| 3. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the narrative vav-consecutive wayyiqtol vayomer {וַיֹּאמֶר | way-yō-mer}, introducing direct speech. The indirect object lahem {לָהֶם | lā-hem} precedes the subject hamelekh {הַמֶּלֶךְ | ham-me-leḵ} to emphasize the audience. The construction ḥălōm ḥālamtī {חֲלוֹם חָלָמְתִּי | ḥă-lōm ḥā-lam-tî} combines an infinitive absolute plus perfect verb for emphasis (“a dream I dreamed”). The Nifal wayyiqtol vattippa‘em {וַתִּפָּעֶם | wat-tip-pa-ʿem} conveys the king’s agitation linked to ruchi {רוּחִי | rû-ḥî} ‘my spirit’. The purpose infinitive lāda‘at {לָדַעַת | lā-da-ʿat} governs et-ha-ḥă-lōm {אֶת־הַחֲלֹם | ʾet-ha-ḥă-lōm}, clarifying the king’s intent to know the dream. The Hebrew word order and verb forms underscore the emotional disturbance and the urgent need for interpretation. |