| 9. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with velo {וְלֹ֖א | wə-lō} introducing a negated counterexpectation. Shame’u {שָׁמֵ֑עוּ | šāmē‘û}, a qal perfect, marks completed failure to heed. Vav-consecutive hiphil vayat’em {וַיַּתְעֵ֤ם | wayyaṭê‘em} indicates active causation by Manasseh. The infinitive construct la’asot {לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת | la-ʿăšôṯ} with et {אֶת־ | ʾet-} governs hara {הָרָ֔ע | hārā‘}, a definite noun of moral wrongdoing. The comparative min-haggoyim {מִן־הַ֨גּוֹיִ֔ם | min-ha-ggôyim} sets a standard exceeded by Israel’s evil, specified by the relative clause asher hishmid {אֲשֶׁר֙ הִשְׁמִ֣יד | ʾăšer hišmîḏ} in hiphil perfect, highlighting utter destruction by Yahweh {יְהוָ֔ה | Yəhōwāh}. The phrase mipnei benei Yisra’el {מִפְּנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל | mippənê bənê Yiśrāʾēl} underscores Israel’s prior status. The English syntax mirrors the Hebrew cause-and-effect sequence and comparative emphasis. |