| 12. Linguistic Exegesis The Qal imperfect verbs yisʾu {יִשְׂאוּ | yiśʾû} ‘they lift’ and wə-yiśmeḥû {וְיִשְׂמְחוּ | wə-yiśmeḥû} ‘and they rejoice’ are joined by the conjunction vav to indicate sequential actions. Instruments are listed in merismus with ketôp̄ {כְּתֹף | keṯôp̄} ‘timbrel’ paired with wə-kinôr {וְכִנּוֹר | wə-kinôr} ‘and lyre,’ contrasting percussion and string. The prepositional phrase lə-qōl {לְקוֹל | lə-qōl} ‘to the sound’ followed by the noun ʿūḡāv {עוּגָב | ʿūḡāv} ‘pipe’ expresses the cause of their jubilation. The parallel structure and simple clauses emphasize communal musical celebration in Hebrew poetry. |