| 16. Linguistic Exegesis The verse constructs a rapid sequence of waw-consecutive verbs—vayyitmahmah {וֽ͏ַיִּתְמַהְמָהּ | wayyitmah·māh} “and he hesitated,” vayyachaziku {וַיַּחֲזִ֨קוּ | wayyaḥăzîqû} “and they seized,” vayotsihu {וַיֹּצִאֻ֥הוּ | wayyôṣîʾuhû} “and they brought him out,” and vayyanichuhu {וַיַּנִּחֻ֖הוּ | wayyannîḥuhû} “and they set him down”—that underscores Lot’s initial reluctance followed by immediate divine-prompted action. The repeated be-yad phrases (beyado {בְּיָד֣וֹ | bə-yāḏô}, uveyad-ishto {וּבְיַד־אִשְׁתּ֗וֹ | û-ḇə-yad-ʾiš-tô}, uveyad štei venotav {וּבְיַד שְׁתֵּ֣י בְנֹתָ֔יו | û-ḇə-yad šəttê bənōṯāyw}) heighten the urgency and familial inclusion of the rescue. The construct phrase bechemlat Yahweh alav {בְּחֶמְלַ֥ת יְהוָ֖ה עָלָ֑יו | bə-ḥem-laṯ Yə-hō-wāh ʿālāyw} “in the compassion of the LORD upon him” anchors the narrative in divine mercy as the motive for the angels’ forceful deliverance. The final locative expression michuts la’ir {מִח֥וּץ לָעִֽיר | mi-ḥûṣ lā-ʿîr} “outside the city” indicates the outcome: Lot’s relocation from imminent destruction to a place of safety. The translations preserve this structure by reflecting each action, the hand imagery, and the causal link between divine compassion and the rescue mission. |