| 34. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative opens with beyamav {בְּיָמָיו | bə-yā-mā-w} marking a temporal frame. The verb banah {בָּנָה | bā-nā} in VSO order identifies chi’el {חִיאֵל | ḥi-’ēl} as agent and introduces yerikho {יְרִיחֹה | yĕ-rî-ḥō-hā} via the direct object marker et {אֶת־ | ’eṯ}. Construct beit-ha’eli {בֵּית הָאֱלִ֖י | bēṯ hā-’ē-lî} specifies origin. The instrumental phrases be’aviram {בַּאֲבִירָ֨ם | ba-’ă-vî-rām} and uvisguv {וּבִשְׂגוּב | ū-vi-sə-ḡûḇ} function as “at the cost of,” conveying implied sacrifice. The parallel Piel verbs yissedah {יִסְּדָהּ | yis-sə-ḏāh} and Hiphil hitziv {הִצִּיב | hit-tsîḇ} form a chiastic structure around foundation and gates. The phrase kidvar Yahweh {כִּדְבַר יְהוָה | ki-ḏə-vār yə-hō-wāh} introduces a divine decree, and the relative clause asher dibber beyad yehoshua {אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר בְּיַד יְהוֹשֻׁעַ | ’ă-šer dib-ber bə-yaḏ yə-hō-šu-‘ā} attributes prophetic agency to Joshua. English word order is adjusted for readability while preserving theological nuance. |