| 29. Linguistic Exegesis The verse unfolds through a series of vav-consecutive verbs (wayyaḥănnû {וַֽיַּחֲנ֧וּ | wayyaḥănnû} ‘and they encamped’; wayhî {וַיְהִ֣י | wayhî} ‘and it happened’; wattaqrav {וַתִּקְרַב֙ | wattaqrav} ‘and it came near’; wayyaqqû {וַיַּכּ֨וּ | wayyaqqû} ‘and they struck’), creating rapid narrative motion characteristic of Hebrew storytelling. The phrase ʾelleh nōkḥaḥ-ʾēlleh {אֵ֦לֶּה נֹֽכַח־אֵ֖לֶּה | ʾēlleh nōkḥaḥ-ʾēlleh} establishes the opposing camps. The construct šivʿat yāmîm {שִׁבְעַת יָמִים | šivʿat yāmîm} marks the seven-day duration, while the temporal clause bayyôm haš-šəbiʿî {בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי | bayyôm haš-šəbiʿî} pinpoints the climactic seventh day. The subject hamilchamah {הַמִּלְחָמָה | hammilḥāmah}, “the battle,” is personified as it ‘comes near’ (wattaqrav), heightening dramatic tension. Finally, the construct mēʾāh-ʾelep̄ {מֵאָה־אֶ֥לֶף | mēʾāh-ʾelep̄} quantifies the defeated forces with precision, with raglîm {רַגְלִ֖י | raglî} specifying infantry troops. |