| 29. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative begins with vayilpot {וַיִּלְפֹּ֨ת | wa-yyil-pōṯ} ‘and he grasped’, where the prefixed vav denotes sequential action in the Qal imperfect. Šimšōn {שִׁמְשׁ֜וֹן | Šimšōn} serves as the subject performing a decisive act upon šənē ʿammūḏē hattāwēḵ {שְׁנֵ֣י עַמּוּדֵ֣י הַתָּ֗וֶךְ | šənē ʿammūḏē hattāwēḵ}, a construct phrase identifying the central support pillars. The relative pronoun ʾăšer {אֲשֶׁר | ʾăšer} introduces a defining clause clarifying that the habbayyît {הַבַּיִת | habbayyît} ‘house’ was set firmly upon these pillars (Niphal participle nāḵôn {נָכוֹן | nāḵôn}). The subsequent vayissamekh {וַיִּסָּמֵךְ | wa-yyissāmeḵ} ‘and he braced’ continues the action sequence. The distributive coordination ʾeḥād bîyyəmînô wə-ʾeḥād bišmôʾlô {אֶחָד בִּימִינֹו וְאֶחָד בִּשְׂמֹאלוֹ | ʾeḥād bîyyəmînô wə-ʾeḥād bišmôʾlô} allocates Samson’s strength between his right and left hands, intensifying the dramatic imagery. Preserving the original clause order and distributive structure maintains the vivid depiction of physical exertion and impending judgment. |