| 39. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the vav-consecutive verb vayyiqach {וַיִּקַּח | way-yiqqāḥ} ‘and he took’, indicating narrative sequence. It is followed by the proper name Eleazar {אֶלְעָזָר | ʾelʻāzār} and the appositional title ha-kōhēn {הַכֹּהֵן | ha-kōhēn} ‘the priest’, establishing the actor. The direct object marker ʾet {אֶת | ʾet} introduces the object maḥṭōṯ hanneḥšêṯ {מַחְתּוֹת הַנֶּחֱשֶׁת | maḥṭōṯ hanneḥšêṯ} ‘firepans of bronze’. A relative clause with ʾăšer {אֲשֶׁר | ʾăšer} ‘which’ governs hiqrîvû {הִקְרִיבוּ | hiqrîvû} ‘they offered’, specifying ha-sərûp̄îm {הַשְּׂרֻפִים | ha-sərûp̄îm} ‘the burned ones’. The second vav-consecutive wayyařaqʿûm {וַיְרַקְעוּם | wayyařaqʿûm} ‘and they hammered them’ introduces the resultant action. The construct noun ṣippûy {צִפּוּי | ṣippûy} ‘overlay’ with the prepositional phrase lamizbeaḥ {לַמִּזְבֵּחַ | lamizbeaḥ} ‘for the altar’ indicates purpose. The syntax underscores the transformation of objects of judgment into instruments of worship, highlighting thematic continuity within the cultic narrative. |