| 22. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the direct object marker et {אֶת־ | ʾeṯ-} marking “these four” as the focus, followed by the numeral arba‘at {אַרְבַּעַת | ʾar-ba‛at} and demonstrative eleh {אֵלֶּה | ʾel-leh}. The Pual perfect yulledu {יֻלְּדוּ | yul-le-ḏu} indicates passive origin linked by the construct phrase l’harafah {לְהָרָפָה | lə-hā-rā-pha}, identifying Rapha as their ancestor, and b’gat {בְּגַת | bə-ḡat} situates them in Gath. A vav-consecutive introduces the verb vayyippelu {וַיִּפְּלוּ | va-yip-pe-lû}, marking their defeat, with agency specified by b’yad {בְיַד־ | bə-yad-} David {דָּוִד | Dā-wîd} and u-b’yad {וּבְיַד | ū-bə-yad} avadav {עֲבָדָיו | ʿă-vā-dāy}. English rendering preserves the Hebrew’s sequential and emphatic structure, highlighting the transition from lineage to their downfall at David’s hands. |