| 5. Linguistic Exegesis The opening vehayah {וְהָיָה | wə-hā-yāh} ‘and it shall be’ employs a vav-consecutive with a Qal perfect to introduce a predictive result clause. The relative clause formed by asher {אֲשֶׁר | ʾǎ-šer} attached to ha’ish {הָאִישׁ | hā-ʾîš} and the verb evchar bo {אֶבְחַר־בוֹ | ʾev-ḥǎr bō} (‘the man whom I choose’) underscores divine selection. The main clause mattehu yifrach {מַטֵּהוּ יִפְרָח | ma-ṯē-hū yi-f-rā-ḥ} (‘his staff shall sprout’) presents the miraculous sign as direct confirmation of that election. The subsequent vav-consecutive Hifil perfect vahashikoti {וַהֲשִׁכֹּתִי | wa-hă-šî-kō-tî} with the prepositional phrase me’alai {מֵעָלַי | mē-ʿā-lāy} introduces a judicial act of ceasing the complaints. The object et telunot benei yisrael {אֵת תְּלוּנוֹת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל | ʾēt tə-lū-nōṯ bənê yiś-rā-ʾēl}, modified by the participle malinim {מַלִּינִים | mal-lî-nîm} and the pronoun hem {הֵם | hēm}, conveys ongoing dissent. This sequence of divine selection, miraculous sign, and removal of protests highlights the LORD’s sovereign authority. |