| 7. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with vehikipu {וְהִקִּיפוּ | wə-ḥiqqîpû}, a vav-consecutive Hiphil imperfect that issues a past-oriented command. The definite noun haleviyim {הַלְוִיִּ֨ם | hal-wî-yîm} identifies the Levites as agents encircling the king, marked by et-hammeleḵ {אֶת־הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ | ʾeṯ-hammeleḵ}. The prepositional phrase saviv {סָבִ֗יב | sāḇîḇ} + ish {אִ֚ישׁ | ʾîš} vekhelav be-yado foregrounds individual readiness. The clause vehaba el-habayit yumat {וְהַבָּ֥א אֶל־הַבַּ֖יִת יוּמָ֑ת | wə-habbāʾ ʾel-habbayit yū∙māṯ} uses the Hofal passive to decree capital punishment for unauthorized entry. Finally, the construction vihyu et-hamelekh bevo'o uvetzeto {וִֽהְי֥וּ אֶת־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ בְּבֹא֥וֹ וּבְצֵאתֽוֹ | wə-hə·yū ʾeṯ-hammeleḵ bə·bō·ʾō u·bə·ṣē·ʾōṯō} mirrors the Hebrew infinitive constructs to stress continuous accompaniment with the king at both his entrance and his departure. |