| 4. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with və-kōl yiśrāʾēl šāməʿû ləʾmôr {וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֞ל שָׁמְע֣וּ לֵאמֹ֗ר | wə-kōl yiśrāʾēl šāməʿû ləʾmôr} ‘and all Israel heard to say’, where ləʾmôr functions as an infinitive construct marking reported speech. Next, hiqqāh šāʾûl ʾet nəṣîb pəlištīm {הִכָּ֤ה שָׁאוּל֙ אֶת־נְצִ֣יב פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים | hiqqāh šāʾûl ʾet nəṣîb pəlištīm} employs the hiphil perfect to emphasize Saul’s striking of the Philistine outpost. The clause wə-gam nivʾāš yiśrāʾēl ba-pᵊlišṭīm {וְגַם־נִבְאַשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים | wə-gam nivʾāš yiśrāʾēl ba-pᵊlišṭīm} combines the vav-consecutive with the niphal perfect of nivʾāš to portray Israel’s passive transformation into a despised state among its adversaries. Finally, wayyiṣṣăʿăqû hā-ʿām ʾaḥărê šāʾûl hā-Gilgal {וַיִּצָּעֲקוּ הָעָם אַחֲרֵי שָׁאוּל הַגִּלְגָּל | wayyiṣṣăʿăqû hā-ʿām ʾaḥărê šāʾûl hā-Gilgal} uses the vav-consecutive and imperfect to convey the people’s assembly at Gilgal under Saul’s leadership. The structure links the battle report, Israel’s tarnished reputation, and the mobilization of the assembly, underscoring Saul’s role. |