| 20. Linguistic Exegesis The verse continues a coordinated list of peoples using the repeated sequence ve’et {וְאֶת־ | wə-ʾeṯ} ‘and also the’, where the conjunction vav is prefixed to the direct object marker ʾet. Each ve’et introduces another gentilic noun phrase—hachitti {הַחִתִּי | ha-ḥit-tî} ‘the Hittite’, happerizzi {הַפְּרִזִּי | hap-pə-riz-zî} ‘the Perizzite’, and harefa’im {הָרְפָאִים | hā-rə-fā-ʾîm} ‘the Rephaim’. The definite article on each gentilic highlights these as specific, recognized ethnic groups. Syntactically, every group functions as a coordinated direct object of the governing verb from the surrounding promise context, with the paratactic repetition of ve’et creating a rhythmic catalog that gives equal weight to each nation. The direct object marker ʾet has no direct English equivalent, so English translations omit it while reproducing its discourse effect by maintaining a clear list structure, using repeated “and” or the phrase “as well as … and” to signal that all three peoples are included together in the same promised territory. |