| 2. Linguistic Exegesis The verse employs a chain of vav-consecutive imperfect verbs to narrate consecutive actions. The opening verb vayered {וַיֵּרֶד֩ | wayyĕreḏ} ‘and he went down’ signals a chronological shift. The phrase lekets shanim {לְקֵ֨ץ שָׁנִים | ləqêṣ šānîm} ‘after some years’ uses the preposition le- plus a plural noun to indicate an indefinite period. Direction is marked by the preposition ʾel- {אֶל־ | ʾel} prefixed to proper names (Ahab {אַחְאָב | ʾaḥʾāv} and Samaria {שֹׁמְרוֹן | šōmrōn}). The verb vayizbakhlo {וַיִּזְבַּֽח־ל֨וֹ | wayyizbaḥlô} ‘and he slaughtered for him’ is a Qal imperfect with a pronominal suffix, introducing a noun phrase quantified by larov {לָרֹב | lārôḇ} ‘in abundance’. A relative clause with asher {אֲשֶׁר | ʾăšer} and the suffix immo {עִמּ֑וֹ | ʿimmô} ‘with him’ further defines the beneficiaries. The verb vaysittehu {וַיְסִיתֵ֕הוּ | wayyəssittehû} ‘and he incited him’ is a Hifil imperfect with a suffix, followed by the infinitive laalot {לַעֲל֖וֹת | laʿălôt} ‘to go up’, indicating purpose toward Ramot Gil‘ād {רָמ֥וֹת גִּלְעָֽד | rāmôt Gilʿād}. The sequence underscores a narrative flow from hospitality to persuasion. |