| 22. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the vav-consecutive verb veanah {וְעָנָ֤ה | wə-ʿānā(h)} ‘and cried out’, initiating a sequence of desolation images. The noun phrase iyyim {אִיִּים֙ | ʾiyyîm} ‘wild creatures’ is paralleled by vetannim {וְתַנִּים֖ | wə-tannîm} ‘jackals’, linked by vav. The construct bealmenotav {בְּאַלְמְנוֹתָיו | bə-ʾal-men-ō-ṯāw} uses a plural construct with a suffix to portray “deserted towers,” echoed by beheikhlei oneg {בְּהֵיכְלֵי עֹנֶג | bə-hēy-khə-lê ʿō-neg} ‘palaces of delight’, contrasting ruin and past luxury. The clause vekarov lavo ittah {וְקָר֤וֹב לָבוֹא עִתָּהּ | wə-qārôv lā-vōʾ ʿî-ṯā(h)} shifts to a temporal pronouncement, reinforced by veyameha lo yimmasheku {וְיָמֶ֖יהָ לֹ֥א יִמָּשֵֽׁכוּ | wə-yā-me-hā lōʾ yimmā-šē-ḵū}, creating a progression from vivid parallel imagery to an inevitable decree. The SVO order preserves the Hebrew’s poetic rhythm and emphasis. |