| 8. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative begins with the vav-consecutive qal imperfect verb wayyi-ḥar {וַיִּ֨חַר | wayyi-ḥar} ‘and he became angry’, linking Saul’s response to the prior episode. The following vav-consecutive way-yē-ra‘ {וַיֵּ֤רַע | way-yē-ra‘} ‘and it was displeasing’, together with the idiom bə-‘ê-nav {בְּעֵינָיו | bə-‘ê-nav} ‘in his eyes’, conveys subjective displeasure. The phrase ha-da-var ha-zé {הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה | ha-da-var ha-zé} ‘this matter’ serves as the object of dissatisfaction. The vav-consecutive way-yō-mer {וַיֹּאמֶר | way-yō-mer} ‘and he said’ introduces parallel clauses: nā-tə-nû lə-dā-vīd rə-ḇā-vōṯ {נָתְנוּ לְדָוִד רְבָבוֹת | nā-tə-nû lə-dā-vīd rə-ḇā-vōṯ} ‘they have given to David tens of thousands’ contrasted with wə-lî nā-tə-nû hā-’ă-lā-p̄îm {וְלִ֥י נָתְנ֖וּ הָאֲלָפִ֑ים | wə-lî nā-tə-nû hā-’ă-lā-p̄îm} ‘and to me they have given the thousands’. The adversative particle ’ăkh {אַךְ | ’ăkh} in wə-’ōḏ lô ’ăkh hā-mə-lû-kāh {וְע֥וֹד ל֖וֹ אַ֥ךְ הַמְּלוּכָֽה | wə-’ōḏ lô ’ăkh hā-mə-lû-kāh} heightens the rhetorical question about the kingdom. |