| 17. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with a vav-consecutive narrative verb vayishlakh {וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח | way-yish-lakh} ‘and he sent’, establishing sequence. The infinitive latur {לָת֖וּר | lā-tur} expresses purpose (‘to scout’), with et-eretz Kena‘an {אֶת־אֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן | ʾet-ʾe-reṣ kĕ-nā-ʿan} as its object. The second vav-consecutive vayomer {וַיֹּ֣אמֶר | way-yō-mer} ‘and he said’ introduces direct address with alehem {אֲלֵהֶ֗ם | ʾă-lê-hem} marking the audience. Two paired imperatives alu {עֲל֥וּ | ʿă-lû} and vaalitem {וַעֲלִיתֶם | way-ʿă-lî-tem} coordinate sequential commands: first to go up “in the Negev” and then “into the hill country”, delineating a two-stage reconnaissance plan. This parallel imperative structure underscores the systematic nature of the mission. |