| 7. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the temporal marker itto {עִתּוֹ | ʿit·tō} “his-time” followed by the emphatic ve-hinneh {וְהִנֵּה | wə·hin·nēh} “and behold.” The noun ish {אִישׁ | ʾîš} “man” is specified by misharei Saul {מִשָּׁרֵי שָׁאוּל | miš·šārē Šā·ʾūl} “of Saul’s servants,” indicating a court official. The clause sham hayom lifnei Yahweh ne’etzar bo {שָׁם הַיּוֹם לִפְנֵי יְהוָה נֶעְצַר בּוֹ} forms a locative-temporal phrase “there that day before the LORD he was detained,” with ne’etzar in Niphal conveying passive restraint. The coordinate ve-shemo Doeg ha-edomi rosh ha-ro‘im asher le-Saul {וְשְׁמוֹ דֹּעֶג הָאֱדֹמִי רֹאשׁ־הָרֹעִים אֲשֶׁר־לְשָׁאוּל} “and his name was Doeg the Edomite, head of the shepherds who belonged to Saul” uses rosh to denote rank. The sequence underscores sudden revelation and official role within Saul’s household. |