| 36. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the Piel verb vayechabberehu {וַיְחַבְּרֵ֣הוּ | way-ye-ḥabbē-rē-hû} with vav consecutive marking sequential narrative action, followed by the prepositional phrase imo {עִמּ֔וֹ | ʿim-mô} indicating the cooperative partner. The infinitive constructs la’asot {לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת | la-ʿă-sōṯ} and lalekhet {לָלֶ֣כֶת | lā-le-ḵěṯ} express purpose “to make ships to go,” a common Hebrew purpose clause. The recurrence of oniyot {אֳנִיּ֖וֹת | ’o-ni-yōt} emphasizes the vessel construction. The proper noun tarshish {תַּרְשִׁ֑ישׁ | ṭar-šiš} serves as the destination, while the phrase be’etsyon gaver {בְּעֶצְי֥וֹן גָּֽבֶר | bĕ-‘eṣ-yōn gā-vēr} “at Ezion Gaver” specifies the coastal site. The second clause’s vav consecutive plus imperfect vaya’asu {וַיַּעֲשׂ֥וּ | way-ya-ʿă-sû} maintains the narrative flow and completes the report of shipbuilding. |