| 8. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the Qal imperative kakh {קַ֣ח | qāḥ} ‘take’ followed by the Hifʿil imperative vehaqhel {וְהַקְהֵל | wə-haqēl} ‘assemble’, forming a paired command. The particle ʾet {אֶת־ | ʾeṯ} marks both the staff (hamatteh {הַמַּטֶּה | hammāṭṭeh}) and the congregation (haʿēdāh {הָעֵדָה | hā-ʿêdāh}) as direct objects. Wə-dibbartem {וְדִבַּרְתֶּם | wə-dibbartem}, a Piel perfect with vav-consecutive, issues a new directive to Moses and Aaron. The prepositional phrase ʾel ha-sēlaʿ {אֶל־הַסֶּלַע | ʾel ha-sēlaʿ} plus the adverbial lə-ʿênêhem {לְעֵינֵיהֶם | lə-ʿênêhem} ‘before their eyes’ highlights a public demonstration. The forecasting verb wə-nāṭan {וְנָתַן | wə-nāṭan} ‘it will give’ signals the rock’s response, while the Hifʿil perfect verbs wə-hôṣēʾtā {וְהוֹצֵאתָ | wə-hôṣēʾtā} and wə-hišqīṭā {וְהִשְׁקִיתָ | wə-hišqīṭā} describe the delivery of water. The coordination of recipients—ha-ʿêdāh and be-ʿîrām {בְּעִירָם | be-ʿîrām}—emphasizes provision both to people and to animals. |