| 3. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with wayyōmerû {וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ | wayyōmerû} ‘and they said’, marking communal lament and narrative sequence. The interrogative lāmāh {לָמָ֗ה | lāmāh} ‘why’ frames an emotional protest. The compound divine title Yahweh Elohei Yisrael {יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל | Yəhōwāh ʾĕlōhêy yiśrāʾēl} ‘LORD God of Israel’ functions as a covenant address. The perfect hāyetâh {הָ֥יְתָה | hāyetâh} ‘has been’ introduces the temporal inquiry. The demonstrative zōṯ {זֹּ֖את | zōṯ} ‘this’ points to the implied calamity. The Niphal infinitive lə-hippāqēd {לְהִפָּקֵ֥ד | lə-hippāqēd} ‘to be missed’ conveys passive deprivation. The phrase miyyiśrāʾēl šēḇeṭ ʾeḥād {מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֖ל שֵׁ֥בֶט אֶחָֽד | miyyiśrāʾēl šēḇeṭ ʾeḥād} ‘from Israel one tribe’ underscores the severity of exclusion. English rendering preserves the lament structure and rhetorical interrogation, aligning with Hebrew syntax and emotive emphasis. |