| 25. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative features two sequential wayyiqtol verbs, vayivchar {וַיִּבְחַ֨ר | way-yib-ḥar} ‘and he chose’ and vayiten {וַיִתֵּן | way-yit-tēn} ‘and he appointed’, framing Moses’ leadership actions. The construct chain anshei-chayil {אַנְשֵׁי־חַיִל | ʾan-šê-ḥa-yil} ‘men of valor’ functions as the direct object, emphasizing tested capability. Mikol Yisrael {מִכָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל | mi-kol-yiś-rā-ʾēl} ‘from all Israel’ indicates representative selection. In the second clause, the pronoun otam {אֹתָם | ʾō-tām} ‘them’ is specified by rashim {רָאשִׁים | rā-šîm} ‘heads’ with al ha-am {עַל־הָעָם | ʿal-hā-ʿām} ‘over the people,’ followed by a parallel series of construct chains (sarei alafim, sarei meot, sarei chamishim, vesarei asarot) that establish hierarchical levels. The em dash introduces the list as an appositive expansion of “heads over the people.” |