| 16. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative unfolds with the vav-consecutive prefixed verb vayavo'u {וַיָּבֹאוּ | vāyāwōʾû} ‘and they came’, which signals continuation of prior action. The phrase vayomeru {וַיֹּאמְרוּ | vāyōmerū} ‘and they said’ plus lo {לוֹ | lō} ‘to him’ functions as a messenger formula introducing the direct quotation. The expression koh {כֹּה | kō} ‘thus’ coupled with amar {אָמַר | ’āmar} ‘he said’ serves as the proclamation formula for Balak’s speech. The request particle al-na {אַל־נָא | ’al-nā} ‘please do not’ merges prohibition and entreaty, creating a polite imperative. The reflexive Niphal imperfect timmānāʿ {תִמָּנַע | timmānāʿ} ‘withhold yourself’ conveys self-restraint, and the participle mehalōḵ {מֵהֲלֹךְ | mēhalōḵ} ‘coming’ emphasizes continuous motion. The suffix ʾēlāy {אֵלָי | ʾēlāy} ‘to me’ personalizes the appeal. The English rendering preserves this sequence and the formal tone of the entreaty. |