| 1. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with ve-hineh {וְהִנֵּה | wə-hin-nēh} ‘and behold’, a discursive marker introducing dramatic narrative action. The compound ish Elohim {אִישׁ אֱלֹהִים | ʾîš ʾĕ-lō-hîm} functions as the subject, signalling a prophetic envoy. The perfect verb ba {בָּא | bāʾ} denotes completed movement from mi-Yehudah {מִיהוּדָה | mi-yhû-dāh} ‘from Judah’. The construct bi-dvar Yahweh {בִּדְבַר יְהוָה | biḏ-ḏa-vār yhō-wāh} binds a prepositional phrase that underscores prophetic authority. The preposition el {אֶל־ | ʾel-} introduces the destination beit-El {בֵּית־אֵל | bêt-ʾēl}, a cultic locale. The vav-consecutive ve-Yarov’am omed {וְיָרָבְעָם עֹמֵד | wə-yā-rā-ḇə-ʿām ʿō-mēḏ} sets the temporal background, while al ha-mizbeach le-haktir {עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּחַ לְהַקְטִיר | ʿal ham-miz-bē-aḥ lə-hak-ṯîr} forms a purpose clause indicating ritual intent. The English renderings preserve Hebrew word order and thematic emphasis on divine commissioning and cultic action. |