| 32. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative begins with the Hiphil verb vayotziu {וַיּוֹצִ֜יאוּ | wāyoṣîʾû} ‘and they brought out,’ indicating causative action. The construct dibbat ha’aretz {דִּבַּת הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ | dib-bat hā-’ā-reṣ} serves as the direct object, defining the report as malicious. A series of relative clauses introduced by asher {אֲשֶׁר | ʾa-šer} specify the spies’ thorough investigation: taru {תָּר֣וּ | tā-rū} ‘they spied out’ and avarnu {עָבַ֨רְנוּ | ʿā-var-nû} ‘we passed through.’ The phrase eretz okhelet yoshveha {אֶרֶץ אֹכֶלֶת יוֹשְׁבֶיהָ | ’e-reṣ ʾō-khe-leṯ yô-šə-ḇê-hā} uses the Piel participle okhelet to depict an ongoing threat, while anshei midot {אַנְשֵׁי מִדּוֹת | an-šê-yê mid-ḏôṯ} conveys the remarkable size of the inhabitants. The translation preserves the sequence of report introduction, quotation, and participial constructions to maintain the Hebrew emphasis on danger and threat. |