| 27. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the interrogative ad-mattay {עַד־מָתַ֗י | ʿad-māṯay} ‘until how long’, a Hebrew construction expressing divine frustration. It continues with laʿedah haraʿah hazot {לָעֵדָ֤ה הָרָעָה֙ הַזֹּ֔את | lā-ʿēdāh hā-rāʿāh haz-zōṯ} ‘to the evil congregation, this’, where the definite article and demonstrative pronoun specify a particular rebellious group. The participle mallinim {מַלִּינִ֖ים | mal-lî-nîm} ‘are grumbling’ (Piel participle) marks ongoing discontent and is repeated in the relative clause ʾasher hemmâ mallinim alay {אֲשֶׁ֛ר הֵ֥מָּה מַלִּינִ֖ים עָלַי | ʾă-šer hēm-mah mal-lî-nîm ʿă-lay}, creating an inclusio around the accusation. The direct object marker et {אֶת־ | ʾet} frames tlunot {תְּלֻנּ֞וֹת | tlū-nôṯ} ‘complaints’, and the construct benei yisrael {בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל | bə-nê yiś-rā-ʾēl} ‘sons of Israel’ identifies the murmurers. The perfect verb shamati {שָׁמָֽעְתִּי | šā-maʿ-tî} ‘I have heard’ concludes the verse, shifting from divine inquiry to active reception. English reorders the interrogative clause and mirrors the repeated participial form to preserve Hebrew emphasis and theological force. |