| 20. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative begins with the verb vayishlach {וַיִּשְׁלַח֙ | vá-yish-lāḥ} ‘and he sent’, setting a messenger context by introducing Isaiah before the recipient. The infinitive construct lemor {לֵאמֹ֑ר | lē-ʾā-mōr} ‘saying’ marks the transition to direct speech. The formula koh amar {כֹּֽה־אָמַר | kō-ʾā-mar} ‘thus said’ functions as a prophetic utterance indicator. The compound title Yahweh Elohei Yisrael {יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל | Yə-hō-wāh ʾĕ-lō-hê yiś-rā-ʼēl} establishes the covenantal identity of the speaker. The relative particle asher {אֲשֶׁ֨ר | ʾă-šer} introduces the content of the petition, with hitpallalta {הִתְפַּלַּ֧לְתָּ | hit-pal-lal-tā} in the Hitpael perfect highlighting Hezekiah’s personal supplication. The double occurrence of el {אֵלַ֛י | ʾē-lai and אֶל־} distinguishes the direction “to me” from the object “concerning Sennacherib.” The response verb shamati {שָׁמָֽעְתִּי | šā-mā-tî} in the Qal perfect conveys completed divine attention. English syntax shifts to subject–verb–object order while preserving the Hebrew’s prophetic report structure. |