| 25. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative uses a vav-consecutive in wayyomer {וַיֹּאמֶר | wayyōmer} ‘and he said’, introducing sequential narration. The imperative kechu {קְחוּ | qəḥû} ‘take’ issues a direct royal command. The direct object marker et {אֶת־ | ʾet} signals mikhayahu {מִיכָיְהוּ | mîḵāyyāhû} as the object. The Hiphil imperative vhashivuhu {וַהֲשִׁיבֻהוּ | wayhašîḇûhû} ‘return him’ is followed by coordinated prepositional phrases el amon {אֶל־אָמֹן | ʾel ʾāmōn} and we'el yoash ben hamelek {וְאֶל־יוֹאָשׁ בֶּן־הַמֶּלֶךְ | wəʾel yōʾāš ben hamelek}, forming a construct chain that delineates dual custody and underscores the king’s authoritative decree. |