| 22. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative employs a sequence of Qal imperfect verbs with the vav consecutive conjunction to indicate chronological progression: vayyiṭṭōš {וַיִּטֹּשׁ֩ | va•yi•ṭṭōš} ‘and he left’, vayyarats {וַיָּרָץ | va•yā•rāṣ} ‘and he ran’, vayavo {וַיָּבֹא | va•yā•bōʾ} ‘and he came’, vayyish‘al {וַיִּשְׁאַ֥ל | va•yi•šā•’al} ‘and he asked’. The compound prepositional phrase me‘alav {מֵעָלָיו | mē•‘ā•lāv} ‘from upon him’ with ʿal-yad {עַל־יַד | ʿal-yad} ‘at the hand of’ directs the transfer of custody. The participle shomer {שׁוֹמֵר | šō•mēr} ‘keeper’ denotes the temporary guardian of the equipment. Ha-ma‘arakah {הַמַּעֲרָכָה | ha•ma•‘a•ra•ḵā} ‘the battle line’ functions as the motion’s destination, while the final prepositional sequence le’echav {לְאֶחָיו | le•’e•ḥā•v} ‘to his brothers’ and le-shalom {לְשָׁלוֹם | le•šā•lōm} ‘for well-being’ express the intended relational encounter, combining greeting with inquiry about sound health. |