| 4. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative opens with wayyitsaq {וַיִּצְעַק | wayyiṣaq} ‘and he cried out’, a Qal wayyiqtol form that expresses urgent appeal. The verb precedes Moshe {מֹשֶׁה | mōšeh} in typical Hebrew verb–subject order, maintaining narrative momentum. The preposition el Yahweh {אֶל־יְהוָה | ’el–Yə-hō-wāh} ‘to the LORD’ identifies the direct addressee. The infinitive leʾemor {לֵאמֹר | lē-ʾmōr} introduces the speech formula. Within the quotation, the interrogative mah {מָה | māh} ‘what’ precedes the imperfect eʾeseh {אֶעֱשֶׂה | ’eʿśeh} ‘shall I do’, forming the core question. The phrase laam hazzeh {לָעָם הַזֶּה | lā-ʿām hazzeh} ‘for this people’ marks Moses’ concern, while the adverbial sequence ’od meʿat {עוֹד מְעַט | ’ôd meʿaṭ} ‘a little while longer’ signals imminent danger, leading to the coordinated imperfect usqaluni {וּסְקָלֻנִי | ūsqālûnî} ‘and they will stone me’. In English, Hebrew vav-prefixed verbs become standard tense verbs, and clauses are reordered to preserve clarity and urgency. |