| 16. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with ve’et {וְאֵת֙ | wə-ʾēṯ}, the conjunction plus direct object marker, introducing Jehu ben-Nimshi as the object of the Qal imperfect verb timshach {תִּמְשַׁח | tim-šā-ḥ}. The phrase le-melekh {לְמֶלֶךְ | lə-me-leḵ} “as king” is complemented by the scope indicator al-Yisrael {עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל | ʿal-yis-ra-ʾēl}. A parallel clause with ve’et {וְאֵת־ | wə-ʾēṯ} introduces Elisha ben-Shaphat (me-Avel {מֵאָבֵל | mē-ʾā-ḇēl} Meholah {מְחוֹלָה | mə-ḥō-lāh}) under the same verb timshach, with office defined by le-navi {לְנָבִיא | lə-nā-ḇî} “as prophet” and the succession idiom takhtekha {תַּחְתֶּיךָ | taḥ-tê-ḵā} “in your place.” The balanced parallelism underscores the symmetry of royal and prophetic appointment and Elijah’s delegated authority. |