| 3. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with vayyomeru {וַיֹּאמְרוּ | vay·yō·mə·rū} “and they said,” introducing haam {הָעָם | hā·ʿām} “the people” in direct address. The prohibitive is formed by elo {אֵלֹא | ʾê·lô} plus the Qal imperfect tense of tetse {תֵצֵא | ṯē·ṣē·ʾ} “you shall go out.” The paired particles ki-im {כִּי־אִם | kî–ʾim} introduce hypothetical escape scenarios nas {נָס | nās} and nanus {נָנוּס | nā·nûs}. The idiom lo-yashimu lev {לֹא־יָשִׂימוּ לֵב | lō–yā–šî–mû lêv} “they will not set {the} heart” means “not pay attention,” repeated with vkhi-yamutu ḥetzienu {וְכִי־יָמֻתוּ חֶצְיֵנוּ | wə·kî–yā·mû·tû ḥe·ṣī·ʾê·nû} “and if they die {our} half.” The simile kamonu asara alafim {כָּמוֹנוּ עֲשָׂרָה אֲלָפִים | kā·mō·nû ʾa·śā·râ ʾā·lā·p̄îm} “you are like ten thousand” emphasizes David’s value. The clause ki-tihyeh-lanu meir laazir {כִּי־תִהְיֶה־לָּנוּ מֵעִיר לַעְזִיר | kî–tîh·yēh–lā·nû mê·ʾîr la·ʾa·zîr} uses a nominal construction plus Hiphil infinitive to express preference: “it is better that you give help from the city.” |