| 4. Linguistic Exegesis The Hebrew narrative employs a series of vav consecutive verbs (vayāqām {וַיָּקָם | wayyāqām} ‘and he rose up,’ wayittiḥazzēq {וַיִּתְחַזַּק | wayittiḥazzēq} ‘and he strengthened himself,’ wayahărōḡ {וַיַּהֲרֹג | wayahărōḡ} ‘and he killed’) to convey rapid sequential action. The phrase ʿal mamlēkaṯ ʾāḇîw {עַל־מַמְלֶכַת אָבִיו | ʿal mamlēkaṯ ʾāḇîw} marks his accession to royal power. The Hitpael stem highlights his self-initiated consolidation, while ʾēt kōl ʾeḥāyw {אֶת־כָּל־אֶחָיו | ʾēt kōl ʾeḥāyw} indicates the totality of the fratricide. The clause wə-gam miṣārê yiśrāʾēl {וְגַם מִשָּׂרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל | wə-gam miṣārê yiśrāʾēl} extends the violence to include select officials. The English structure preserves this cumulative progression, reflecting the escalating brutality. |