| 21. Linguistic Exegesis The prophetic formula koh amar {כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר | kō ʾā-mar} introduces a divine utterance. Yahweh {יְהוָ֔ה | Yə-hō-wāh} functions as the speaker and subject. The imperative hishameru {הִשָּׁמְר֖וּ | hiš-šāmə-rû} establishes ongoing personal vigilance. The phrase benafshoteikhem {בְּנַפְשֽׁוֹתֵיכֶם | bə-naf-šō-tê-ḵem} conveys purpose as a life-preserving exhortation. The prohibition ve-al tissu {וְאַל־תִּשְׂא֤וּ | wə-ʾal tiś-śə-ʾû} and noun masa {מַשָּׂא | maś-śāʾ} mark the forbidden act of bearing a load. The temporal expression be-yom hashabbat {בְּי֣וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת | bə-yôm ha-šab-bāṯ} specifies the Sabbath day. The conjunction va-haveitem {וַהֲבֵאתֶם | wa-hă-ḇê-ʾe-ṯem} plus locative beshaarei Yerushalayim {בְּשַׁעֲרֵ֥י יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם | bə-ša-ʿă-rê Yə-rû-šā-lā-yim} extends the prohibition to city gates, linking individual obedience to communal sanctity. |