| 26. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the vav-consecutive prefix on vayomer {וַיֹּ֨אמֶר | va-yō-mer} ‘and said’, marking direct speech. The phrase el-hanaar {אֶל־הַנַּ֨עַר | ʾel-hannaʿar} ‘to the youth’ with hamakhazik {הַמַּחֲזִ֣יק | ham-maḥă-zîq} ‘holding’ and beyado {בְּיָדוֹ | bə-yā-dō} ‘in his hand’ identifies the attendant’s role. The Hiphil imperative hanichah {הַנִּ֣יחָה | han-nî-ḥâ} ‘let me rest’ followed by the Hiphil imperfect vahamisheni {וַהֲמִשֵׁ֙נִי֙ | va-ham-mī-šē-nî} ‘and let me lean’ sequences Samson’s requests for placement. The direct object eth-haamudim {אֶת־הָֽעַמֻּדִ֔ים | ʾet-hā-ʿammû-dîm} ‘the pillars’ is specified by asher {אֲשֶׁ֥ר | ʾă-šer}, introducing habayit nachon aleihem {הַבַּ֖יִת נָכ֣וֹן עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם | hab-bā-yit nā-ḵôn ʿă-lê-hēm} ‘on which the house stands’, emphasizing support. Finally, the vav-consecutive imperfect veeshaen aleihem {וְאֶשָּׁעֵ֖ן עֲלֵיהֶֽם | wə-ʾeš-šā-ʿēn ʿă-lê-hēm} ‘and I may lean upon them’ expresses the purpose and result of his request. |