| 7. Linguistic Exegesis The opening vav-consecutive imperfect vehayah {וְהָיָ֤ה | wə-hā-yāh} ‘and he was’ sets the narrative on divine presence. A result clause follows with bekhol {בְּכֹ֥ל | bə-kōl} ‘in all’ and the relative asher-yetse {אֲשֶׁר־יֵצֵ֖א | ʾăšer-yēṣēʾ} ‘that he went out,’ governing the Hiphil imperfect yaskil {יַשְׂכִּ֑יל | yăškîl} ‘he prospered,’ emphasizing the wise empowerment of his ventures. The narrative then shifts with the vav-consecutive vayimrod {וַיִּמְרֹ֥ד | way-yimrōḏ} ‘and he rebelled’ plus the construct phrase bemelech-ashur {בְּמֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁ֖וּר | bəmeleḵ-ʾaššûr} ‘against the king of Assyria,’ marking political defiance. The final wə-lōʾ {וְלֹ֥א | wə-lōʾ} ‘and not’ with avado {עֲבָדֽוֹ | ʿăwāḏō} ‘he served him’ underscores his absolute refusal of vassalage. |