| 18. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative sequence begins with the vav-consecutive vayya‘an {וַיַּעַן֩ | wayya‘ăn} ‘and answered,’ marking chronological progression. The phrase ’eḥāḏ mēhanə‘ārīm {אֶחָד מֵהַנְּעָרִים | ’eḥāḏ mēhanə‘ārīm} ‘one of the young men’ functions as the speaker, immediately followed by the vav-consecutive wayyōmer {וַיֹּאמֶר | wayyōmer} ‘and said’ to introduce direct speech. The particle hinnē {הִנֵּה | hinnē} ‘behold’ focuses attention on the subsequent report, rā’îṯî {רָאִיתִי | rā’îṯî} ‘I have seen.’ A sequence of participial and construct nominal phrases—bēn lə-Yīšay bēt hallāḥmî ‘son of Jesse the Bethlehemite,’ yōdēa‘ naggēn ‘skillful in playing,’ wə-gibbôr ḥayîl ‘and mighty in valor,’ ū-nəvōn dāḇār ‘and discerning in speech,’ ’îš tô’ar ‘and comely in appearance’—are conjoined by vav, listing David’s qualifications in parallel. The clause wayhōwāh ’immô {וַיְהוָה עִמּוֹ | wayhōwāh ’immô} ‘and the LORD is with him’ provides a climactic affirmation of divine presence. |