| 9. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the vav-consecutive vayyittenu {וַיִּתְּנוּ | wayyiṯnū} “and they gave,” marking a sequential action. The parallel construct expressions mimmatteh benei Yehudah {מִמַּטֵּה בְּנֵי יְהוּדָה | mimmāṭṭē bənê Yᵉhūḏāh} “from the tribe of the sons of Judah” and ūmimmatteh benei Shim‘on {וּמִמַּטֵּה בְּנֵי שִׁמְעוֹן | ūmimmāṭṭē bənê Šimʿôn} “and from the tribe of the sons of Simeon” set up the tribal sources. The direct object marker ’et {אֵת | ʾēt} introduces he‘arim haelleh {הֶעָרִים הָאֵלֶּה | he‛ārîm hāʼēlleh} “these towns.” In the relative clause asher-yiqra ’ethen beshem {אֲשֶׁר־יִקְרָא אֶתְהֶן בְּשֵׁם | ʾăšer-yiqrāʼ ʾet·hen bəšēm}, the Qal imperfect yiqrāʼ “he calls,” the pronominal suffix ’ethen “them,” and beshem “by name” function as a defining clause specifying each town; this is rendered “listed by name.” The translation preserves Hebrew word order closely while adjusting minimally for English clarity. |