| 33. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with ve-khol ish yiś-rā-’ēl {וְכֹל אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל | wə-ḵōl ’îš yiś-rā-’ēl} introducing a collective subject under the vav-conjunction. Qāmû {קָמוּ | qāmû}, a Qal perfect, marks decisive action. The phrase mimm’komô {מִמְּקוֹמוֹ | mim-mə-qō-mô} specifies departure origin. The sequential deployment is introduced by the vav conversive plus Qal imperfect in wayya‘arkhu {וַיַּעַרְכוּ | way-ya-‘ar-ḵū}, indicating military arrangement. The locus b’va‘al tā-mār {בְּבַעַל תָּמָר | bə-ḇa-‘āl tā-mār} identifies the site. The second clause mirrors this pattern: ve-’ō-rēḇ yiś-rā-’ēl {וְאֹרֵב יִשְׂרָאֵל | wə-’ō-rēḇ yiś-rā-’ēl} “and the ambush of Israel” is followed by the Hifil participle mē-gī-’aḥ {מֵגִיחַ | mē-gī-’aḥ} “burst forth,” creating a vivid portrayal of sudden attack. The final prepositional phrase mim-ma-‘ă-ré-ḥe Gā-ḇā‘ {מִמַּֽעֲרֵה־גָֽבַע | mim-ma-‘ă-ré-ḥa Gā-ḇā‘} “from Ma‘areh-geba” specifies the ambush’s origin, contrasting open ranks and hidden forces to heighten tactical tension. |