| 4. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative begins with the vav consecutive in vayetse {וַיֵּצֵ֤א | wayyēṣe} ‘and he went out,’ driving the action forward. The noun phrase ish-habbenayim {אִישׁ־הַבֵּנַיִם | ʾîš-hab-benā-yim} functions as the subject, designating the appointed combatant. The prepositional clause mi-machanot Pelishtim {מִמַּחֲנוֹת פְּלִשְׁתִּים | mimmāḥānōṯ pəlišṭîm} specifies his origin in the Philistine ranks. An appositive identifies Golyat shemo {גָּלְיָ֥ת שְׁמ֖וֹ | Gôliyāṯ šəmô} by name, and the locative mi-Gat {מִגַּת | miqqāṯ} pinpoints his hometown. Finally, the nominal clause gavho shesh ammot va-zaret {גָּבְה֕וֹ שֵׁ֥שׁ אַמּ֖וֹת וָזָֽרֶת | gāvôh šêš ʾammôt wā-zā-ret} records his impressive stature, with numerals quantifying his height and the possessive suffix underscoring his physical presence. Placing this description last heightens the suspense before David’s response. |