| 23. Linguistic Exegesis The clause opens with a vav-consecutive Qal imperfect in vayomer {וַיֹּאמֶר | wayyōmer} ‘and he said’, marking narrative action. The subject hamelek {הַמֶּלֶךְ | hammēleḵ} ‘the king’ governs the clause, followed by the prepositional phrase el-Shimei {אֶל־שִׁמְעִי | ʾel Šimʿī} as an indirect object. A negated Qal imperfect is formed by lo {לֹא | lō} with tamut {תָּמוּת | tāmuṯ} ‘you will die’, expressing a prohibition. The narrative resumes with the vav-consecutive Niphal imperfect in vayishava' {וַיִּשָּׁבַע | wayyiššāḇaʿ} ‘and he swore’, with the pronominal suffix lo {לוֹ | lō} marking the beneficiary. Repetition of hamelek reinforces royal authority, and the progression from declaration to oath underscores the formal ratification of the pardon. |