| 34. Linguistic Exegesis The verse features a chiastic repetition structure signaled by the verb vayomer {וַיֹּ֤אמֶר | wayyōmer} ‘and he said,’ introducing each command. The Piel imperatives šenu {שְׁנוּ֙ | šənû} and šallešu {שַׁלֵּ֖שׁוּ | šallešu} carry progressive numeric intensity (‘again,’ ‘third time’). Their corresponding vav-consecutive Piel imperfect forms wayyishnu {וַיִּשְׁנ֔וּ | wayyišnû} and veyshalleshu {וַיְשַׁלֵּֽשׁוּ | veyšallešu} report the participants’ compliance. The repetition emphasizes the prophet’s intent to test responsiveness through escalating iterations of the same directive. |