| 13. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative unfolds with a vav-consecutive Qal imperfect verb vayyišlĕḥû {וַֽיִּשְׁלְחוּ | vayyišlĕḥû} ‘and they sent’, indicating sequential action. It is followed by a vav-consecutive Piel imperfect verb vayyedabberû {וַיְדַבְּרוּ | vayyedabberû} ‘and they spoke’, demonstrating a two-step approach to reconciliation. The construct phrase kol hāʾēḏāh {כָּל־הָעֵדָה | kol hāʾēḏāh} ‘the entire assembly’ emphasizes communal unity. A relative clause introduced by ʾăšer {אֲשֶׁר | ʾăšer} ‘who’ specifies the location bəṣelaʿ rimmōn {בְּסֶלַע רִמּוֹן | bəṣelaʿ rimmōn} ‘at the rock of Rimmon’. The subsequent vav-consecutive Qal imperfect vayyiḳreʾû {וַיִּקְרְא֥וּ | vayyiḳreʾû} ‘and they called’ with lāhem {לָהֶם | lāhem} ‘to them’ signals an offer. Finally, the noun šālôm {שָׁלוֹם | šālôm} ‘peace’ conveys both the greeting and the substantive proposal of reconciliation, mirroring the Hebrew rhetorical climax. |