| 3. Linguistic Exegesis The verse employs the Vav-Consecutive construction to present a rapid sequence of royal reforms with each verb (vayasar {וַיְסַר | way·sār} “and he removed,” vayeshaber {וַיְשַׁבֵּר | way·šabbēr} “and he broke in pieces,” vayegadea {וַיְגַדֵּעַ | way·ga·ḏê·a‘} “and he cut down”) in Hiphil or Piel imperfect form. The direct object marker et {אֶת־ | ʾet} introduces each specific cultic object, marking them as definite. The noun phrase mizbechot hanechar {מִזְבְּחוֹת הַנֵּכָר | miz·bĕ·ḥôt han·nê·ḵār} “the foreign altars” uses an adjective to denote non-Israelite worship. Bamot {בָּמוֹת | bā·mōṯ} refers to elevated shrines on hills, while matsevot {מַּצֵּבֹת | mat·tsê·bō·ṯ} are stone monuments and Asherim {אֲשֵׁרִים | ’ă·šê·rîm} are wooden cultic poles or trees. The Piel stem’s intensification underscores the king’s zealous eradication of idolatrous sites. |