| 25. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the vav-consecutive imperfect vayomer {וַיֹּאמֶר | va-yō-mer} introducing Saul’s direct speech. The demonstrative kōh in kōh-tomru {כֹּה-תֹאמְרוּ | kōh-tōm-rū} frames the command form “you shall say.” The negation ʼēn {אֵין} precedes khefeṣ {חֵפֶץ} to specify absence of desire. The noun mōhar {מֹהַר} “bride-price” is quantified by bə-mê-ʼāh {בְּמֵאָה} “one hundred” modifying ʿarlōṯ Pə-liš-TIM {עָרְלוֹת פְּלִשְׁתִּים} “foreskins of the Philistines.” The infinitive lə-hin-nā-qēm {לְהִנָּקֵם} serves as purpose “to take vengeance” against the king’s enemies in construct state bə-ʼō-yĕ-HE {אֹיְבֵי}. The conjunction wə-Shaʾûl {וְשָׁאוּל} shifts to the perfect ḥā-šav {חָשַׁב} and the piel infinitive lə-hap-pīl {לְהַפִּיל} expresses Saul’s intent to bring David low by be-yad-Pə-liš-TIM {בְּיַד־פְּלִשְׁתִּים}. The Hebrew VSO order is rendered in English SVO, retaining purpose and causal nuances for clarity. |