| 8. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with sheshet {שֵׁשֶׁת | šê-šeṯ} ‘six’ and yamim {יָמִים | yā-mîm} ‘days’, establishing a temporal frame in which toʾkhal {תֹּאכַל | tō-ʾa-ḵal} ‘you shall eat’ governs matzot {מַצּוֹת | ma-ẓōṯ} ‘unleavened breads’. The conjunction u- {וּ־ | ŭ} ‘and’ merges with bayom {בַּיּוֹם | ba-yôm} ‘on the day’, and ha-shviʾi {הַשְּׁבִיעִי | ha-šə-vi-ʿî} ‘the seventh’ introduces ʿaṣeret {עֲצֶרֶת | ʿă-ṣê-ret} ‘assembly’. This is followed by la-Yahweh {לַיהוָה | la-Yə-hō-wāh} ‘to the LORD’ and Eloheikha {אֱלֹהֶיךָ | ʾĕ-lō-hê-khā} ‘your God’. The negative lo {לֹא | lōʼ} ‘not’ precedes taʿaseh {תַעֲשֶׂה | ta-ʿă-seh} ‘you shall do’, with melakhah {מְלָאכָה | mə-lā-ḵā} ‘work’ forming a prohibition clause that contrasts with the eating instruction. The shift from affirmative directive to prohibition highlights the distinct sacred character of the seventh-day assembly. |