| 32. Linguistic Exegesis The verse uses the vav-consecutive wayyōʾmerû {וַיֹּאמְרוּ | wayyōʾmerû} to introduce two parallel speeches. First, bənê benyāmîn {בְּנֵי בִנְיָמִן | bənê benyāmîn} functions as the subject, followed by the Nifal participle phrase nīnāp̄îm hēm {נִגָּפִים הֵם | nīnāp̄îm hēm}, which emphasizes the state of being struck down with the independent pronoun for force. The comparative kə-varîšônâ {כְּבָרִאשֹׁנָה | kə-varîšônâ} links this to the initial encounter. The second speech begins with ū-bənê yiśrāʾēl {וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל | ū-bənê yiśrāʾēl} and the perfect verb āmərû {אָמְרוּ | āmərû}, leading into two Piʿel cohortative verbs nānûsâ {נָנ֙וּסָה | nānûsâ} and ūnətaqqənûhû {וּנְתַקְּנֻהוּ | ūnətaqqənûhû}, which express collective resolve. The prepositional chain min-hāʿîr {מִן-הָעִיר | min-hāʿîr} and ʾel-hamməśillôt {אֶל-הַמְסִלּוֹת | ʾel-hamməśillôt} delineates the tactical movement from the city to the roads. The balanced structure underscores the strategic dialogue between the groups. |