| 11. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the causal conjunction ki {כִּי | kî} “for, because,” introducing the basis for the pronouncement. The formula kho amar Yahweh {כֹּה אָמַר־יְהוָה | kō ʾā-mar-ye-ho-wāh} “thus says the LORD” asserts divine authority. The preposition el {אֶל־ | ʾel} “concerning” specifies the subject, Shallum ben Yoshiyahu {שַׁלֻּם בֶּן־יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ | šallûm ben yō-šî-yā-hû}. The construct melekh Yehudah {מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה | me-leḵ yə-hū-ḏāh} “king of Judah” and the participle ha-molekh {הַמֹּלֵךְ | ha-mō-lēk} with takhat Yoshiyahu aviv {תַּחַת יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ אָבִיו | ṭa-ḥat yō-šî-yā-hû ʾā-ḇîw} “in place of his father Josiah” detail the succession. The relative clause asher yatsa min ha-makom hazzeh {אֲשֶׁר יָצָא מִן־הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה | ʾă-šer yā-ṣāʾ min-ha-mā-qôm haz-zêh} “who went out from this place” identifies his departure. The negated imperfect lo yashuv sham od {לֹא־יָשׁוּב שָׁם עוֹד | lōʾ yā-šûḇ šām ʿôḏ} “he will not return there again” delivers the judgment. English SVO order maintains clarity while preserving Hebrew information flow. |