| 1. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative begins with the vav consecutive in vayedabber {וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר | wayyiddabber} ‘and he spoke’, signaling the unfolding of a divine address. The subject Yahweh {יְהוָ֔ה | Yə-hō-wāh} follows to emphasize the source of the command. The coordinated prepositional phrase el mosheh ve-el aharon {אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה וְאֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֖ן | ʾel Mô-šêh wə-ʾel ʾA-ha-rōn} ‘to Moses and Aaron’ specifies the intended recipients. The infinitive construct leimor {לֵאמֹֽר | lêʾāmôr} ‘saying’ functions as a direct discourse introducer. Hebrew VSO order is rendered into English SVO for clarity while retaining narrative flow marked by the consecutive vav. |