| 3. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with vayishma {וַיִּשְׁמַ֨ע | wayyišmaʿ} expressing a vav-consecutive Qal imperfect, linking directly to Yahweh’s hearing of Israel (beqol Yisrael {בְּק֣וֹל יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל | bə-qōl yiśrāʾēl}). The subsequent vayitten {וַיִּתֵּן֙ | wayyittēn} initiates the divine granting action, followed by et-ha-qenaʿānî {אֶת־הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔י | ʾet-ha-qenaʿānî} as the object. Vayacharem {וַיַּחֲרֵ֥ם | wayyaḥărem} in Hiphil marks a causative dedication to destruction under the cherem, and ethem ve-et-areihem extend this to both people and their cities. The final vayikra {וַיִּקְרָ֥א | wayyiqrāʾ} plus shem-hamakom {שֵׁם־הַמָּק֖וֹם | šēm-hammāqôm} follows the Hebrew etiological pattern of naming places after significant events, maintaining the sequence of divine response, action, and commemoration. |