| 11. Linguistic Exegesis The vav-consecutive connector va {וַ | wā} ‘then’ introduces hitchazzak {הִתְחַזַּק | hit-ḥazzāq} ‘he strengthened himself’, emphasizing personal resolve. The narrative chain continues with vayinhag {וַיִּנְהַג | va-yin-hǎg} ‘he led’ and vayelekh {וַיֵּלֶךְ | va-yēleḵ} ‘he went’, preserving sequential action. The direct object phrase et-’ammô {אֶת־עַמּוֹ | ’et-’ammô} marks his people as the object. The construct phrase ge-hamelach {גֵּיא הַמֶּלַח | gê ham-mê-laḥ} ‘Valley of Salt’ specifies location. The verb vayyakh {וַיַּךְ | va-yakḵ} ‘he struck’ resumes the sequential narrative. The construct et-bə-nê-śê-‘îr {אֶת־בְּנֵי־שֵׂעִיר | ’et-bə-nê-śê-‘îr} identifies the opposing Edomites, and the cardinal numbers ’ă-sě-rět ’ă-lā-p̄îm {עֲשֶׂרֶת אֲלָפִים | ’ă-sě-rět ’ă-lā-p̄îm} ‘ten thousand’ quantify the victory. This tight sequence of vav-consecutive perfects conveys brisk historical reporting. |