| 28. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative begins with the vav-consecutive prefix in vayishma {וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע | wayyišmaʿ} ‘and he heard’, which propels the action. The phrase achiv hagadol {אָחִיו הַגָּד֔וֹל | ’āḥîw ha-gāḏôl} ‘his eldest brother’ highlights Eliab’s seniority. The prepositional infinitive construct bedabro {בְּדַבְּר֖וֹ | bə-ḏabbārô} combined with el-ha-anashim {אֶל־הָאֲנָשִׁ֑ים | ʾel-hā-ʾănāšîm} locates David’s address and prompts Eliab’s reaction. The idiom vayichar-af {וַיִּֽחַר־אַף | wayyiḥar-ʾāp} ‘his anger was kindled’ vividly conveys wrath. The interrogative lamah-ze yaradta {לָמָּה־זֶּה יָרַדְתָּ | lāmmāh-zēh yāraḏtā} uses a demonstrative-interrogative compound to challenge David. The doubled et-markers in et-zdonkha {אֶת־זְדֹנְךָ | ’et-zəḏōneḵā} and ve-et-roa {וְאֵת רֹעַ | wə-’ēṯ ro’a} intensify the indictment. Finally, the infinitive purpose clause lema-an re-ot {לְמַעַן רְא֥וֹת | ləma‘ăn rə’ôt} reveals Eliab’s assumption about David’s motive. |