| 21. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with vayya’azvu-sham {וַיַּעַזְבוּ־שָׁם | wa-ya-ʿaz-ẓû-šām} ‘and they abandoned there,’ where the vav consecutive plus Qal imperfect sets the narrative in motion and the locative adverb is joined by a maqqef. The direct object marker et {אֶת־ | ʾet-} introduces atzabeihem {עֲצַבֵּיהֶם | ă-ṣab-bê-hem} ‘their idols,’ bearing a third person plural suffix for possession. The next clause opens with vayissa’em {וַיִּשָּׂאֵם | wa-yi-sā-ʾêm} ‘and he carried them,’ another vav consecutive verb that shifts the action to David while retaining the plural object suffix. David {דָּוִד | Dā-wîd} appears in absolute form, followed by va’anashav {וַאֲנָשָׁיו | wa-ʾănā-šāw} ‘and his men,’ which fuses the conjunction vav with “men” plus a singular possessive suffix. The paratactic sequence of two vav-prefixed verbs and pronominal suffixes, framing David’s name, emphasizes the swift transfer of the Philistines’ cult objects into his band’s custody, reflecting the Deuteronomistic theme of overturning foreign worship. |