| 3. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative employs a series of wayyiqtol verbs to trace the boundary in sequence. The initial verb vayetza {וְיָצָא | wə-yā-ṣāʾ} ‘and it went out’ sets the motion framework, followed by the directional clause el-minnegev {אֶל־מִנֶּגֶב | ʾel-min-nē-ḡeḇ} ‘to the south’. The infinitival construction lemaaleh {לְמַעֲלֵה | lə-ma-ʿā-lē} ‘to the ascent’ with the proper name akrabbim {עַקְרַבִּים | ʿa-qər-äb-bîm} provides a topographical marker. Subsequent wayyiqtol forms veavar {וְעָבַר | wə-ʿā-var}, vealah {וְעָלָה | wə-ʿā-lā}, and wenasav {وְנָסַב | wə-nā-sāv} maintain the chronological progression, each governing a place name as its object. The construct lekadesh barnea {לְקָדֵשׁ בַּרְנֵעַ | lə-qā-ḏēš bār-nē-ʿaʿ} ‘to Kadesh Barnea’ reveals a dual-word proper noun within a prepositional clause. The prefixed article in hakarkaah {הַקַּרְקָּעָה | ha-qqār-qā-ʿāh} marks Karka as a defined boundary. This paratactic listing without subordinating conjunctions reflects the Deuteronomistic pattern for territorial delineation. |