| 11. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the vav-consecutive prefix vayishma {וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע | wayyišmaʿ} ‘and he heard’, indicating a sequential narrative action in the Qal imperfect. The coordinated subject consists of Shaul {שָׁאוּל֙ | Šāʾûl} and the distributive phrase vekol-yisrael {וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל | wəkol yiśrāʾēl} ‘and all Israel’. The direct object marker et {אֶת־ | ʾet} introduces the nominal clause dibrê haplišṭî hāʾelleh {דִּבְרֵי הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי הָאֵלֶּה | dibrê haplišṭî hāʾelleh} ‘these words of the Philistine’, which serves as the stimulus for the emotional reaction. The narrative then employs two successive imperfect verbs: vayechattu {וַיֵּחַתּוּ | wayyaḥattu} ‘and they were dismayed’ (Nifal), expressing passive impact, followed by vayyeru {וַיִּרְא֖וּ | wayyirʾû} ‘and they were afraid’ (Qal), conveying active fear. The adverb meʾōḏ {מְאֹד | mēʾōḏ} ‘greatly’ intensifies the terror. This pairing of Nifal and Qal imperfects, along with synonymous fear vocabulary, forms a merism that underscores the complete emotional collapse of Israel upon hearing the Philistine’s words. |