| 19. Linguistic Exegesis The recurrent conjunction ve {וְ | wə} ‘and’ links the three proper names in a coordinate series. The dual form qiryatayim {קִרְיָתַיִם | qir-ya-tā-yim} ‘two cities’ indicates a paired settlement. The compound toponym tseret ha-shachar {צֶרֶת הַשַּׁחַר | tse-ret ha-šha-char} stacks a proper noun with a definite noun, forming a single place name. The locative phrase be-har ha-emek {בְּהַר הָעֵמֶק | bə-hār hā-ʿē-meq} ‘on the hill of the valley’ uses a preposition plus noun-noun sequence to describe a specific topographical setting, emphasizing the contrast of elevation within a valley. |