| 17. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the cohortative verb na'averah-na {נַעְבְּרָה־נָּ֣א | naʿbərā-nā} ‘let us please pass’, marking a polite request. The prepositional phrase be-artse-kha {בְאַרְצֶ֗ךָ | bəʾar-tsə-kha} specifies the territory. A sequence of negations (lo … na'avor; ve-lo … nishteh) underscores noninterference with agricultural resources denoted by be-sadeh {בְשָׂדֶ֣ה | bə-śā-deh} and u-ve-kerem {וּבְכֶ֔רֶם | u-ḇə-ḵe-rem}. The compound term derekh ha-melekh {דֶּרֶךְ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ | de-rekh ham-melekh} functions as the official trade route. The meristic expression ni-teh ya-min u-smo-ol {נִטֶּה יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאול | niṭēh ya-min u-śmo-ol} covers all lateral deviations. Finally, the relative temporal clause ad a-sher na'avor {עַד אֲשֶׁר־נַעֲבֹ֖ר | ʿad ʾa-šer naʿăḇōr} sets the boundary as endpoint. The English renderings preserve the layered negatives, spatial framing, and polite tone. |