| 2. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative begins with the vav consecutive on wayyaas {וַיַּ֥עַשׂ | wayyaʿaś} ‘and he did,’ marking continued action. The phrase hayyāšār bĕʿênê Yəhōwāh {הַיָּשָׁ֖ר בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה | hayyāšār bĕʿênê Yəhōwāh} ‘the upright in the eyes of the LORD’ assigns moral evaluation from the divine perspective. Wayyēleḵ bĕ-kāl-ḏereḵ Dāwiḏ ’āḇîw {וַיֵּ֗לֶךְ בְּכָל־דֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ דָּוִ֣ד אָבִ֔יו | wayyēleḵ bĕ-kāl-ḏereḵ Dāwiḏ ’āḇîw} ‘and he walked in the whole way of David his father’ uses a construct chain to indicate emulation. The negated clause wĕlō’-sār yāmîn ū-śəmōl {וְלֹא־סָ֖ר יָמִ֥ין וּשְׂמֹֽאול | wĕlō’-sār yāmîn ū-śəmōl} ‘he did not turn aside to the right or to the left’ employs directional antonyms to emphasize complete fidelity. |