| 5. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the vav-consecutive narrative verb vayedabber {וַיְדַבֵּר | vā-yə-dabbēr} “and he spoke,” marking a new speech event. The coordinated accusative prepositional phrases bēʾĕlōhīm {בֵּאלֹהִים | bēʾ-ʾĕ-lō-hîm} “against God” and uḇə-mōšeh {וּבְמֹשֶׁה | u-ḇə-mō-šeh} “and against Moses” identify parallel targets of reproach. The interrogative lā-māh {לָמָה | lā-māh} “why” introduces the direct question, which is realized by the Hiphil perfect hēʾelīṭūnû {הֶעֱלִיתֻנוּ | hēʾ-el-ī-ṭū-nû} “have you brought us up,” with an implied second person subject. The infinitive lā-mûṯ {לָמוּת | lā-mûṯ} “to die” expresses purpose. The causal conjunction kî {כִּי | kî} “for” leads into two existential clauses using ʾên {אֵין | ʾên}: first with lēḥem {לֶחֶם | lē-ḥem} “bread” and then with mā-yim {מַיִם | mā-yim} “water,” reinforcing lack. The perfect qāṣāh {קָצָה | qā-ṣāh} “has loathed” in wənappšēnû qāṣāh {וְנַפְשֵׁנוּ קָצָה | wə-nappšē-nû qā-ṣāh} “and our soul has loathed” conveys emotional completion. Finally, the prepositional phrase bāl-lē-ḥem haqqəlōqēl {בַּלֶּחֶם הַקְּלֹקֵל | bāl-lē-ḥem ha-qə-lō-qēl} “in the bread the worthless” highlights contempt for the provision. The sequence of conjunctions and particles builds cumulative emphasis and deepens the tone of complaint. |