| 28. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative opens with the sequential vav-consecutive imperfect vayetsav {וַיְצַו֩ | wäy-ṣäʾw} marking the commencement of Absalom’s command. The direct object et-ne’arav {אֶת־נְעָרָ֜יו | ʾet-nə-ʿā-rāyv} identifies his young men. The infinitive lemor {לֵאמֹ֗ר | lē-ʾā-môr} introduces reported speech. Within the address, the Qal imperative re’u {רְא֣וּ | rə-ʾû} combined with the entreaty particle na {נָ֠א | nāʾ} instructs them to pay attention at the specified moment. The prepositional-adjective ketov {כְּט֨וֹב | kə-ṯôḇ} joined with lev-amnon {לֵב־אַמְנ֤וֹן | lēḇ-ʾam-nōn} and bayayin {בַּיַּ֙יִן֙ | bə-yā-yîn} forms a temporal clause “when Amnon’s heart is glad with wine.” The vav-consecutive ve-amarti {וְאָמַרְתִּ֣י | wə-ʾā-mar-tî} signals the cue for action. The coordinated Hifil imperatives haku {הַכּ֧וּ | ha-kû} and the perfect va-hamittem {וַהֲמִתֶּ֥ם | wa-hă-mit-tem} sequence the orders to strike and kill. The jussive al-tirau {אַל־תִּירָ֑אוּ | ʾal-tî-rāʾû} prohibits fear, while the interrogative halo {הֲל֗וֹא | hə-lōʾ} and justification clause ki anokhi tsiviti {כִּי אָנֹכִי צִוִּיתִ֣י | kî ʾā-nō-ḵî ṣîw-wî-tî} underscore Absalom’s authority. The concluding imperatives chizku {חִזְק֖וּ | ḥiz-qû} and viheyu {וִהְי֥וּ | wî-hə-yû} with livnei-chayil {לִבְנֵי־חָיִל׃ | liw-nê-ḥā-yil} encourage the young men to embody strength and valor. |