| 30. Linguistic Exegesis The vav-consecutive ūšmartem {וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֣ם | ūšmartem} initiates the imperative sequence, with ʾeṯ {אֶת־ | ʾeṯ-} marking the direct object to mišmartî {מִשְׁמַרְתִּ֗י | mišmartî}. The pair lə-vilti ʿăśôt {לְבִלְתִּ֨י עֲשׂ֜וֹת | lə-vilti ʿăśôt} forms a negative purpose clause (“so as not to do”), introducing the prohibition of mêḥuqqôt ha-toʿēḇōṯ {מֵחֻקּ֤וֹת הַתּֽוֹעֵבֹת֙ | mêḥuqqôt ha-toʿēḇōṯ}. The relative clause ʾăšer naʿăšû {אֲשֶׁר נַעֲשׂ֣וּ | ʾăšer naʿăšû} ‘which were done’ with lippənêḵem {לִפְנֵיכֶ֔ם | lippənêḵem} ‘before you’ recalls prior practices. The coordinate negative wə-lōʾ tiṭṭammēʾû {וְלֹ֥א תִֽטַּמְּא֖וּ | wə-lōʾ tiṭṭammēʾû} prohibits ritual impurity by bâhēm {בָּהֶ֑ם | bâhēm}. The final affirmation ʾănî Yəhōwāh ʾĕlōhêykem {אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם | ʾănî Yəhōwāh ʾĕlōhêykem} anchors the command in divine covenant authority. |