| 25. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the vav-consecutive verb va’atten {וָאֶתֵּן | wā-’et-tēn}, signaling a sequential divine action. The direct object lahem {לָהֶם | lā-hem} marks the recipients. The noun-adjective sequence chukim lo tovim {חֻקִּים לֹא טוֹבִים | ḥuq-qîm lōʾ ṭō-ḇîm} emphasizes the defective quality of the statutes, which is then mirrored in the result clause u-mishpatim lo yichyu bahem {וּמִשְׁפָּטִים לֹא יִחְיוּ בָהֶם | ū-miš-pā-ṭîm lōʾ yiḥ-yû ḇā-hem}, underscoring that the ordinances failed to sustain life. The parallel structure and the postpositive placement of the negative particle heighten the indictment of the legislation. |