| 10. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative sequence begins with the Piel imperfect with vav consecutive timmē {וְטִמֵּ֣א | wə-ṭimmēʾ} ‘defiled,’ indicating a deliberate ritual act. The direct object marker et {אֶת־ | ʾet} identifies hatofet {הַתֹּפֶת | ha-ṭō-p̄eṯ} ‘Topheth’ as the cultic site. The relative clause introduced by asher {אֲשֶׁ֖ר | ʾăšer} ‘which’ locates it within the construct chain begei bənê ben-hinnom {בְּגֵ֣י בְּנֵי־בֶן־הִנֹּ֑ם | bə-ḡê bənê ben-hin-nōm} ‘in the valley of the sons of Ben-Hinnom.’ The negative purpose construction combines levilti {לְבִלְתִּ֗י | lə-bil-Tî} ‘in order not to’ with the Hiphil infinitive laha‘ăvir {לְהַעֲבִ֨יר | lə-ha-ʿă-ḇîr} ‘to cause to pass,’ stipulating the prohibition of child sacrifice. The prepositional phrase ba-ʾēš lamōleḵ {בָּאֵ֖שׁ לַמֹּֽלֶךְ | bā-ʾēš la-mō-leḵ} ‘in the fire to Molech’ highlights the cultic association. The English rendering preserves Hebrew word order and the negative purpose clause to maintain emphasis on the prohibition. |