| 9. Linguistic Exegesis The verse employs a vav-consecutive narrative sequence beginning with vayya'aver {וַיַּעֲבֵ֥ר | wayyaʿăḇēr} ‘and he made pass’ to present the candidate, followed by vayyomer {וַיֹּ֕אמֶר | wayyōmer} ‘and he said’ to deliver the verdict. The demonstrative gam-bazeh {גַּם־בָּזֶ֖ה | gam-bāzeh} ‘also in this’ singles out the particular son, while lo-bachar {לֹא־בָחַ֥ר | lō-baḥar} ‘has not chosen’ conveys a clear divine rejection. The final placement of Yahweh {יְהוָֽה | Yəhōwāh} underscores the Lord’s sovereign authority in the king-making process. |