| 4. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the construct phrase markevot parʿoh {מַרְכְּבֹ֥ת פַּרְעֹ֛ה | mar-kə-vōṯ pär-ʿōh} ‘chariots of Pharaoh,’ followed by the vav-consecutive vecheilo {וְחֵיל֖וֹ | wə-ḥê-lō} ‘and his army.’ The Qal perfect yarah {יָרָ֣ה | yā-rāh} functions as a narrative perfect implying divine action. A paratactic link introduces umivchar shalishav {וּמִבְחַ֥ר שָֽׁלִשָׁ֖יו | ū-miv-ḥār šā-li-šāw} ‘the choice of his officers,’ which is then followed by the Pual perfect tubu {טֻבְּע֥וּ | ṭub-bə-ʿū} ‘they were sunk.’ The locative construct beyam-sup {בְיַם־סֽוּף | bə-yam-sūp} ‘in the Sea of Reeds’ uses the maqqef to form a single geographic name. The Hebrew passive Pual highlights the result of the waters’ power crushing both general forces and elite leaders. |