| 17. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the wayyiqtol verb vayyotse {וַיּוֹצֵא | way-yô-ṣēʾ}, which foregrounds Moses {mosheh | mō-šeh} as agent in a causative action. The direct object marker et {אֶת | ʾeṯ} signals the people {haam | hā-ʿām} as the recipients of movement. The infinitive construct likrat {לִקְרַאת | liq-rāṯ} expresses purpose ‘to meet’ with haelohim {הָאֱלֹהִים | hā-ʾĕ-lō-hîm}, framing the journey as a sacred approach. The prepositional phrase min hamachaneh {מִן־הַמַּחֲנֶה | min-ham-ma-ḥă-neh} marks departure, while the subsequent wayyiqtol vayyityatsevu {וַיִּתְיַצְּבּוּ | way-yit-yaṣ-ṣə-vû} in Hitpael conveys a deliberate, reflexive stance. Finally, betachtit hahar {בְּתַחְתִּית הָהָר | bə-taḥ-tît hā-hār} positions them at the mountain’s base, underscoring their subordination and readiness for revelation. |