| 12. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the prefixed vav-consecutive perfect ve-hayah {וְהָיָ֞ה | wə-hā-yāh} ‘and it will happen’, framing a hypothetical condition. The temporal clause “when I go from you” (ani ʼē-lēkh mê-ʾittākha) sets the stage for divine action. The coordinated subject wə-rû-aḥ Yə-hō-wāh {וְר֨וּחַ יְהוָ֤ה | wə-rû-aḥ Yə-hō-wāh} ‘and the Spirit of the LORD’ governs the modal imperfect yi-sā-ʾăkha {יִשָּׂאֲךָ֙ | yi-sā-ʾăkha} ‘will carry you’. The relative clause ʿal ʼă-šer lō-ʾē-ḏāʿ {עַ֚ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־אֵדָ֔ע | ʿal ʼă-šer lō-ʾē-ḏāʿ} ‘to a place that I do not know’ emphasizes an unknown destination. The narrative proceeds through a series of waw-consecutive verbs (u-vā-ʼaṯî, lə-haggîd, wə-lō yim-ṣā-ʾăkha, va-harā-gā-nî) outlining sequential possibilities. The final clause wə-ʿă-bə-dəkha yārēʾ ʼeṯ-Yə-hō-wāh min-nə-ʿūrāy {וְעַבְדְּךָ֛ יָרֵ֥א אֶת־יְהוָ֖ה מִנְּעֻרָֽי | wə-ʿă-ḇə-dəkha yārēʾ ʼeṯ-Yə-hō-wāh min-nə-ʿūrāy} ‘and your servant fears the LORD from my youth’ contrasts the potential threats with lifelong reverence. |