| 5. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the vav consecutive on vayyišlāḥ {וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח | vayyišlāḥ} “and he sent,” establishing the historical narrative sequence. The direct object malʾāḵîm {מַלְאָכִ֜ים | malʾāḵîm} “messengers” identifies the envoys dispatched to Balaam. The titles ben {בֶּן־ | ben} “son” and bəʿôr {בְּעֹר | bəʿôr} “Beor” in construct introduce Balaam’s lineage. Peṭôrāh {פְּ֠תוֹרָה | peṭôrāh} functions appositionally, linked by ʾăšer {אֲשֶׁ֧ר | ʾăšer} “which” to ʿal hanāhār {עַל־הַנָּהָ֛ר | ʿal hanāhār} “by the river.” The construct chain ʾereṣ bənê ʿammō {אֶ֥רֶץ בְּנֵי־עַמּ֖וֹ | ʾereṣ bənê ʿammō} “land of the sons of his people” indicates geographic belonging. The purpose clause liqrōlō lēʾmōr {לִקְרֹא־ל֑וֹ לֵאמֹ֗ר | liqrōlō lēʾmōr} “to call to him saying” introduces the quotation. Repetition of hinnēh {הִנֵּ֠ה | hinnēh} “behold” conveys urgency and emphasis. The perfect verb yāṣāʾ {יָצָ֤א | yāṣāʾ} “has come out” with the prepositional phrase mimmitsrāyim {מִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙ | mimmitsrāyim} locates the people’s origin. The Piel perfect kissāh {כִסָּה֙ | kissāh} “has covered” plus the direct object ʾeṯ-ʿēn hāʾāreṣ {אֶת־עֵ֣ין הָאָרֶץ | ʾeṯ-ʿēn hāʾāreṣ} “the face of the land” forms an idiomatic expression. The conjunction wəhūʾ yōšēḇ {וְהוּא יֹשֵׁ֖ב | wəhūʾ yōšēḇ} “and he is dwelling” with mimmullī {מִמֻּלִֽי | mimmullī} “opposite me” completes the message with a spatial relation. English renders sequence and idiom while preserving Hebrew emphases and construct relations. |