| 4. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the feminine compound numeral phrase shteym esreh shanah {שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה | šə-têym ʿeś-rêh šā-nāh} functioning as a fronted temporal adverbial, “for twelve years.” This temporal span precedes the main verbal clause headed by avdu {עָבְדוּ | ʿā-və-dû} ‘they served’, with an implicit subject referring to the local kings in context. The particle et {אֶת | ʾeṯ} introduces Kedorlaomer {כְּדָרְלָעֹמֶר | kə-dār-la-ʿō-mer} as the definite direct object. The coordinated waw in ûshlosh-esreh shanah {וּשְׁלֹשׁ־עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה | û-šəlōš-ʿeś-rêh šā-nāh}, “but in the thirteenth year,” signals a contrastive temporal clause. The final verb maradu {מָרָדוּ | mā-rā-dû} ‘they rebelled’ parallels the first perfect verb, creating a concise contrast from prolonged subjection to decisive revolt. English renders the contrast with “but” and retains clause-initial temporal phrases to mirror the Hebrew structure. |