| 9. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the adjective tov {טוֹב | tōv} ‘good’ functioning as a comparative marker, followed by lashevet {לָשֶׁבֶת | lā-šě-ḇeṯ} ‘to dwell’ in the infinitive construct. The prepositional phrase al pinnat gag {עַל־פִּנַּת־גָּג | ʿal-pin-nāṯ-gāg} ‘on a corner of a roof’ employs a construct chain linking pinnat {פִּנַּת | pin-nāṯ} ‘corner’ and gag {גָּג | gāg} ‘roof,’ highlighting isolated risk. The comparative clause me-eshet midyanim {מֵאֵשֶׁת מִדְיָנִים | mē-’ē-šeṯ mid-yā-nıym} ‘than a contentious wife’ contrasts domestic discord, while the coordinated phrase u-veit chaver {וּבֵית חָבֶר | wə-vêṯ ḥā-ver} ‘and a house of shared dwelling’ parallels the first scenario. This parallelism emphasizes the preference for solitary peril over marital strife. |