| 4. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the demonstrative zeh {זֶה | zēh} “this” joined to ha-dāvar {הַדָּבָר | hă-dāvar} “the matter,” forming an instructional heading. The relative pronoun ʾăšer {אֲשֶׁר | ʾăšer} “which” introduces the main verb tāʿăśū {תַּעֲשׂוּ | tāʿăśū} “you shall do.” The construct phrase hā-šəlîšît mikkem {הַשְּׁלִשִׁית מִכֶּם | ha-šəlîšît mikkem} “the third part from you” defines the subset, while the participial temporal clause bāʾê ha-šabbāt {בָּאֵי הַשַׁבָּת | bāʾê ha-shabbat} “those coming on the Sabbath” specifies timing. The coordinated prepositional phrases la-kōhănîm wǝ-la-lǝwîyîm {לַכֹּהֲנִים וְלַלְוִיִּים | la-kōhănîm wǝ-la-lǝwîyîm} “to the priests and to the Levites” narrow the participants, and the infinitive construct lǝ-šōʿărê ha-sippîm {לְשֹׁעֲרֵי הַסִּפִּים | lǝ-šōʿărê ha-sippîm} “to serve as gatekeepers at the thresholds” assigns their duty. The Hebrew structure proceeds from general command to precise allocation, mirrored in the formal by an appositive em dash and in the dynamic by clear role phrasing. |