| 23. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the vav-consecutive imperfect veyittenu {וְיִתְּנוּ־לָ֜נוּ | wə-yit-te-nû} ‘and let them give’, functioning as a jussive request. The numeral shenayim {שְׁנַיִם | še-nă-yim} appears in the dual to specify exactly two animals. A sequence of vav-consecutive imperfect verbs—veyivcharu {וְיִבְחֲרוּ | wə-yiv-ḥa-rū} ‘and let them choose’, veyinatchehu {וִֽינַתְּחֻהּוּ | wi-naṯ-ṭə-ḥū-hū} ‘and let them cut it in pieces’, veyasimu {וְיָשִׂימוּ֙ | wə-ya-šî-mū} ‘and let them place’—sets out the ritual steps. The direct object marker et {אֶת | ʾet} marks the bull as the object of action. A contrasting vav vaani {וַאֲנִי | va-ʾa-nî} introduces the prophet’s own cohortative eeseh {אֶעֱשֶׂה | ʾe-ʿā-sēh} and venatati {וְנָתַתִּי | wə-nā-ṭa-tî}, paralleling the earlier commands. The negative particle lo {לֹא | lō} negates the placing of fire (veesh {וְאֵשׁ | wə-ʾēš}), highlighting that neither party ignites the sacrifice. This balanced alternation of “let them” and “I will” clauses underscores the ritual contest’s parity. |