| 29. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative opens with vayehi {וַיְהִי֙ | wa·yə·hî} ‘and it was’, marking a temporal shift. The clause ka‘avor hatzohorayim {כַעֲבֹר הַצָּהֳרַיִם | ka·ʿă·bôr ha·ṣāh·ôră·yim} uses an infinitive construct to indicate timing. The Hitpael imperfect of vayitnabbe’u {וַיִּתְנַבְּא֔וּ | wa·yit·nab·bə·ʾû} conveys intensive, frenzied prophecy. The phrase ‘ad la‘alot haminchah {עַד לַעֲל֣וֹת הַמִּנְחָה | ʿad la·ʿă·lôt ham·min·ḥā} sets the limit at the afternoon temple sacrifice. The triple negation ve’ein {וְאֵֽין | wə·ʾēn} emphasizes complete silence and absence of response. |