| 16. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the restrictive particle raq {רַק | râq} ‘only’, setting a limit on royal prerogative. The first prohibition employs the Hif’il imperfect yārbeh {יַרְבֶּה | yārbeh} with the pronominal suffix lō {לוֹ | lō} to denote “shall not multiply for himself,” governing the plural noun sūsim {סוּסִים | sūsim}. The conjunction wə-lō {וְלֹא | wə-lōʾ} introduces a parallel ban with yāšîv {יָשִׁיב | yāšîv} plus the direct object marker ʾet {אֵת | ʾet} before ha-ʿam {הָעָם | ha-ʿam}. The purpose clause lə-maʿan {לְמַעַן | lə-maʿan} with the infinitive construct harbôt sūs {הַרְבּוֹת סוּס | harbôt sūs} expresses the goal of multiplying horses. The divine citation wayhōwâh ʾāmar {וַֽיהוָה אָמַר | wayhōwâh ʾāmar} anchors the prohibition in divine authority. The final prohibition tôsîp̄ûn lāšûv {תֹסִפ֗וּן לָשׁ֛וּב | tōsîp̄ûn lāšûv} with ba-dēreḵ ha-zeh ʿōd {בַּדֶּרֶךְ הַזֶּה עֽוֹד | ba-dēreḵ ha-zeh ʿōd} forbids repeated return by that specific route. |