| 24. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the vav-consecutive perfect vayaggidu {וַיַּגִּ֜דוּ | wayyaḡ·gî·ḏû} ‘and they told’, creating a sequential link with prior events. The construct phrase avdei Shaul {עַבְדֵ֥י שָׁא֛וּל | ʿaḇ·ḏê Šā·’ûl} functions as the subject, linking “servants” to “Saul.” The indirect object lo {ל֖וֹ | lô} ‘to him’ marks Saul as the recipient. The reporting infinitive lemor {לֵאמֹ֑ר | lē·’emor} ‘saying’ introduces the content. The comparative particle kaf in kadevarim {כַּדְּבָרִ֥ים | kaḏ·ḇā·rîm} ‘like’ with the demonstrative haelleh {הָאֵ֖לֶּה | hā·’êl·lêh} ‘these’ frames the specific utterances. The perfect verb diber {דִּבֶּ֥ר | ḏib·bêr} ‘spoke’ indicates completed action by David {דָּוִֽד | Dā·wîḏ}, whose name concludes the report. The structure places the reporting formula before the quoted speech, underscoring the narrator’s framing device. |