| 22. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the consecutive imperfect wayyaʿaś {וַיַּעַשׂ | wayyaʿaś} indicating narrative progression. The definite noun hāraʿ {הָרַע | hā rāʿ} marks categorical moral failure. The idiomatic prepositional phrase bəʿênê Yəhōwāh {בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה | bəʿê-nê Yəhōwāh} conveys divine perspective. The intensive Piel imperfect wayyəqannə’û {וַיְקַנְא֣וּ | wayyəqannə’û} highlights deep emotional offense. The comparative construction miḵōl ʾăšer ʿāsû ʾāḇōtām {מִכֹּל אֲשֶׁר עָשׂוּ אֲבֹתָ֔ם | miḵōl ʾăšer ʿāsû ʾāḇōtām} underscores ancestral parallelism. The clause bəḥaṭṭôtām ʾăšer ḥāṭā’û {בְּחַטֹּאתָם אֲשֶׁר חָטָאוּ | bəḥaṭṭôtām ʾăšer ḥāṭā’û} preserves the causal link between their sins and divine jealousy, reflecting covenant infidelity. |