| 9. Linguistic Exegesis The verse comprises three sequential clauses connected by the conjunction ve- {וְ} with verbs following Hebrew verb–subject order. The first clause uses alah {עָלָה | ʿā-lāh} ‘went up’ with ashan {עָשָׁן | ʾā-šān} ‘smoke’ and the locative be-appo {בְּאַפּוֹ | bə-ʾā-pô} ‘in His nostrils,’ forming a metaphor for divine anger. The second clause places esh {אֵשׁ | ʾēš} ‘fire’ before the imperfect toakhel {תֹּאכֵל | tō-ʾāh-ēl} ‘devours,’ with mi-piv {מִפִּיו | mi-pîw} ‘from His mouth’ indicating the source. In the third clause gechalim {גֶּחָלִים | ge-ḥā-lîm} ‘coals’ team with baaru {בָּעֲרוּ | bə-ʾă-rû} ‘blazed’ and mimennu {מִמֶּנּוּ | mi-mmen-nû} ‘from Him.’ The progression of upward movement, consuming action, and ignited coals intensifies the theophanic depiction of divine judgment as the translation renders the Hebrew sequence into clear English narrative. |