| 3. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the vav-consecutive verb vayomer {וַיֹּ֤אמֶר | wayyomer} introducing direct speech by avshalom {אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם | avšālōm}. The imperative re’eh {רְאֵ֥ה | rəʾē} functions as a call to attention, directing the petitioner to his divarekha {דְּבָרֶ֖ךָ | dəḇā-rə-kha}. The paired adjectives tovim {טוֹבִים | ṭōvīm} and unechokhim {וּנְכֹחִים | ū-nə-ḵōḥīm} form a coordinate legal evaluation. The participle veshomea {וְשֹׁמֵ֥עַ | wə-šō-mēʿa} combined with einlekha {אֵין־לְךָ֖ | ʾēn-ləḵā} establishes the absence of a hearer, which is further specified by me’et hamelekh {מֵאֵ֥ת הַמֶּֽלֶךְ | mēʾēt ha-meleḵ}. The adversative “but” captures the contrast introduced by the Hebrew vav before the participle. |