| 2. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the imperative verb daber {דַּבֵּר | dab·bēr} ‘speak’, issuing a direct command. This is followed by el-benei Yisra’el {אֶל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל | ʾel-bənê yisrāʾēl} ‘to the sons of Israel’, marking the audience. The infinitive lemor {לֵאמֹר | lēʾmōr} introduces reported speech. The Qal imperative tenu {תְּנוּ | tənû} ‘give’ uses lakhem {לָכֶם | lā-ḵēm} ‘for you’, and et-arei ha-miklat {אֶת־עָרֵי הַמִּקְלָט | et-ʿārê ham-mik·lāṭ} ‘the cities of refuge’ functions as the direct object. The relative asher-dibbarti {אֲשֶׁר־דִּבַּרְתִּי | ăšer-dib·bārtī} ‘which I spoke’ with aleikhem {אֲלֵיכֶם | ʾălê-ḵem} ‘to you’ forms a defining relative clause linking to earlier instruction. Finally, be-yad-Mosheh {בְּיַד־מֹשֶׁה | bə-yad-mo·šéh} ‘by the hand of Moses’ indicates mediation through Moses. The structure emphasizes active participation under divine authority conveyed via Moses. |