| 2. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with vayomer {וַיֹּאמֶר | wə-yō-mer} introducing Samuel’s speech via a vav consecutive + Qal imperfect. The interrogative eikh {אֵיךְ | êyḵ} “how” coupled with the first person imperfect elekh {אֵלֶךְ | ’ê-leḵ} forms his protest. The protasis uses ve-shama‘ {וְשָׁמַע | wə-šā-ma‘} “and he will hear” (Qal perfect) with the proper name Sha’ul {שָׁאוּל | šā-’ûl}, followed by the apodosis va-hargani {וַהֲרָגָנִי | va-ha-rə-ḡā-nî} “and he will kill me” (Qal perfect + object suffix). After a small section break indicated by samech {ס | s}, the divine response is introduced by another vayomer. The construct chain eglat bakar {עֶגְלַת בָּקָר | ’e-ḡa-lat ba-qār} designates the sacrificial animal. The imperative tikkach {תִּקַּח | ti-qqaḥ} “take” and the perfect ve-amarta {וְאָמַרְתָּ | wə-’ā-mar-tā} “and say” direct Samuel’s actions. The infinitive construct li-zboach {لִזְבֹּחַ | li-z-bo-’aḥ} “to sacrifice” heads a purpose clause introduced by la-Yahweh {לַיהוָה | la-yə-hō-wāh}, and the perfect bati {בָּאתִי | bā-’ā-tî} “I have come” completes the sequence. English renders the Hebrew vav consecutives as past narrative and retains the infinitive purpose clause to preserve the tension between Samuel’s fear and divine commission. |