| 23. Linguistic Exegesis The verse features two parallel vav-consecutive clauses that build a vivid scene of desolation. The first clause begins with vesamtiha {וְשַׂמְתִּ֛יהָ | wə-śam-tî-ṯî-hā} ‘and I will make her’, governing two coordinated prepositional phrases: lemorash {לְמוֹרַ֥שׁ | lə-mō-raš} ‘for a possession for the hedgehog’ and agmei-mayim {אַגְמֵי־מָיִם | ʾag-mê-i-mā-yim} ‘marshes of water’, which together depict thorough ruin. The second clause, introduced by vete’ate’tiha {וְטֵֽאטֵאתִ֙יהָ֙ | wə-ṭē-ʾă-ṭê-ṯî-hā} ‘and I will sweep her’, is followed by the instrumental phrase bematate ha-shmed {בְּמַטְאֲטֵ֣א הַשְׁמֵ֔ד | bə-mat-ă-ṭê-ʾ ha-šmê-ḏ} ‘with the broom of destruction’, emphasizing complete removal. The closing formula neum Yahweh tseva’ot {נְאֻ֖ם יְהוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת | nə-ʾûm Yə-hō-wāh ṣə-ḇā-’ōṯ} ‘declares the LORD of hosts’ marks divine speech and heightens the authoritative tone of judgment. |