| 22. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with hemah {הֵמָּה | hêmmāh} ‘they’ together with the Piel participle meitivim {מֵיטִיבִ֣ים | mêṯîvîm} ‘were making glad,’ framing an ongoing festive action. The interjection vehineh {וְהִנֵּה | wə-hi-nēh} ‘and behold’ signals an abrupt narrative shift to the intrusion by anshei benei-beliyaal {אַנְשֵׁי בְנֵי־בְלִיַּעַל | ʾănšê bĕnê-bĕlîyaʿal} ‘sons of worthlessness,’ a Hebrew intensifier. Sequential action moves from the Qal perfect nasabu {נָסַבּוּ | nāsabbû} ‘they surrounded’ to the Hitpael participle mitdapqim {מִתְדַּפְּקִים | mitdapqîm} ‘were pounding,’ highlighting repeated force. The Vav-consecutive vayomeru {וַיֹּאמְרוּ | wayyōmərû} ‘and they said’ introduces a Hiphil imperative hotse {הוֹצֵא | hōṣēʾ} ‘bring out,’ culminating in the idiomatic venedaenu {וְנֵדָעֶנּוּ | wə-nēḏāʿennû} ‘and let us know him,’ where the verb ‘know’ implies a sexual threat. |