| 14. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative opens with the vav consecutive Hiphil imperfect way-yaṭ {וַיַּט | way-yaṭ}, indicating a causative action that redirects focus. The prepositional construct ʾel-lə-ḇāv {אֶל־לְבַב | ʾel-lə-ḇāv} highlights the locus of influence. The phrase kol-ʾîš yĕ-hû-dāh {כָּל־אִישׁ יְהוּדָה | kol-ʾîš yĕ-hû-dāh} employs distributive kol with a singular noun to express each individual’s involvement. The comparative clause kə-ʾîš ʾe-ḥād {כְּאִישׁ אֶחָד | kə-ʾîš ʾe-ḥād} frames collective unity, and the coordination of way-yiš-lə-ḥû {וַיִּשְׁלְחוּ | way-yiš-lə-ḥû} followed by the imperative šûḇ {שׁוּב | šûḇ} connects the internal shift with the external message. The locative phrase ʾel-ham-me-lēḵ {אֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְ | ʾel-ham-me-lēḵ} sets the formal addressee, and the plural construct wə-kōl-ʿă-vā-ḏê-ḵā {וְכָל־עֲבָדֶיךָ | wə-kōl-ʿă-vā-ḏê-ḵā} broadens the appeal to the king’s retinue. |