| 44. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with wayya‘pilû {וַיַּעְפִּ֕לוּ | wayyaʿpîlû} ‘and they went up defiantly’, a vav-consecutive Hiphil imperfect conveying forceful causation. The infinitive laʿalôt {לַעֲל֖וֹת | laʿălôt} ‘to go up’ expresses directional purpose governed by the construct phrase ʾel-rōʾš ha-hār {אֶל־רֹאשׁ הָהָר | ʾel-rōʾš ha-hār} ‘toward the summit of the mountain’. The adversative vav in wāʾārōn {וַאֲר֤וֹן | wāʾārōn} ‘and the ark’ shifts to a contrasting clause, introducing bĕrît-Yəhōwāh {בְּרִית־יְהוָה | bĕrît-Yəhōwāh} ‘of the covenant of the LORD’ alongside ū-Mōšeh {וּמֹשֶׁה | ū-Mōšeh} ‘and Moses’ as parallel subjects. The negated perfect lō-māšû {לֹא־מָשׁוּ | lō-māšû} ‘did not depart’, with miqqērev hammăḥănêh {מִקֶּרֶב הַמַּחֲנֶה | miqqērev hammăḥănêh} ‘from the midst of the camp’, emphasizes the immobility of divine symbols. This paratactic structure underscores Israel’s presumption contrasted with the unyielding presence of sacred authority. |