| 24. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the conjunction and interrogative adverb ve’eikh {וְאֵ֣יךְ | wə-ʾêyk} “and how,” setting up a rhetorical challenge that questions the feasibility of the action. The Hiphil imperfect tashiv {תָּשִׁ֗יב | tāšîḇ} functions as an active causative ‘repel,’ emphasizing deliberate opposition. The construct chain penei fakhat akhad avdei adoni ha-ketanin {פְּנֵ֨י פַחַ֥ת אַחַ֛ד עַבְדֵ֥י אֲדֹנִ֖י הַקְּטַנִּ֑ים | pᵊnê pᵊḥaṯ ʾaḥad ʿăḇdê ʾădōnî haqqəṭannîm} ‘the face of one captain of my master’s least servants’ employs nested genitive constructs to underline insignificance and hierarchical distance. The vav-consecutive with vativtach {וַתִּבְטַ֤ח | wattiḇṭāḥ} “and you trust” connects this rhetorical query to misdirected confidence. The prepositional phrases al-mitsrayim {עַל־מִצְרַיִם | ʿal-miṣrāyim} “upon Egypt” and le-rekhev u-le-parashim {לְרֶ֖כֶב וּלְפָרָשִׁים | lᵉreḵēḇ ū-lᵉpārašîm} “for chariots and for horsemen” detail the military assets in which reliance is placed. English syntax smooths the Hebrew order while maintaining the verse’s ironic tension and hierarchical nuance. |