| 23. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the noun phrase wa‘atsat {וַעֲצַ֣ת | wa‘ă-ṣat} ‘advice’, which functions as the subject of a vav-consecutive narrative clause introduced by the waw and the Qal perfect yaats {יָעַץ֙ | yā-‘aṣ} ‘he counseled’. The adverbial bayyamim hāhēm {בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם | ba-yyā-mîm hā-hēm} ‘in those days’ situates the action. A comparison is made with kaasher {כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר | ka-’ă-šer} ‘just as’, linking to the Qal imperfect yishal {יִשְׁאַל־ | yiš-‘āl} ‘inquire’, which equates Ahithophel’s counsel with divine consultation. The construct biddvar hāelohim {בִּדְבַר הָאֱלֹהִים | bid-dā-ḇār hā-’ĕ-lō-hîm} ‘in the word of the God’ underscores authoritative revelation. The intensifier ken {כֵּ֚ן | kên} ‘so’ and the distributive gam ... gam {גַּם־ ... גַּם | gam ... gam} ‘also ... also’ apply the same judgment to David and Absalom. |