| 24. Linguistic Exegesis The phrase u-kefar ha-ammoni {וּכְפַ֧ר הָעַמֹּנִי | ū-kə-p̄ar hā-ʿammōnî} functions as a single toponym despite its literal “and village of the Ammonite,” indicating a fixed place name. It is followed by ha-ammonah {הָעַמֹּנָ֛ה | hā-ʿammōnāh}, ve-ha-ofni {וְהָעָפְנִ֖י | wə-hā-ʿāp̄nî}, and va-gava {וָגָ֑בַע | wā-ḡā-vāʿ} in an asyndetic list introduced by vav, enumerating four locations. The construct phrase arim shteim-esre {עָרִים שְׁתַּיִם־עֶשְׂרֵה | ʿā-rîm šᵉṯîm–ʿăśrê} “twelve towns” summarizes the count with gender agreement between numeral and noun. Finally, ve-chatsrei-hen {וְחַצְרֵיהֶן | wə-ḥăṣ-rê-hên} “and their villages” extends the referent to the associated settlements, completing the distributive possessive structure. |