| 12. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the narrative marker vayehi {וַיְהִ֗י | way·hî} ‘and it was’, employing the vav-consecutive + Qal imperfect to introduce a new event. This is followed by the temporal infinitive construct kishmoa {כִּשְׁמֹ֙עַ֙ | ḵîš·mô·aʿ} ‘when he heard’, establishing simultaneity. The repetition of the pronoun hu before shoteh ‘drinking’ underscores the actor’s engagement, while the coordinate phrase vehamelakhim bassukkot {וְהַמְּלָכִ֖ים בַּסֻּכּ֑וֹת | wə·ham·mĕ·lāk·hîm bas·suk·kōṯ} situates the allied kings in temporary structures. The dialogue marker vayomer {וַיֹּ֤אמֶר | way·yō·mer} ‘and he said’ introduces the imperative simu {שִׂימוּ | sǝ̄·mū} ‘set/prepare’, and the following vayasimu {וַיָּשִׂ֖ימוּ | way·yā·sǝ̄·mū} ‘and they set’ completes the command against alha’ir {עַל־הָעִֽיר | ʿal·hā·ʿîr} ‘the city’. The sequence of vav-consecutive forms ensures narrative cohesion, the infinitive construct clause foregrounds the moment of hearing, and the pronominal emphasis highlights the principal actor. |