| 16. Linguistic Exegesis The verse uses a sequence of vav-consecutive imperfect verbs (wayyaazvu, wayyaasu, wayyishtachavu, wayyaavdu) to depict successive stages of apostasy. The construct phrase mitsvot Yahweh eloheihem {mitsvot Yəhōwāh ʾĕlōhêhēm} ‘commandments of the LORD their God’ indicates possession and covenant obligation. The numeral-noun construct shene agalim {šene agalim} ‘two calves’ modifies massekah {massekah} ‘molten idol’. The broad prepositional phrase lekhol tzva hashamayim {ləkhol tseva hashamayim} ‘to all the host of the heavens’ highlights celestial worship. The final object et habbaal {et habbaal} marks deliberate service to a foreign deity, moving from covenant breach to idolatrous devotion. |