| 36. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative begins with vayishma {וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע | wayyišmaʿ} “and he heard,” using the vav-consecutive to continue the storyline. The conjunction ki {כִּ֣י | kî} introduces a content clause that explains Balak’s response. The verb vayetze {וַיֵּצֵ֨א | wayyeṣēʾ} “and he went out” employs a second vav-consecutive to signal movement. The preposition plus infinitive construct liqrato {לִקְרָאת֜וֹ | liqrāʾō} marks Balak’s purpose “to meet him.” The phrase el-ir Moav {אֶל-עִ֣יר מוֹאָ֗ב | ʾel-ʿîr mōʾāb} shows a maqqef-linked construct between “city” and “Moab.” Two relative clauses introduced by asher {אֲשֶׁר | ʾăšer} successively modify al-gevul Arnon {עַל־גְּב֣וּל אַרְנֹ֔ן | ʿal-gevûl ʾArnōn} and biktse ha-gevul {בִּקְצֵ֥ה הַגְּבֽוּל | biqṣēh ha-gevûl}, creating nested geographic precision that the translations preserve. |