| 3. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the narrative vav-consecutive `vayyōmer {וַיֹּאמֶר | wayyōmer} ‘and he said’`, introducing Balaam’s direct speech. The imperative `hittāṣēv {הִתְיַצֵּב | hittāṣēv} ‘stand’` is followed by the prepositional phrase `ʿal-ʿōlāteḵā {עַל־עֹלָתֶךָ | ʿal-ʿōlāteḵā} ‘on your burnt offering’`, positioning Balak. Balaam’s intent is expressed by the cohortative `wəʾēlĕḵā {וְאֵלְכָה | wəʾēlĕḵā} ‘and I will go’`, while the optative `ʾûlāy yiqqārēh {אוּלַי יִקָּרֵה | ʾûlāy yiqqārēh} ‘perhaps {it} may meet’ conveys uncertainty regarding Yahweh {יְהוָה | Yəhōwāh}. The infinitive construct `liqrātî {לִקְרָאתִי | liqrātî} ‘to meet me’` links directly to the divine encounter, and the paired phrase `ū-dāḇār māh-yar’ēnî {וּדְבַר מַה־יַּרְאֵנִי | ū-dāḇār māh-yar’ēnî} ‘and the word what he will show me’ emphasizes the revelatory content that Balaam commits to communicate with `wəhiggādtî lākā {וְהִגַּדְתִּי לָךְ | wəhiggādtî lākā} ‘and I will tell you’`. The narrative then resumes with `wayyēleḵ {וַיֵּלֶךְ | wayyēleḵ} ‘and he went’` to `šephî {שֶׁפִי | šephî} ‘bare height’’, marking Balaam’s movement to an isolated elevation. |