| 36. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the vav-consecutive vayhi {וַיְהִי | way·hî}, which advances the narrative. The prepositional phrase ba‘alot hamminchah {בַּעֲלוֹת הַמִּנְחָה | ba‘ă·lôt ham·min·ḥā} functions as a temporal setting for the evening offering ritual. Vayiggash {וַיִּגַּשׁ | way·yig·gaš} introduces Elijah’s approach to the altar. The extended title Yahweh Elohei Avraham Yitshaq ve-Yisrael {יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיִשְׂרָאֵל | Yəhō·wāh ’ĕ·lō·hē ’ă·vrā·hām yiṣ·ḥāq wə·yiś·rā·’ēl} invokes patriarchal covenant associations. The jussive yivvada‘ {יִוָּדַע | yiv·wā·ḏa‘} “let it be known” expresses a petition for divine confirmation. The causal construction bidvarcha asiti {בִּדְבָרְךָ עָשִׂיתִי | bi·d·wā·r·ḵā ’ā·sî·tî} links each action directly to divine command, underscoring obedience. The verse’s structure moves from temporal setting to invocation, petition, self-identification, and confession of obedience, highlighting divine sovereignty and faithful human service within the covenantal framework. |