| 4. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the verb venilvu {וְנִלְו֣וּ | wə-nil-vûw} ‘and they shall join,’ a Nifal imperfect third person masculine plural with vav consecutive indicating associative participation. The prepositional suffix aleikha {עָלֶ֔יךָ | ʿă-lê-khā} ‘to you’ marks the addressee, followed by veshameru {וְשָֽׁמְר֗וּ | wə-šā-mərû} ‘and they shall keep,’ a Qal perfect third person masculine plural emphasizing established responsibility. The noun mishmeret {מִשְׁמֶ֙רֶת֙ | miš-me-ret} ‘charge’ is governed by the accusative marker et {אֶת־ | ʾet-} while the construct chain ohel moed {אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד | ʾō-hel mō-ʿêd} ‘Tent of Meeting’ establishes the locus of duty. The locative phrase lechol {לְכֹ֖ל | lə-kōl} ‘for all’ links to avodat {עֲבֹדַ֣ת | ʿa-vo-dat} ‘service,’ framing the scope of responsibilities. The final clause uses vav with the negative lo {לֹא־ | lō-} and the Qal imperfect yikrav {יִקְרַ֥ב | yi-qrəḇ} ‘shall come near,’ excluding any stranger—zar {וְזָ֖ר | wə-zār} ‘stranger’—from approaching aleikhem {אֲלֵיכֶֽם | ʾă-lê-khem} ‘you (plural).’ The repetition of vav prefixes and construct chains reinforces the hierarchical boundaries of sanctuary service. |