| 33. Linguistic Exegesis The verse unfolds in three parallel clauses framing a procession of the dead. The verb matku {מָֽתְקוּ | mā-tə-qû} ‘they are sweet’ personifies the earth, linking rigvei nachal {רִגְבֵ֫י נָ֥חַל | rig-vê nā-ḥal} ‘clods of the valley’ to lo {ל֗וֹ | lō} ‘to him’. The second clause ve-acharav kol-adam yimshokh {וְ֭אַחֲרָיו כָּל־אָדָ֣ם יִמְשׁ֑וֹךְ | wə-’aḥ-ă-rāw kol-’ā-ḏām yim-šō-ḵ} combines a prepositional phrase with kol-adam ‘every person’ and the imperfect verb to express continued following. The final u-lefanav ein mispar {וּ֝לְפָנָ֗יו אֵ֣ן מִסְפָּֽר | ū-lə-pā-nāw ʾêyn mis-p̄ār} juxtaposes a negative existential preceding the noun ‘number’, producing a striking image of innumerable ranks. The Hebrew structure uses construct chains and repeated perfect/imperfect forms to emphasize ongoing motion and accumulation. |