| 1. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the prefixed verb vayedabber {וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר | vay·yə·ḏē·ber} ‘and he spoke’, employing the vav-consecutive Piel stem to foreground divine initiative. The VSO sequence emphasizes the act of speech. The subject Yahweh {יְהוָ֖ה | Yə-hō-wāh} ‘LORD’ follows, identifying the speaker, while the prepositional phrase el {אֶל־ | ʾel} ‘to’ Mosheh {מֹשֶׁ֥ה | mô·šê} ‘Moses’ marks the recipient. The infinitive construct lemor {לֵּאמֹֽר | lê·ʾmôr} ‘saying’ functions as a formulaic bridge to the forthcoming divine commands. This pattern establishes the authoritative speech framework characteristic of Levitical discourse. |