| 35. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the sequential narrative marker wayyakû {וַיַּכּוּ | wayyakû} ‘and they struck’, employing the vav-consecutive + Qal imperfect to continue the action. The series of direct objects, each introduced by wə-ʾeṯ {וְאֶת | wə-ʾeṯ} ‘object marker’, includes ʾôtô {אֹתוֹ | ʾôtô} ‘him’, bānāyw {בָּנָיו | bānāyw} ‘his sons’, and kāl-ʿammô {כָּל־עַמּוֹ | kāl-ʿammô} ‘all his people’. The phrase ʿad-bilitî {עַד־בִּלְתִּי | ʿad-bilitî} ‘until not’ combines with the Hiphil perfect hišʾîr {הִשְׁאִיר | hišʾîr} ‘he left’ and noun sārîḏ {שָׂרִיד | sārîḏ} ‘survivor’ to express total eradication. Finally, wayyîrašû {וַיִּירְשׁוּ | wayyîrašû} ‘and they took possession’ with ʾeṯ-ʾarṣô {אֶת־אַרְצֹוֹ | ʾeṯ-ʾarṣô} ‘his land’ signals the transfer of territory, underscoring the complete military victory and subsequent inheritance. |