| 26. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative employs a chain of vav-consecutive verbs with prefix vav-consecutive {וַ | wâ} plus wayya‘ălû {וַיַּעֲל֣וּ | wayya‛ălû} to signal sequential action. The distributive phrases kol-bnei {כָל־בְּנֵי֩ | kol-bənê} and ve-kol-ha-am {וְכָל־הָעָ֜ם | wĕ-kōl-hā-ʼām} emphasize total participation. The verbs vayivku {וַיִּבְכּוּ֙ | wayyibbəkû} and vayeshvu {וַיֵּ֤שְׁבוּ | wayyēšəḇû} frame lamentation in divine presence marked by lifnei {לִפְנֵ֣י | lĭpnê}. The temporal clause bayom-hahu {בַיּוֹם־הַה֖וּא | bay-yōm-hah-hûʾ} with ad-ha-‘erev {עַד־הָעָ֑רֶב | ʿad-hā-ʼāreḇ} bounds the fasting period. The sacrificial terms ‘olôt {עֹל֥וֹת | ʻolôt} and shelamim {שְׁלָמִ֖ים | šəlāmîm} preserve distinct cultic categories. |