| 8. Linguistic Exegesis The verse unfolds as a narrative chain of wayyiqtol verbs. It opens with vayiqach {וַיִּקַּ֨ח | way-yiq-qaḥ} 'and he took', presenting successive actions. The objects chemah {חֶמְאָ֜ה | ḥem-ʾāh} 'curds' and chalav {חָלָ֗ב | ḥā-lāḇ} 'milk' form a coordinated series of hospitality items. The substantive uven-habakar {וּבֶן־הַבָּקָר | ū-ven-hab-bā-qār} 'calf of the herd' is detailed by the relative clause asher asah {אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה | ʾă-šer ʿā-śāh} 'which he had prepared', highlighting Abraham’s personal effort. The verb vayiten {וַיִּתֵּ֖ן | way-yit-tēn} 'and he set' governs lifneihem {לִפְנֵהֶם | lif-nê-hem} 'before them', indicating respectful placement. Abraham’s posture is then described by vehu-omed aleihem {וְהֽוּא־עֹמֵ֧ד עֲלֵיהֶם | wə-hū-ʾō-mēḏ ʿă-lê-hem} 'and he stood beside them', combining a pronoun with a participle to convey ongoing service. The setting tachat haʿets {תַּ֥חַת הָעֵ֖ץ | ta-ḥat hā-ʿēṣ} 'under the tree' anchors the scene outdoors, and the concluding vayokhelu {וַיֹּאכֵֽלוּ | way-yō-ḵe-lū} 'and they ate' completes the narrative progression, emphasizing the fulfillment of Abraham’s hospitality. |