| 13. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the vav-consecutive Qal imperfect verb vateilekh {וַתֵּלֶךְ | wa-ṯê-leḥ} ‘and you walked,’ signaling narrative progression that aligns the king with his predecessors. The prepositional construct bederekh malkei yisrael {בְּדֶרֶךְ מַלְכֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל | bə-ḏereḵ mal-kê yiś-rā-’ēl} functions as a locution of manner ‘in the way of the kings of Israel.’ The Hiphil imperfect vav-consecutive verb vatazneh {וַתַּזְנֶה | wa-ṯaz-neh} ‘and you caused (to commit harlotry)’ applies causative force, emphasizing leadership in idolatry. The comparative clause in kehaznot {כְּהַזְנוֹת | kə-haz-nōṯ} ‘as the harlotries’ frames his actions with a simile to Ahab’s example. The final clause vegam et-achekha beit-avikha hatovim mimmecha haragta layers guilt through familial betrayal and qualitative contrast, heightening moral culpability. English word order preserves the Hebrew sequence to maintain the rhetorical buildup of accusations. |