| 6. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the vav-consecutive verb wayyaas {וַיַּעַשׂ | wayyaʿaś} ‘and he did’, indicating narrative continuation, followed by the subject Avshalom {אַבְשָׁלוֹם | Avšālôm}. The comparative clause kadavar hazzeh {כַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה | ka-dā-ḇār haz-zēh} functions as a circumstantial comparative expressing consistent pattern. Lekol-Yisrael asher-yavo’u {לְכָל-יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר-יָבֹאוּ | lə-kol-Yiśrāʾēl ʾăšer-yābōʾū} ‘to all Israel who came’ defines the scope, with the infinitive lamishpat {לַמִּשְׁפָּט | la-mmîšpāṭ} ‘for judgment’ indicating purpose. The sequential Piel imperfect vayegannev {וַיְגַנֵּב | wayyeganneb} ‘and he stole’ introduces the result, and the construct et-lev anshei-Yisrael {אֶת-לֵב אַנְשֵׁי יִשְׂרָאֵל | ʾet-lēḇ ʾănšê Yiśrāʾēl} ‘the heart of the men of Israel’ highlights internal influence. The parallel clauses underscore cause and effect between Absalom’s conduct and its impact on his audience’s loyalty. |