| 6. Linguistic Exegesis The verse consists of three paratactic clauses linked by semicolons. It begins with the coordinator u {וּ | û} ‘and’, signaling continuity with the preceding drought narrative. The noun u-pera'im {וּפְרָאִים֙ | û-p̄ə-rā-ʾîm} ‘wild donkeys’ functions as the subject, followed by the Qal perfect amdu {עָמְד֣וּ | ʿā-mə-ḏû} ‘stood’ and the locative al-shefayim {עַל־שְׁפָיִ֔ם | ʿal-šə-p̄ā-yim} ‘on the heights’, emphasizing exposed terrain. The second clause’s perfect sha'afu {שָׁאֲפוּ | šā-ʾă-p̄û} ‘snuffed’ takes ruach {ר֖וּחַ | rû-aḥ} ‘wind’ as its object and is modified by the simile ka-tannim {כַּתַּנִּ֑ים | ka-tan-nîm} ‘like jackals’, conveying desperation. In the final clause, the perfect kalu {כָּל֥וּ | kā-lû} ‘failed’ predicates on eineihem {עֵינֵיהֶ֖ם | ʿê-nê-hem} ‘their eyes’, and the causal clause introduced by ki-ein {כִּי־אֵ֥ן | kî-ʾên} ‘because there is no’ presents esev {עֵֽשֶׂב | ʿê-seḇ} ‘grass’ as the drought’s cause. The sequence of perfect verbs and coordinate structure heightens progressive exhaustion under drought. |