| 16. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative unfolds in a sequential speech–action pattern, with vayomer {וַיֹּאמֶר | wā-yō-mer} ‘and he said’ introducing the directive. The Hiphil imperative harkev {הַרְכֵּב | har-kēḇ} ‘place’ governs yadkha as its object, forming a command clause. The vav-consecutive imperfect vayarkev {וַיַּרְכֵּב | wā-yar-kēḇ} ‘and he placed’ omits its object’s preposition, relying on the prior clause. The following vav-consecutive imperfect vayasem {וַיָּשֶׂם | wā-yā-śem} ‘and he set’ parallels the previous action, while the construct chain yedei hamelekh {יְדֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ | yě-ḏē ha-mé-leḵ} ‘hands of the king’ marks a genitive relationship, emphasizing the symbolic transfer of authority through gesture. |