| 21. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the Hiphil imperative hakinu {הָכִ֧ינוּ | hā-kî-nū} introducing a command. The beneficiary phrase levanav {לְבָנָ֛יו | lə-van-āv} “for his sons” follows as a prepositional phrase. The noun matbeach {מַטְבֵּ֖חַ | maṭ-bê-aḥ} denotes the act of slaughter. The construct baavon avotam {בַּעֲוֺ֣ן אֲבוֹתָ֑ם | baʿ-ā-vōn ʾa-vō-tām} “for the iniquity of their fathers” assigns causal motive. The prohibitive particle bal {בַּל־ | bal} introduces a purpose clause, followed by the paratactic sequence of verbs yakumu {יָקֻ֙מוּ֙ | yā-qū-mū} “they rise,” veyarshu {וְיָ֣רְשׁוּ | wə-yār-šū} “and they possess,” and umalu {וּמָלְא֥וּ | u-mā-l’û} “and they fill.” Their objects are aretz {אָ֔רֶץ | ʾā-reṣ} “land” and penei-tevel {פְּנֵֽי־תֵבֵ֖ל | pə-nê ṯē-vêl} “face of the world.” The final noun arim {עָרִֽים | ʿā-rîm} “cities” completes a merism emphasizing total occupation. The structure moves from command through cause to preventive judgment, underscoring comprehensive eradication. |