| 21. Linguistic Exegesis The Hebrew vav-consecutive with vayikkach {וַיִּקַּ֨ח | wayyiqqāḥ} ‘and he took’ introduces the narrative action and focuses on the collective agency of ha‘am {הָעָ֧ם | hāʿām} ‘the people.’ The phrase mehaššalal {מֵהַשָּׁלָ֛ל | me-haš-šā-lāl} ‘from the spoil’ specifies the source of livestock ṣōn {צֹ֥אן | ṣōn} ‘sheep’ and ubāqār {וּבָקָ֖ר | u-bā-qār} ‘cattle.’ The construct chain rēšît haḥêrem {רֵאשִׁ֣ית הַחֵ֑רֶם | rē-šît ha-ḥê-rem} links ‘first’ and ‘the ban,’ underscoring primacy and total devotion. The infinitive līzbo’aḥ {לִזְבֹּ֛חַ | līz-bō-āḥ} marks purpose, ‘to sacrifice,’ with la-Yahweh {לַֽיהוָ֥ה | lə-Yə-hō-wāh} ‘to the LORD’ followed by ʾĕlōhêkha {אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ | ʾĕ-lō-hê-ḵā} ‘your God.’ The locative bagilgal {בַּגִּלְגָּֽל | ba-gil-gāl} ‘in Gilgal’ situates the act in its sacred-historical context. Word order mirrors the Hebrew, preserving theological emphasis on devoted offerings. |