| 2. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the causal conjunction ki {כִּי | kî} ‘because’, introducing the explanatory clause. The Piel perfect qiddəmu {קִדְּמוּ | qiddəmu} ‘they met’ serves as the protasis verb, highlighting deliberate hospitality. The paired prepositional phrases ba-ləḥem {בַּלֶּחֶם | ba-ləḥem} ‘with bread’ and u-vammāyim {וּבַמָּיִם | u-vammāyim} ‘with water’ form a merism denoting general provision. The narrative shifts with the vav-consecutive wayyiškôr {וַיִּשְׂכֹּר | wayyiškôr} ‘and he hired’, marking the transition to the apodosis. The infinitive construct lə-qallēlōw {לְקַֽלְל֔וֹ | lə-qallēlōw} ‘to curse him’ expresses purpose. In the following vav-consecutive clause, wayyaḥăpōx {וַיַּהֲפֹךְ | wayyaḥăpōx} ‘and he turned’ identifies ʾĕlohêynû {אֱלֹהֵינוּ | ʾĕlohêynû} ‘our God’ as the agent effecting reversal. This chiastic structure between curse and blessing reinforces the theme of divine restoration. |