| 34. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with ki-adat {כִּי־עֲדַת | kî-ʿăḏaṯ} ‘for the assembly of’, marking a causal explanation. The construct phrase adat khanef {עֲדַת חָנֵף | ʿăḏaṯ ḥā-nēp̄} forms a tight genitive relationship (“assembly characterized by the godless”), and the predicate adjective galmud {גַּלְמוּד | gal-mûḏ} ‘desolate’ states their end with abrupt finality. A second clause is linked by ve'esh {וְאֵשׁ | wə’ēš} ‘and fire’, creating parallelism: the first line declares desolation, the second depicts destruction. The verb akhlah {אָכְלָה | ʾā-ḵə-lāh} ‘has consumed’ takes fire as its feminine subject and presents the outcome as certain. The construct oholei-shokhad {אָהֳלֵי־שֹׁחַד | ʾā-hŏ-lê-šō-ḥaḏ} ‘tents of bribe’ portrays dwellings identified with bribery, so the imagery ties corrupt gain to inevitable ruin. |