| 23. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the narrative marker vayehi {וַיְהִי | wayĕhî}, linking to the preceding account. Two temporal circumstantial clauses introduced by acharei {אַחֲרֵי | ʾaḥrê} “after” plus the Qal infinitive constructs okhlo {אָכְלוֹ | ʾāḵəlô} “his eating” and shtoto {שְׁתוֹת֑וֹ | šeṯôtô} “his drinking” establish the sequence of actions. The main clause employs the vav-consecutive Qal imperfect vayakhavashlo {וַיַּחֲבָשׁ־ל֣וֹ | wayyaḥăḇāš·lō} “and he saddled” to continue the narrative flow. The beneficiary lanavi {לַנָּבִ֖יא | lanāwî} “for the prophet” indicates the recipient, and the relative clause asher {אֲשֶׁר | ʾăšer} “who” with heshivo {הֱשִׁיבֽוֹ | hĕšî·ḇō} “had brought him back” qualifies that prophet, clarifying that the donkey is provided for the returned man of God. English renderings preserve the Hebrew layering of temporal, main, and qualifying clauses. |