| 15. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the causal conjunction ki {כִּי־ | ki}, linking it to the preceding context. The perfect verb shekhechuni {שְׁכֵחֻנִי | šə-ke-ḥu-nî} functions as a stative perfect with a first-person object suffix, underscoring relational abandonment. The phrase la-shav {לַשָּׁוְא | la-šā-v} frames the misdirected ritual into emptiness. The sequence yeqaṭṭēru … wa-yaḵšîlûm {יְקַטֵּרוּ … וַיַּכְשִׁלוּם | ye-qaṭ-tē-ru … wa-yaḵ-šî-lûm} links the act of offering with its consequence, stumbling. The construct chain be-darkhehem šəvilei ōlām {בְּדַרְכֵיהֶם שְׁבִילֵי עוֹלָם | bə-ḏar-khe-hem šə-vi-lē ō-lām} contrasts ‘their ways’ with ‘ancient paths.’ Finally, the infinitive construct lā-le-khet netivot derekh lo-selulah {לָלֶכֶת נְתִיבוֹת דֶּרֶךְ לֹא סְלוּלָה | lā-le-khet nə-ti-wōṯ ḏe-reḵ lō sə-lū-lā} serves as a purpose clause, highlighting the deliberate departure onto side trails rather than the established highway. |