| 6. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the consecutive vav Hiphil perfect vehosaphti {וְהֹסַפְתִּ֣י | vĕhōsaphtî} ‘and I will increase,’ indicating divine action to prolong life. The phrase al-yamekha {עַל־יָמֶיךָ | ʿal-yāmēḵā} ‘to your days’ specifies the target of the extension. The numeric compound chamesh esreh shanah {חֲמֵשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה | ḥāmēš ʿeśreh šānâ} ‘fifteen years’ follows Hebrew syntax with units before tens and the noun. The idiom umikaf melek-ashur {וּמִכַּף מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר | ūmiqqapp melek-ʾaššûr} ‘from the hand of the king of Assyria’ uses min plus kaf to denote deliverance from oppressive power. The direct object marker we-et {וְאֵת | wəʾēt} foregrounds ha-ir hazot {הָעִיר הַזֹּאת | hāʿîr ha-zōṯ} ‘this city’ as the recipient of divine deliverance. Vegannoti {וְגַנּוֹתִי | wəgannōtî} ‘and I will defend’ shifts to protective action in Qal perfect. The repetition of ha-ir hazot underscores the focus on the city. The coordinated lemaani {לְמַעֲנִי | lǝma‘ănî} ‘for my sake’ and ulemaan david avdi {וּלְמַעַן דָּוִד עַבְדִּי | ū-lǝma‘an dāwîḏ ʿăbaddî} ‘and for the sake of David my servant’ close the promise by linking divine motives to covenant faithfulness. |