| 7. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the temporal adverb az {אָז | ʾāz} ‘then’, followed by the verb yivneh {יִבְנֶ֨ה | yiḇ·neh} ‘he built’ in the Qal imperfect with vav consecutive, establishing a past narrative sequence. Solomon’s action centers on erecting a bamah {בָּמָה | bā·māh} or high place. The beneficiary phrases leKemosh {לִכְמוֹשׁ | li·kə·mōš} ‘for Chemosh’ and uleMolekh {וּלְמֹלֶךְ | ū·lə·mō·leḵ} ‘for Molech’ frame the cultic dedication. The location clause bahar asher al-penei Yerushalayim {בָּהָר אֲשֶׁר עַל־פְּנֵי יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם | bā·hār ʾă·šer ʿal·pə·nê yə·rū·šā·lā·yim} ‘on the mountain that is before Jerusalem’ is a restrictive relative clause specifying a visible, prominent site. The noun shikkuts {שִׁקֻּץ | ši·qûṣ} ‘abomination’ conveys strong disapproval and theological judgment. The parallel structure in uleMolekh … benei Ammon reinforces the motif of apostasy through repetition of cultic dedication to foreign deities. |