| 7. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative opens with the vav-consecutive vayyaḥmōl {וַיַּחְמֹל | wayyaḥmōl} indicating sequential action, immediately followed by the subject hammēlĕḵ {הַמֶּלֶךְ | hammēlĕḵ} “the king.” Two parallel prepositional phrases ʿal Məphīḇōšeṯ {עַל־מְפִי־בֹשֶׁת | ʿal-Məphīḇōšeṯ} and ʿal shevū‘āh Yəhōwāh {עַל־שְׁבֻעַת־יְהוָה | ʿal-shevū‘āh Yəhōwāh} introduce the object spared and its motivating reason. The relative particle ʾăšer {אֲשֶׁר | ʾăšer} marks the subordinate clause defining the oath, while the construct chain ben Yəhōnāṯān ben Šā’ûl establishes lineage. The terms beynōṭām {בֵּינֹתָם | beynōṭām}, beyn {בֵּין | beyn}, and ūbeyn {וּבֵין | ūbeyn} frame the covenantal relationship “between them, between David and Jonathan.” The English reconstructions preserve Hebrew emphasis by mirroring dual coordination and highlighting the oath’s central role in restraining the king. |