| 15. Linguistic Exegesis The verse enumerates proper names linked by the conjunction ve- {וְ | vĕ} ‘and’, then provides a summary. The noun arim {עָרִים | ʿā-rîm} ‘cities’ is modified by the cardinal numeral shteim-esreh {שְׁתֵּים־עֶשְׂרֵה | šə-tēm-ʿeṣ-rē} ‘twelve’, agreeing in feminine form. The compound vechatzreihen {וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן | vĕ-ḥă-ṣrê-hêm} ‘and their villages’ uses a construct chain with a pronominal suffix referencing the preceding cities. Hebrew asyndeton emphasizes each location, and the final clause consolidates them into a discrete group, which the English retains to preserve the cataloging function. |