| 14. Linguistic Exegesis The verse unfolds through a sequence of wayyiqtol verbs that build narrative momentum. The opening verb vayered {וַיֵּ֧רֶד | way-yē-reḏ} ‘and he went down’ identifies Moses as the actor, with min-hahar {מִן־הָהָ֖ר | min-hā-hār} ‘from the mountain’ marking the action’s origin and el-ha-am {אֶל־הָעָם | ʾel-hā-ʿām} ‘to the people’ its destination, underscoring Moses’ mediatory role. The next wayyiqtol verb vayekadesh {וַיְקַדֵּשׁ֙ | way-qaḏ-dē-š} ‘and he consecrated’ shifts focus to the ritual preparation of the community, with et-ha-am {אֶת־הָעָם | ʾeṯ-hā-ʿām} as the object. The final verb vayekabsu {וַֽיְכַבְּס֖וּ | way-yaḵ-bə-sû} ‘and they washed’ introduces a plural subject, highlighting communal participation in purification, and simlotam {שִׂמְלֹתָֽם | šim-lō-ṯām} ‘their garments’ emphasizes the tangible readiness for divine encounter. This cumulative vav-consecutive structure tightly links consecration and cleansing within the covenantal context. |