| 4. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative opens with the vav-consecutive in vayyiqqar {וַיִּקָּר | wayyiqqār}, signaling the next divine action. God {Elohim} serves as the subject, followed by ʾel-Bîlʿām {אֶל־בִּלְעָם | ʾel-bîlʿām} indicating the encounter’s object. The subsequent vav in wayyōmer {וַיֹּאמֶר | wayyōmer} introduces Balaam’s speech. The particle ʾet links to the construct chain šivʿat ham-mizbechôt {שִׁבְעַת הַמִּזְבְּחֹת | šivʿat ham-mizbechôt}, binding the numeral to its noun. The verbs ʿārakhtî and wā́ʿăʿal, connected by vav, form a parallel structure emphasizing Balaam’s ritual actions. The pairing of pār and wā́ʾāyil functions as a merism for the two offerings, and ba-mizbeáḥ {בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ | bam-mizbēaḥ} specifies the sacrificial location. This structure conveys both the orderly preparation and the distributive offering across all altars. |