| 15. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the narrative formula vayomer {וַיֹּאמֶר֙ | way-yō-mer} ‘and he said’, a Qal wayyiqtol marking sequential narrative and introducing Moses’ speech. The prepositional phrase el haam {אֶל־הָעָם | ʾel–hā-ʿām} specifies the audience. Within the quotation, the Qal imperative heyū {הֱיוּ | he-yû} ‘be’ combined with the Niphal participle nekhōnīm {נְכֹנִים | nə-ḵō-nîm} ‘prepared’ functions as a consecratory command. The construct lishlōšet yāmîm {לִשְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים | li-šə-lō-šeṯ yā-mîm} sets a temporal boundary of three days. The prohibitive particle ʾal {אַל | ʾal} ‘do not’ plus the Qal imperfect tiggešū {תִּגְּשׁוּ | tig-ge-šû} ‘you approach’ issues a negative injunction. Finally, the preposition ʾel {אֶל | ʾel} with ʾîššāh {אִשָּׁה | ʾiš-šāh} idiomatically denotes marital relations. The balanced structure frames ritual preparation alongside abstention, reflecting Moses’ mediation of divine commands. |