| 10. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with vatomer {וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ | wat-tōʾmer} ‘and she said’, a wayyiqtol verb form introducing Sarah’s speech. The prepositional phrase le-Avraham {לְאַבְרָהָ֔ם | lə-ʾaḇ-rā-hām} ‘to Abraham’ specifies the addressee. The Piel imperative garesh {גָּרֵ֛שׁ | gā-rēš} ‘drive out’ issues a forceful legal command. The compound ha-amah hazot {הָאָמָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את | hā-ʾā-māh haz-zōṯ} ‘this maidservant’ uses a near demonstrative to dehumanize Hagar. The coordinated object ve-et-bena {וְאֶת־בְּנָ֑הּ | wə-ʾeṯ-bə-nāh} ‘and her son’ marks both for expulsion. The conjunction ki {כִּ֣י | kî} ‘for’ introduces the causal clause, where the negated imperfect lo yirash {לֹ֤א יִירַשׁ֙ | lōʾ yî-raš} ‘will not inherit’ declares a categorical exclusion. The phrase ben-ha-amah hazot {בֶּן־הָאָמָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את | ben-hā-ʾā-māh haz-zōṯ} ‘son of this maidservant’ repeats the disparagement, omitting the child’s name. Finally, the double prepositional phrase im-beni im-Yitschak {עִם־בְּנִ֖י עִם־יִצְחָֽק | ʿim-bə-nî ʿim-yiṣ-ḥāq} ‘with my son, with Isaac’ emphasizes Isaac’s exclusive claim. The repetition and paired prepositions reflect Hebrew emphasis, which the English reproduces by preserving both duplication and causal connection. |