| 6. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the prepositional phrase lematteh {לְמַטֵּה | lə-mat-teh} indicating tribal affiliation, followed by the proper name Yehudah {יְהוּדָה | yə-hû-dāh} specifying Judah. The construct sequence Kalev ben Yefunneh {כָּלֵב בֶּן־יְפֻנֶּה | kā-lêḇ ben ye-p̄un-ne} forms a noun chain where Caleb is identified by his father’s name, reflecting Hebrew’s genitival construct without a linking preposition. This structure emphasizes lineage and representative authority within the report of the spies. |