| 5. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the vav-consecutive clause vayomer {וַיֹּ֣אמֶר | wayyōʾəmer} ‘and he said’, marking the start of direct speech. The salutation shalom {שָׁל֗וֹם | šālôm} functions as a ritual greeting of peace. The infinitive līzbōaḥ {לִזְבֹּ֤חַ | līzbōaḥ} ‘to sacrifice’ follows bāʾītî {בָּ֔אתִי | bāʾītî} ‘I have come’, indicating purpose. The Hitpael imperative hitqaddēšû {הִֽתְקַדְּשׁ֔וּ | hitqaddēšû} ‘consecrate yourselves’ and ūbāʾətem {וּבָאתֶ֥ם | ūbāʾətem} ‘and come’ coordinate communal purification and movement. The locative bā-zāvaḥ {בַּזָּ֑בַח | bā-zāvaḥ} ‘at the sacrifice’ situates the action. The Piel imperfect wayyqaddēš {וַיְקַדֵּ֤שׁ | wayyqaddēš} ‘and he consecrated’ with ʾet-Yīšay {אֶת־יִשַׁי֙ | ʾet-Yīšay} and wə-ʾet-bānāyw {וְאֶת־בָּנָ֔יו | wə-ʾet-bānāyw} highlights the selection of Jesse’s family. Finally, wayyiqārāʾ {וַיִּקְרָ֥א | wayyiqārāʾ} ‘and he called’ plus lāhem la-zāvaḥ {לָהֶ֖ם לַזָּֽבַח | lāhem la-zāvaḥ} functions as the formal summons. The chain of vav-consecutives and imperatives emphasizes communal participation in the sacrificial rite. |