| 41. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with vayomer {וַיֹּ֣אמֶר | way-yō-mer} ‘and he said’, a vav-consecutive Qal imperfect introducing Saul’s direct address. The imperative petition havah {הָ֣בָה | hā-vāh} ‘grant’ together with tamim {תָמִ֑ים | tā-mîm} ‘perfections (Thummim lot)’ invokes the Urim and Thummim oracle practice. The construct relationship elohei yisrael {אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל | ʾĕ-lōhê Yisrāʾēl} expresses divine possession. The vav-consecutive Niphal imperfect vayilaked {וַיִּלָּכֵ֧ד | way-yil-lā-khed} ‘and he was taken’ marks passive selection by lot, while veham {וְהָעָ֥ם | wə-hā-ʿām} ‘the people’ are subsequently yatsau {יָצָֽאוּ | yā-ṣā-ʾû} ‘went out’, highlighting divine judgment resulting in communal removal. |