| 30. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the vav-consecutive imperfect verb vayyetzeʾu {וַיֵּצְא֖וּ | wayyēṣəʾū} 'and they went out,' establishing a narrative sequence. The subject appears as the construct noun phrase sārê pelîštîm {שָׂרֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֑ים | sārê pelîštîm} 'commanders of the Philistines.' A temporal clause introduced by the preposition midê {מִדֵּ֣י | midê} plus the infinitive construct yṣə'tām {צֵאתָ֗ם | yṣə'tām} 'their going out' conveys repeated military expeditions. In the main clause the Qal perfect verb sakal {שָׂכַ֤ל | sakal} 'succeeded' highlights David’s repeated victories. A comparative prepositional phrase mikkōl ʿăvdê Šā’ûl {מִכֹּל עַבְדֵ֣י שָׁא֔וּל | mikkōl ʿăvdê šā’ûl} 'more than all the servants of Saul' contrasts his achievements with those of Saul’s officers. The result clause employs the Hiphil imperfect wayyiqār {וַיִּיקַ֥ר | wayyîqār} 'became esteemed' modified by the adverb meʾōd {מְאֹֽד | meʾōd} 'very,' emphasizing the elevation of David’s reputation. Hebrew narrative chaining links events with the repeated vav, while the min + all comparative construction and the midê + infinitive construct temporal clause are rendered in English as "more than all" and "whenever," preserving the source’s structure and emphasis. |