| 15. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the emphatic infinitive absolute som {שׂוֹם | sōm} and imperfect tashim {תָּשִׂם | tāšîm}, reinforcing the command. The phrase alekha {עָלֶיךָ | ʿă-lê-kā} ‘over you’ marks the addressee of the royal appointment. The relative asher {אֲשֶׁר | ʾă-šer} introduces divine selection by yivchar {יִבְחַר | yiv-ḥār}. The compound title LORD your God {יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ | Yə-hō-wāh ʾĕ-lō-hê-kā} underscores Yahweh’s sovereign authority. Mikerev achekha {מִקֶּרֶב אַחֶיךָ | mik-ke-reḇ ʾă-ḥê-kā} ‘from among your brothers’ specifies eligibility. The prohibition lo tukhal latet {לֹא תוּכַל לָתֵת | lōʾ tû-kal lā-ṯēṯ} employs an ability verb to signal a binding prohibition. The contrast between ish nokhri {אִישׁ נָכְרִי | ʾîš nā-kh-rî} and lo-ahikha {לֹא־אָחִיךָ | lōʾ-ʾă-ḥî-kā} highlights the exclusion of anyone who is not a brother. |