| 4. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative opens with the vav-consecutive verb vayis’u {וַיִּסְע֞וּ | wayyiṣ‘ū} ‘and they set out’, marking a transition into a new movement. The prepositional phrase mehor hahar {מֵהֹ֤ר הָהָר֙ | mē-hôr hā-hār} specifies the departure point. The construct derekh yam-suf {דֶּ֣רֶךְ יַם־ס֔וּף | dérékh yam-sûp} serves as a route indicator, while the infinitive lisbov {לִסְבֹ֖ב | lisbôv} expresses purpose. The direct object marker et precedes eretz edom {אֶת־אֶ֣רֶץ אֱד֑וֹם | ʾet ʾerets ’ĕdôm}, identifying the territory to bypass. The following vav-consecutive imperfect vatiktzar {וַתִּקְצַ֥ר | wat·tiq·ṣar} introduces the people’s reaction, with nefesh-haam {נֶֽפֶשׁ־הָעָ֖ם | néfeš-ha-‘ām} as subject. The final phrase badarekh {בַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃ | ba·dā·réḵ} returns focus to the journey’s context, highlighting collective impatience. |