| 2. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the conjunction vegam {וְגַם | wə-ḡam} ‘and also’, which adds an additional directive. The direct object marker et {אֶת־ | ʾet-} marks acheikha {אַחֶיךָ | ʾaḥê-kā} ‘your brothers’ as the object of the Hiphil imperative hakrev {הַקְרֵב | ha-ḳrêb} ‘bring near’. The construct chain matteh Levi shevet avikha {מַטֵּה לֵוִי שֵׁבֶט אָבִיךָ | maṭ-tê lē-wî šē-veṭ ʾā-ḇî-kā} uses parallel nouns to specify the Levites’ lineage. The prepositional phrase ittakh {אִתָּךְ | ʾit-tā-kh} ‘with you’ indicates accompaniment. The verbs veyillavu {וְיִלָּוּ | wə-yil-lā-wû} ‘and they will be joined’ and veyishartukha {וִֽישָׁרְת֑וּךָ | wə-šār-tû-kā} ‘and they will serve you’ form a sequential narrative of attachment and service. The repetition of ittakh ‘with you’ emphasizes ongoing association. Finally, the locative lifnei {לִפְנֵי | li-p̄nê} ‘before’ introduces ohel ha’edut {אֹהֶל הָעֵדֻת | ʾō-hel hā-ʿê-ḏût} ‘tent of the testimony’, defining the sacred space for priestly ministry. |