| 9. Linguistic Exegesis The translation follows the protasis introduced by the conditional particle im {אִם | ʾim} ‘if’, linked to the demonstrative adverb ko {כֹּה | kō} ‘thus’ and the speech verb yomru {יֹֽאמְרוּ | yômerû} ‘they say’. The imperative domu {דֹּ֕מּוּ | dômû} ‘stand still’ conveys a direct command. The infinitive construct hagieinu {הַגִּיעֵ֖נוּ | hagîʿênû} expresses the temporal boundary ‘until we come’. The sequence ve-amadnu takhteinu {וְעָמַ֣דְנוּ תַחְתֵּ֔ינוּ | wə-ʿāmadnû taḥtênû} uses a vav-consecutive perfect to indicate consequence (‘and we stand in our place’). The final clause ve-lo naʿălēh ʾălêhem {וְלֹ֥א נַעֲלֶ֖ה אֲלֵיהֶֽם | wə-lōʾ naʿălēh ʾălêhem} employs the negative particle lōʾ with an imperfect verb to express prohibition (‘and we do not ascend to them’). The English rendering preserves the conditional structure, direct speech, and resultant action pattern of the Hebrew. |