| 1. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative verb vayed‘a {וַיֵּ֖דַע | wayyēda‘} ‘and he knew’ employs the vav-consecutive prefix with the Qal imperfect to mark sequential action. The subject Yoav ben Tseruyah {יוֹאָ֣ב בֶּן־צְרֻיָ֑ה | yô’āḇ ben-ṣərûyāh} is foregrounded with maternal lineage. The conjunction ki {כִּֽי־ | kî} introduces a subordinate clause in which lev hamelekh {לֵ֥ב הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ | lêḇ hameleḵ} ‘the heart of the king’ serves as subject and the prepositional phrase al Avshalom {עַל־אַבְשָׁלֽוֹם | ʿal-ʾavšālôm} ‘toward Absalom’ indicates the object of the king’s focus. This structure highlights David’s internal orientation toward Absalom. In English, we place the actor first for clarity and retain the Hebrew genitive in “king’s heart” and “king’s feelings” to preserve emotional emphasis. |