| 45. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative progresses through a sequence of vav-consecutive verbs that propel the action: vayifnu {וַיִּפְנ֞וּ | wayyippənû} ‘and they turned’ and vayanussu {וַיָּנֻ֤סוּ | wayyānnûsû} ‘and they fled,’ establishing movement toward the locative midbarah {הַמִּדְבָּ֙רָה֙ | hammidbarâh} ‘wilderness.’ The phrase el-sela harimon {אֶל־סֶ֣לַע הָֽרִמּ֔וֹן | ʾel-sêlâʿ hārimmôn} ‘to the rock of Rimmon’ specifies the goal. The Piel form vayeolleluhu {וַיְעֹֽלְלֻ֙הוּ֙ | wayyōlelûhû} ‘and they overtook him’ intensifies pursuit along the bamesilot {בַּֽמְסִלּ֔וֹת | bamməssillôt} ‘highways.’ The numeral construct chameshet alafim ish {חֲמֵ֥שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֖ים אִ֑ישׁ | ḥămêšet ʾălâp̄îm ʾîš} ‘five thousand men’ quantifies casualties. The Hiphil vayadbiqu acharav {וַיַּדְבִּ֤יקוּ אַחֲרָיו֙ | wayyadbiqqû ʾaḥărāyw} ‘and they pursued after him’ with the spatial ad-gidom {עַד־גִּדְעֹ֔ם | ʿad-gîdʿôwm} ‘as far as Gidom’ underscores relentless chase, and vayakku mimmennu alpayim ish {וַיַּכּ֥וּ מִמֶּ֖נּוּ אַלְפַּ֥יִם אִֽישׁ | wayyakku mimmennû ʾalp̄āyîm ʾîš} ‘and they struck from them two thousand men’ completes the tally, demonstrating the thoroughness of Israel’s pursuit. |