| 7. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative employs a sequence of vav-consecutive imperfect verbs—beginning with vayyiqra {וַיִּקְרָ֤א | wayyē-qərāʼ} ‘and he called’, followed by vayyagged-lo {וַיַּגֶּד־לוֹ֙ | wayyaggēd-lō} ‘and he told him’, vayyabe {וַיָּבֵ֨א | wayyāḇēʾ} ‘and he brought’, and vayhi {וַיְהִ֥י | wayhî} ‘and he was’—to portray a rapid series of actions. The direct object phrase et kol-haddebarim ha-elleh {אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה | ʾēṯ kāl-haddebārîm hā-ʾelleh} utilizes the particle et {אֵ֥ת | ʾēṯ} to emphasize the totality of the report. The adverbial expression ke-etmol shilshom {כְּאֶתְמ֥וֹל שִׁלְשֽׁוֹם | kəʾ-eṯmōl šilšōm} underscores the continuity of David’s presence before Saul. |