| 2. Linguistic Exegesis The opening phrase la'azatim le'emor {לַעַזָּתִים לֵאמֹר | la-az-za-TIM le-MOR} introduces indirect discourse and identifies the audience. The perfect verb ba {בָּא | ba} conveys completed action with present relevance. A sequence of vav-consecutive verbs—vayyasvu {וַיָּסֹבּוּ | va-ya-SO-bu}, vayearvu-lo {וַיֶּאֶרְבוּ־ל֥וֹ | va-ye-eR-VU-lo}, vayyitcharshu {וַיִּתְחָרְשׁ֤וּ | va-yit-cha-RE-shu}, and vahargenuhu {וַהֲרְגְנֻהוּ | va-ha-reg-NU-hu}—tightly strings the actions together. The repeated noun phrase kol-halaylah {כָל־הַלַּ֖יְלָה | kol-ha-lai-LAH} emphasizes the duration of their vigil. The construct phrase besha'ar ha'ir {בְּשַׁעַר הָעִ֑יר | be-SHA-ar ha-IR} precisely locates the ambush, and the temporal clause ad-or haboker {עַד־אוֹר הַבֹּקֶר | ad-OR ha-BO-ker} sets the deadline for action. The shift from Qal to Hitpael in vayyitcharshu conveys stealth, contrasting with the earlier active verbs and heightening the tension toward the intent to kill. |