| 18. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative begins with the consecutive imperfect wāyyōmer {וַיֹּ֣אמֶר | wayyōmer} introducing direct speech to lo {ל֗וֹ | lō}. The formula gāmʾānî nāwîʾ kāmôkā {גַּם־אֲנִ֣י נָבִיא֮ כָּמוֹךָ֒ | gāmʾānî nāwîʾ kāmôkā} asserts shared prophetic identity. The phrase ūmalʾāḵ dibber ʾēlāy bidbār Yəhōwāh {וּמַלְאָ֡ךְ דִּבֶּ֣ר אֵלַי֩ בִּדְבַ֨ר יְהוָ֜ה | ūmalʾāḵ dibber ʾēlāy bidbār Yəhōwāh} links the speaker’s instruction to divine commission. The Hiphil imperative hăšîbēhû ʾittəkā ʾel-bēytekā {הֲשִׁבֵ֤הוּ אִתְּךָ֙ אֶל־בֵּיתֶ֔ךָ | hăšîbēhû ʾittəkā ʾel-bēytekā} directs the return, and the purpose clause wə-yōʾāḵal leḥem wə-yēšet māyim {וְיֹאכַל לֶחֶם וְיֵשְׁתְּ מָיִם | wə-yōʾāḵal leḥem wə-yēšet māyim} expresses intended hospitality. The final Piel perfect kîḥēš lō {כִּחֵ֖שׁ לֽוֹ | kîḥēš lō} exposes deception. English rendering preserves Hebrew parataxis, clause relations, and thematic contrasts. |