| 16. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the vav-consecutive imperfect vatomer {וַתֹּ֣אמֶר | wāṯ·tō·mer} introducing Tamar’s direct speech. The prohibitive particle al {אַל־ | ʾal} combines with the construct noun odot {אוֹדֹ֞ת | ʾō·dōṯ} “mention” and the noun haraʿah {הָרָעָ֤ה | hā·rā·ʿā(h)} “wrongdoing” to form an emphatic prohibition. The comparative mēʾaḥeret {מֵאַחֶ֛רֶת | mē·ʾă·ḥe·reṯ} “more than” with the relative clause asher ʿasita ʿimmî {אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂ֥יתָ עִמִּ֖י | ʾă·šer ʿā·śi·ṯā ʿim·mî} “that which you have done to me” establishes a contrast. The infinitive ləšallēḥênî {לְשַׁלְּחֵ֑נִי | lə·šall·ḥê·nî} “to send me away” specifies the act of expulsion. The conjunction wə·lō {וְלֹ֥א | wə·lō} links to the perfect ʾāvāh {אָבָ֖ה | ʾā·vā(h)} “was willing,” followed by the infinitive lišmōaʿ {לִשְׁמֹ֥עַ | liš·mō·ʿ} “to listen,” highlighting Amnon’s refusal and underscoring the moral tension between Tamar’s plea and his obstinacy. |