| 14. Linguistic Exegesis The verse features two coordinated vav-clauses linking divine withdrawal and ensuing affliction. The first vav-consecutive on סָרָה {sarah | sā-rah} ‘departed’ selects the construct ר֧וּחַ יְהוָ֛ה {veruach Yahweh | vərū-ḥaḥ Yə-hō-wāh} ‘Spirit of the LORD’ as subject and מֵעִם שָׁא֑וּל {meim Sha’ul | mē-ʿim Šā-ʾūl} ‘from Saul’ to mark separation. The second clause’s וּבִעֲתָתוּ {uviatatu | ū-bi-‘aṯ-tū} ‘and terrified him’ takes its implied subject from רֽוּחַ־רָעָ֖ה {ruach-raah | rū-ḥaḥ-rā-‘āh} ‘evil spirit’, followed by מֵאֵת יְהוָֽה {meet Yahweh | mē-’ēt Yə-hō-wāh} ‘from the LORD’, indicating divine origin. This parallelism of מֵעִם and מֵאֵת underscores theological causality: the Spirit’s departure permits divine judgment. The Qal perfect conveys completed divine action, while the intensive Piel form highlights the spirit’s force. |