| 13. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the causal adverb lakhen {לָכֵן | lā·ḵên} ‘therefore’, introducing a conclusion from the preceding context. The prophetic formula kōh ʼāmar Yahweh {כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה | kō·h ʼā·mar Yə·hō·wāh} ‘thus says the LORD’ marks the beginning of divine speech. The summons šaʾal·lû-nāʾ {שַֽׁאֲלוּ־נָא | ša·ʾal·lû·nāʾ} ‘ask now’ directs the message outward, with gōyim {גּוֹיִם | gō·yim} ‘nations’ specifying the audience. This is followed by the rhetorical question mî šāmaʿ kāʼê·lêh {מִי שָׁמַע כָּאֵלֶּה | mî šā·maʿ kā·ʼê·lêh} ‘Who has heard anything like this?’—the comparative kā·ʼê·lêh intensifying the uniqueness of what follows. The final clause places še·ʿa·rû·rit {שַֽׁעֲרֻרִת | še·ʿa·rû·rit} ‘a horrible thing’ as the subject of the perfect verb ʿā·śə·tāh {עָשְׂתָה | ʿā·śə·tāh} ‘has done’, modified by the intensifier mə·ʼō·d {מְאֹד | mə·ʼō·d} ‘very’, and linked with the construct phrase bə·tû·lāt yiś·rā·ʾēl {בְּתוּלַת יִשְׂרָאֵל | bə·tû·lāt yiś·rā·ʾēl} ‘virgin of Israel’, personifying the nation as a pure one fallen into shocking offense. The progression from causal marker through divine utterance, summons, rhetorical question, to climactic indictment heightens the sense of judgment and astonishment. |