| 14. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative vav-consecutive vayomer {וַיֹּאמֶר | wā-yō-mer} introduces direct speech. The interrogative meh {מֶה | mē} frames a question anticipating surprise. Two parallel nominal clauses—qol ha-tson ha-zeh be-oznai {קוֹל-הַצֹּאן הַזֶּה בְּאָזְנָי | qōl ha-ṣōʾān ha-zēh bə-ʾōzānāy} and ve-qol ha-bakar asher anokhi shomea {וְקוֹל הַבָּקָר אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי שֹׁמֵעַ | wə-qōl ha-bā-qār ʾă-šer ʾā-nō-ḵî šō-mē-ʿā} employ the noun qol {קוֹל | qōl} in both clauses to create rhetorical symmetry. The relative particle asher {אֲשֶׁר | ʾă-šer} links the second sound to the participle shomea {שֹׁמֵעַ | šō-mē-ʿā}, marking continuous action. English reorders elements for readability while preserving the dual-question format and the speaker’s personal perspective conveyed by the first person suffix in be-oznai. The repetition emphasizes the surprising report of animal noises following Saul’s reported victory. |