| 5. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the vav-consecutive verb vayyeśar {וַיְסַר | wayyĕśār} ‘and he removed’, establishing sequential action. The construct chain miqqāl-ʿārê {מִכָּל־עָרֵי | miqqāl-ʿārê} ‘from all the cities’ combines preposition, summative noun, and plural construct to define scope. The direct object markers ’et {אֶת־ | ’et} ‘definite direct object marker’ and wə’ēṯ {וְאֵת | wə-’ēṯ} ‘and also marker’ introduce the cultic sites ha-bā-mōt {הַבָּמוֹת | ha-bā-mōt} ‘high places’ and ha-ḥammānîm {הַחַמָּנִים | ha-ḥammānîm} ‘incense altars’. The resultant state shift occurs with wattišqōṭ {וַתִּשְׁקֹט | wat-tiš-qō-ṭ} ‘and it was quiet’, indicating peaceful conditions. Finally, ha-malkûṯ ləp̄ānāyw {הַמַּלְכוּת לְפָנָיו | ha-mal-kûṯ lə-p̄ā-nāyw} ‘the kingdom was calm before him’ employs a Hebrew idiom for stability under a ruler’s presence. This progression from reform to tranquility underscores the effectiveness of Asa’s actions. |