| 38. Linguistic Exegesis The conjunction waw {וַ | wāw} prefixed to the Qal perfect vayyiqrāʾ {וַיִּקְרָא | wayyiqrāʾ} establishes a sequential narrative. The construct lan-naar {לַנַּעַר | la-nnaʿār} merges preposition and noun via assimilation to mark the indirect object. Direct speech begins with wayyōmer {וַיֹּאמֶר | wayyōmer}, governing three Qal imperatives—maher {מָהֵר | māhēr}, retsah {רְּצָה | reṣāh}, and al-ta'amod {אַל־תַּעֲמֹד | ʾal-taʿămōḏ}—which together convey urgency. Narrative action resumes with wayyiqqach {וַיִּקַּח | wayyiqqāḥ}, and the accusative marker et in et-hachatzim {אֶת־הַחַצִּים | ʾet-haḥaṣṣîm} underscores the definiteness of “the arrows.” The sequence concludes with wayyashav {וַיָּשָׁב | wayyāšāv} plus the pronominal suffix in el-adonav {אֶל־אֲדֹנָיו | ʾel-ʾăḏōnāyw}, “to his master,” completing the swift exchange. |