| 32. Linguistic Exegesis The verse employs a synchronistic regnal formula linking the reigns of Israel and Judah. The temporal clause begins with bishnat {בִּשְׁנַת | biš-nat} ‘in the year of’ + shetayim {שְׁתַּיִם | šeṭayim} ‘two’ as an adverbial numeral phrase. This is followed by a construct chain lePekah {לְפֶקַח | lə-Pə-qaḥ} ‘to Pekah’ + ben-Remalyahu {בֶּן־רְמַלְיָהוּ | ben-rəmal-yā-hu} ‘son of Remaliah’ + melech {מֶלֶךְ | meleḵ} ‘king’ + Yisrael {יִשְׂרָאֵל | yiś-rā-ʾēl}, serving as the reference point for the Judean king’s accession. The perfect verb malakh {מָלַךְ | mā-laḵ} ‘he reigned’ marks the act of taking the throne as a completed event. Parallel construct chains ben-Uziyahu {בֶּן־עֻזִיָּהוּ | ben-ʿu-zi-yā-hu} ‘son of Uzziah’ + melech {מֶלֶךְ | meleḵ} ‘king’ + Yehudah {יְהוּדָה | yəhū-dāh} identify the new monarch. The English translation preserves the chronological linkage by placing the synchronistic clause in apposition and retaining the Hebrew order of the kings’ names and titles. |