| 11. Linguistic Exegesis The prepositional phrase ulebeit {וּלְבֵית֙ | û-lə-ḇêṯ} marks the audience by linking in construct with melekh Yehudah {מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֔ה | me-leḵ yə-hû-ḏāh}. The imperative shimʿu {שִׁמְע֖וּ | šim-ʿū} issues a collective command, and the compound devar-Yahweh {דְּבַר־יְהוָה | dᵊ-var-Yə-hō-wāh} serves as the direct object. Hebrew order (address → command → message) heightens urgency, and the maqqef linking devar and Yahweh underscores their inseparable unity. |