| 1. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative opens with vayuggad {וַיֻּגַּד | vǎ-yu-ḡăḏ} ‘and it was told’, employing the vav-consecutive + Hofal imperfect to introduce a passive report. The prepositional phrase leyoav {לְיוֹאָב | lə-yō-ʾāḇ} ‘to Joab’ marks the recipient. The interjection hinneh {הִנֵּה | hinnēh} ‘behold’ immediately draws attention to the subject hamelekh {הַמֶּלֶךְ | ham-méleḵ} ‘the king’, which is then described by the participle bocheh {בֹּכֶה | bō-kē} ‘is weeping’ to denote an ongoing action. The vav-consecutive + Hitpael imperfect vayitabel {וַיִּתְאַבֵּל | vǎ-yit-ṭab-bēl} ‘and he mourns’ intensifies the reflexive lament. Finally, the preposition al {עַל | ʿal} ‘over’ with the object Avshalom {אַבְשָׁלוֹם | ʾAv-šā-lōm} specifies the focus of grief. This structure of sequential report, emphatic interjection, and parallel emotional verbs amplifies the emotional gravity of the king’s response. |