| 10. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative opens with the vav-consecutive wayyōmer {וַיֹּ֖אמֶר | wayyōmer} ‘and he said,’ introducing direct speech. The noun phrase hamméleḵ {הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ | hamméleḵ} identifies the royal speaker. The participle hamməḏabbēr {הַֽמְדַבֵּ֤ר | hamməḏabbēr} in a relative protasis ‘whoever speaks’ introduces a general condition. The Hiphil imperfect wahăvēṯô {וַֽהֲבֵאת֣וֹ | wahăvēṯô} functions as a jussive directive. The prohibitive sequence wə-lō-yōsîp̄ ʿôwd lāgaʿat bāḵ {וְלֹֽא־יֹסִ֥יף ע֖וֹד לָגַ֥עַת בָּֽךְ | wə-lō-yōsîp̄ ʿôwd lāgaʿat bāḵ} combines a negative Qal imperfect, an adverb of repetition, and an infinitive of potential action to guarantee cessation of harm. English renders the infinitive as “bother” to convey ongoing effect. |