| 3. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative begins with the Vav-consecutive wayyiqqahallu {וַיִּקָּהֲל֞וּ | wayyiqqăhăllu} ‘and they assembled,’ introducing a challenge to leadership. The paired prepositions al moshe we-al aharon {עַל־מֹשֶׁה וְעַֽל־אַהֲרֹן | ʿal mōšē wə-ʿal ʾaharō̂n} intensify the confrontation with both Moses and Aaron. The expression rav lakhem {רַב־לָכֶם | rav lāḵēm} ‘it is too much for you’ uses an adjective with a second person plural suffix to convey reproach. The coordination ki kol haedah kullam kedoshim {כִּי כָל־הָעֵדָה֙ כֻּלָּ֣ם קְדֹשִׁים | kî kôl hāʿēḏāh kullām qĕdōšîm} emphasizes communal holiness through repetition. The clause u-vetokham Yahweh {וּבְתוֹכָ֖ם יְהוָה | ū-bə-tōḵām Yəhōwāh} underscores God’s presence within the group. The interrogative u-madua titnasseu {וּמַדּוּעַ תִּתְנַשְּׂא֖וּ | ū-maddūaʿ titnassēʾū} employs the Hitpael reflexive to question the act of self-exaltation over the assembly. |