| 10. Linguistic Exegesis The verse employs a sequence of vav-consecutive verbs to narrate a swift coup. It begins with vayikshor {וַיִּקְשֹׁ֤ר | wayyīqšôr} “and he conspired” plus the object alav {עָלָיו֙ | ʿālâyw} “against him.” The subject is Shallum ben-Yavesh {שַׁלֻּ֣ם בֶּן־יָבֵ֔שׁ | šallûm ben-yaḇēš}. The verb vayyakehu {וַיַּכֵּ֥הוּ | wayyaqqêhû} “and he struck him” with kaval-am {קָֽבָלְ־עָ֖ם | qāḇāl-ʿām} understood by Qere as Ibleam conveys a public assault. The Hif‘il vayyemitehu {וַיְמִיתֵ֑הוּ | wayyǝmîṯêhû} “and he put him to death” indicates deliberate execution, and the narrative closes with the Qal vayyimloke {וַיִּמְלֹ֖ךְ | wayyimlōḵ} “and he reigned” plus the locative clause tahtav {תַּחְתָּֽיו | taḥtāyw} “in his place,” marking the transfer of royal authority. English coordination preserves the rapid, successive nature of the Hebrew narrative. |