| 19. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the transition veʿattah {וְעַתָּה | wə-ʿattâ} ‘and now’, which ties back to the preceding narrative. The imperative shevû {שְׁבוּ | šə-vû} ‘sit’ plus the entreaty particle nā {נָא | nā} ‘please’ communicates a courteous command. The demonstrative prepositional phrase bāzeh {בָזֶה | bā-zê} ‘in this’ locates the audience. The maqqef in gam-ʾattēm {גַּם־אַתֶּם | gam-ʾă-tĕm} ‘also you’ and mahyōsēp̄ {מַה־יֹּסֵף | ma-h yō-sêp̄} ‘what he will add’ binds these elements tightly, emphasizing continuity of revelation. The temporal noun hallāylāh {הַלָּיְלָה | hāl-lā-lā(h)} ‘the night’ sets the timeframe. The cohortative wə’ēḏāh {וְאֵדְעָה | wə-’ē-ḏā(h)} ‘let me know’ expresses the prophet’s volition to inquire. Yahweh {יְהוָה | Yə-hō-wāh} functions as subject through the infinitive construct dabbēr {דַּבֵּר | dab-bēr} ‘to speak’, and the suffix of ʿimmî {עִמִּי | ʿim-mî} ‘with me’ underscores the personal nature of the communication. Together, the sequence of imperatives, conjunctions, and infinitives creates a literary rhythm of anticipation for further divine instruction. |