| 9. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the vav-consecutive vehayah {וְהָיָ֛ה | wə-hā-yāh} ‘and it shall be’, marking a temporal introduction. The prepositional infinitive construct kekallot {כְּכַלֹּ֥ת | kə-kal-lōṯ} ‘when finished’ combines with the infinitive ledabber {לְדַבֵּ֣ר | lə-dab-bēr} ‘to speak’, forming a subordinate temporal clause linked to hashoterim {הַשֹּׁטְרִ֖ים | ha-šō-ṭrîm} ‘the officers’. The vav-consecutive in upaqdu {וּפָ֥קְד֛וּ | ū-pāq-də-û} ‘and they shall appoint’ introduces the main clause. The construct chain sarei tsevaot {שָׂרֵ֥י צְבָא֖וֹת | ṣā-rê ṣə-vā-’ōṯ} ‘commanders of armies’ specifies the appointed office, and the prepositional phrase berosh ha-am {בְּרֹ֥אשׁ הָעָֽם | bə-rôš hā-ʿām} ‘at the head of the people’ indicates spatial-functional leadership in the Deuteronomic military ordering. |