| 4. Linguistic Exegesis The Hebrew narrative marker vayehi {וֽ͏ַיְהִי֙ | vayəhî} ‘and it happened’ uses the vav consecutive Qal imperfect to advance the storyline. The phrase acharei ken {אַחֲרֵי כֵן | ʾăḥărê kēn} ‘after this’ establishes temporal context for a new episode. The verb vaye’ehav {וַיֶּאֱהַ֥ב | vayyəʾăhăv} ‘and he loved’ shifts the narrative focus to Samson’s emotions. The noun ishah {אִשָּׁה | iṣšāh} ‘a woman’ is indefinite, introducing a new character. The locative benachal {בְּנַ֣חַל | bənaḥal} ‘in the valley’ with the place name sorek {שֹׂרֵ֑ק | sōrəq} specifies the setting. Finally, ushmah {וּשְׁמָ֖הּ | ūšmāh} ‘and her name’ plus the proper noun Delilah {דְּלִילָֽה | dəlîlâh} completes her identification. This vav-consecutive narrative is rendered in English past tense to preserve sequence and flow. |