| 1. Linguistic Exegesis vayehi {וַיְהִי | wāyəhî} ‘and it happened’ functions as a narrative introduction, followed by kishmoa {כִּשְׁמֹעַ | kišmōa‘} ‘when he heard’ forming a temporal clause. The sequential vav verbs vayikra {וַיִּקְרַע | wayyiqrā‘} ‘and he tore’ and vayitkas {וַיִּתְכַּס | wayyitkaś} ‘and he covered himself’ illustrate reflexive Hitpael emphasis on personal grief. The construct beit Yahweh {בֵּית יְהוָה | bêt Yəhōwāh} ‘house of the LORD’ designates the temple as the locus of his response. The English rendition preserves the sequence of vav clauses to mirror Hebrew narrative flow. |