| 1. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative opens with the vav consecutive {וַֽיְהִי֙ | way·yî·hî} ‘and it was’, propelling the account into a sequential historical note. The temporal formula biš·nat šā·lôš {בִּשְׁנַ֣ת שָׁלֹ֔שׁ | biš·nat šā·lôš} ‘in the third year’ combines a prepositional construct and a cardinal numeral to anchor the event chronologically. The phrase lə·hō·šê·a ben-ʾê·lā mê·leḵ yîs·rə·ˈʾēl {לְהוֹשֵׁ֥עַ בֶּן־אֵלָ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל | lə·hō·šê·a ben-ʾê·lā mê·leḵ yîs·rə·ˈʾēl} forms a nominal apposition specifying the northern monarch. The verb mā·laḵ {מָלַ֛ךְ | mā·laḵ} ‘reigned’ in Qal perfect follows its subject phrase, indicating a completed action of accession. Similarly, ḥîz·qî·yāh ben-ʼā·ḥāz mê·leḵ yĕ·hû·ḏāh {חִזְקִיָּ֥ה בֶן־אָחָ֖ז מֶ֥לֶךְ יְהוּדָֽה | ḥîz·qî·yāh ben-ʼā·ḥāz mê·leḵ yĕ·hû·ḏāh} provides the Judahite ruler’s title in apposition. This structured sequence of construct chains and verb positioning underscores the chronicler’s emphasis on precise regnal chronology. |