| 12. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the prepositional phrase lematteh {לְמַטֵּה | lə-mat-ṭēh} ‘for the tribe’ marking tribal affiliation before the personal name. The proper name sequence Ammiel ben-Gemalli {עַמִּיאֵל בֶּן־גְּמַלִּֽי | ʿam-mi-ʾēl ben-gĕ-măl-lî} forms a construct chain indicating filiation, with the maqqef linking ben and Gemalli. This head-initial Hebrew structure places the PP clause first for topical emphasis and then the individuating name, a common pattern in genealogical listings. |