| 33. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the vav-consecutive marking continued narrative, introducing Saul’s speech with vayomer {וַיֹּ֨אמֶר | va-yô-mer} ‘and he said’. The negation lo tukhal lalechet {לֹא תּוּכַל לָלֶכֶת | lō tû-kal lā-le-khet} uses the negative particle lo preceding a Qal imperfect and an infinitive construct to express inability. The defined noun phrase hapelishti hazeh {הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי הַזֶּה | ha-pə-lish-tî ha-zeh} singles out the Philistine adversary. The Niphal infinitive lehilachem {לְהִלָּחֵם | lə-hil-lā-ḥēm} with the prepositional object immo {עִמּוֹ | ’im-mô} forms a complementary infinitive of opposition. The conjunction ki {כִּי־ | kî} introduces an explanatory rationale, juxtaposing na'ar {נַעַר | na-‘ar} ‘youth’ with the phrase ish milchamah {אִישׁ מִלְחָמָה | ’îš mil-ḥā-māh} ‘man of war’. Finally, the prepositional phrase min-ne'urav {מִנְּעֻרָיו | min-ne-‘ū-rā-v} indicates Goliath’s lifelong combat experience. This antithetical structure underscores the contrast between David’s inexperience and Goliath’s seasoned warfare readiness. |