| 13. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the conditional protasis ve-im {וְאִם | vĕ-ʾîm} ‘and if,’ setting a hypothetical scenario. The imperfect Qal verb yakeh {יַכֶּה | yak-kĕh} ‘he strikes’ describes a potential action by avikha {אָבִיךָ | ʾā-vî-kha} ‘your father’ against etkha {אֵתְךָ | ʾēt-kha} ‘you,’ with mavet {מָוֶת | mā-vēt} ‘death’ as its object. The Piel jussive yekhanem {יְכַנֵּם | yə-kha-nêm} issues a conditional curse upon failure, directed le-Yonatan {לְיוֹנָתָן | lə-yō-na-tān}. The phrase ve-af anokhi lo ukhal lehedi'aka {וְאַף־אָנֹכִי לֹא אוּכַל לְהֵדִיעֲךָ | vĕ-ʾāp̄-ʾā-nō-khî lōʾ ʾū-khal lə-hê-dî-ʿa-kha} uses a negative potential construction “should I be unable to inform you,” linking David’s promise to warn. The jussive telekh {תֵּלֵךְ | tē-lê-ḵ} ‘you shall go’ with ve-shalom {וְשָׁלֹם | vĕ-shā-lōm} ‘and peace’ forms a blessing formula. The closing clause ve-Yahweh immakh ka-asher hayah im-avi {וְיְהוָה עִמָּךְ כַּאֲשֶׁר הָיָה עִם־אָבִי | vĕ-yə-hō-wāh ʿim-makh ka-ʾa-šer hā-yā·h ʿim-ʾā-vî} “and may the LORD be with you just as He was with my father” mirrors the structure, underscoring divine faithfulness. |