| 12. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the vav-consecutive verb vayomer {וַיֹּ֤אמֶר | va-yō-mer} introducing direct speech. The Hiphil cohortative ’ăḥduwāh-nā {אָחֽוּדָה־נָּ֥א | ’ăḥ-du-wāh-nā} conveys a polite invitation. The conditional clause im-hagged taggidū {אִם־הַגֵּ֣ד תַּגִּידוּ | ’im-hag-ged tag-gi-dû} frames the challenge and its fulfillment. The construct chain shivʿat yemē ha-mishteh {שִׁבְעַת יְמֵי הַמִּשְׁתֶּה | shiv-ʿat ye-mē ha-mish-tēh} establishes the temporal window. The Qal perfects u-məṣātem and wə-nāṭaṯî link the condition to the reward. Vav-chaining and direct discourse pace the passage from challenge to promised gift, reflecting an ancient contest convention. |