvāh ’eḇen yəqārā} ‘and in it a precious stone’ extends this imagery. The resultative waṯṭəhî ’al-rōš Dāwīḏ {וַתְּהִי עַל־רֹאשׁ דָּוִיד | waṯṭəhî ’al-rōš Dāwīḏ} ‘and it was upon David’s head’ marks the crown’s transfer. Finally, the Hiphil perfect hōṣî’ harbêh mē’ōḏ {הוֹצִיא הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד | hōṣî’ harbêh mē’ōḏ} ‘he brought out a great quantity of plunder’ conveys the extent of the spoil through cumulative emphasis. |