| 20. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the vav-consecutive imperfect vayyetse {וַיֵּצֵ֣א | wāy-yē-ṣēʾ} ‘and went out,’ propelling the narrative. The definite noun haruakh {הָר֗וּחַ | hā-rû-aḥ} ‘the spirit’ identifies a council member. The vav-consecutive wayya‘amod {וַיַּעֲמֹד֙ | wāy-ya-‘ă-mōḏ} ‘and stood’ plus the prepositional phrase lifnei Yahweh {לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה | li-p̄nê Yə-hō-wāh} creates a theophanic courtroom scene. The alternating wayyomer {וַיֹּאמֶר | wāy-yō-mer} ‘and he said’ frames the dialogue. The spirit’s Hiphil imperfect afattennu {אֲפַתֶּ֑נּוּ | ʾă-pat-te-nû} ‘I will entice him’ conveys causative intent, and the interrogative bammah {בַּמָּֽה | ba-māh} ‘by what’ closes with a direct inquiry into method. |