| 25. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative opens with the vav-consecutive imperfect vayyiten {וַיִּתֵּ֥ן | wayyittēn} ‘and He gave’, linking this action to prior events. The phrase ba-māqōm {בַּמָּק֑וֹם | ba-mā-qōm} functions as a dative of purpose (‘for the place’). The construct chain šiqəlê zāhāv {שִׁקְלֵ֣י זָהָ֔ב | šiqəlê zāhāv} ‘shekels of gold’ establishes a genitive relation, and mišqāl {מִשְׁקָ֖ל | mišqāl} specifies the mode of valuation. The cardinal numerals šeš {שֵׁ֥שׁ | šeš} ‘six’ and mē’ōṯ {מֵאוֹת | mē’ōṯ} combine in the Hebrew units-tens-hundreds order to yield 600. The English rendition preserves verb ordering and construct syntax while conveying precise material and quantity. |