| 12. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the temporal conjunction hos de {ὡς δὲ | hōs dè} ‘but when,’ setting the scene for the response. The aorist verb ēkousamen {ἠκούσαμεν | ēkoúsamen} ‘we heard’ presents the reception of a prior warning as a completed event, while the demonstrative taûta {ταῦτα | taûta} ‘these things’ refers back to the prophetic message. The main verb parekaloûmen {παρεκαλοῦμεν | parekaloûmen} in the imperfect expresses an ongoing or repeated entreaty. The coordinated subject hēmeîs te kaí hoí entópioi {ἡμεῖς τε καὶ οἱ ἐντόπιοι | hēmeîs te kaí hoí entópioi} ‘we and the local people’ underscores joint concern. The articular infinitive with negation toû mḗ anabaínein autón {τοῦ μὴ ἀναβαίνειν αὐτὸν | toû mḗ anabaínein autón} conveys purpose—“that he not go up”—preserving the Greek nuance of desired prevention. Finally, eis Ierousalḗm {εἰς Ἰερουσαλήμ | eis Ierousalḗm} ‘into Jerusalem’ specifies the destination, rendered in English as “not to go up to Jerusalem” to maintain the sense of ascent. |