| 32. Linguistic Exegesis The dialogue is propelled by the vav-consecutive form vayomer {וַיֹּאמֶר | va-yō-mer} ‘and he said’, signaling successive speech acts. The interrogative hashalom {הֲשָׁלוֹם | ha-šā-lōm} employs an existential question to inquire about Absalom’s welfare. The response uses the Qal imperfect jussive yihyu {יִהְיוּ | yi-hyū} ‘may they be’ to express a wish against adversaries. The construct chain oyvei adoni hamelech {אֹיְבֵי אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ | ʾō-yvā-yê ʾă-dō-nî ham-mé-lekh} ‘enemies of my lord the king’ tightens allegiance and hostility, and the relative clause asher kamu aleikha leraʿah {אֲשֶׁר קָמוּ עָלֶיךָ לְרָעָה | ʾă-šer kā-mū ʿā-lē-khā lə-rā-ʿāh} specifies hostile intent, guiding the English to preserve the sequence and emphasis. |