| 20. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative unfolds through a series of vav-consecutive verbs: wayyizbaḥ {וַיִּזְבַּח | wayyizbaḥ} ‘and he slaughtered’, wayyisrof {וַיִּשְׂרֹף | wayyisrof} ‘and he burned’, and wayyāšāv {וַיָּשָׁב | wayyāšāv} ‘and he returned’. The construct chain kōhənê habbāmôṯ {כֹּהֲנֵי הַבָּמוֹת | kōhĕnê habbāmôṯ} ‘priests of the high places’ links office and location. The relative clause ʾăšer šām {אֲשֶׁר־שָׁם | ʾăšer šām} ‘who were there’ specifies site. The object phrase ʾet-ʿaṣmōṯ ʾāḏām ʿălêhem {אֶת־עַצְמוֹת אָדָם עֲלֵיהֶם | ʾet-ʿaṣmōṯ ʾāḏām ʿălêhem} uses the direct object marker and prepositional suffix to express what and where. This structure contributes to the vivid depiction of ritual destruction. The final wayyāšāv marks the return to Jerusalem, shifting the narrative focus back to the central sanctuary. |