| 2. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative opens with the vav-consecutive form vayiddar {וַיִּדַּ֨ר | wayyiddaʾr} ‘and he vowed’, indicating the next action. The collective yiśrāʾēl {יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל | yiśrāʾēl} acts corporately. Neḏer {נֶ֛דֶר | neḏer} ‘vow’ takes the prepositional phrase la-Yahweh {לַֽיהוָ֖ה | la-Yahweh} ‘to the LORD.’ In the conditional clause, the infinitive absolute nāṯōn {נָתֹ֨ן | nāṯōn} ‘surely give’ intensifies the imperfect tittēn {תִּתֵּ֜ן | tittēn} ‘you will give.’ The object phrase ʾet-hā-ʿām haz-zeh {אֶת־הָעָ֤ם הַזֶּה | ʾet-hā-ʿām haz-zēh} ‘this people’ is marked by ʾet, and bə-yādī {בְּיָדִ֔י | bə-yādī} ‘into my hand’ denotes victory imagery. The Hifil perfect ve-ḥăramtî {וְהֽ͏ַחֲרַמְתִּ֖י | və-ḥăramtî} ‘and I will devote to destruction’ shows consecration by annihilation, with ʾet-ʿārêhem {אֶת־עָרֵיהֶֽם | ʾet-ʿārêhem} ‘their cities’ as the ban’s target. This structure highlights the irrevocable military vow. |