| 11. Linguistic Exegesis The vav-prefix on yashvu {וְיָשְׁבוּ | wə-yāšəḇû} creates a sequential imperfect indicating future habitation. The locative bah {בָּהּ | bāh} specifies “in it.” The noun ḥērem {חֵרֶם | ḥērem} “ban,” negated by lo {לֹא | lōʾ}, combines with the compound yihyeh-ʿôḏ {יִהְיֶה־עוֹד | yih-yēh-ʿôḏ} “will be again” to express permanent removal of devastation. In parallel, Yerushalayim {יְרוּשָׁלַם | Yerūšālayim} “Jerusalem” plus the perfect veyashvah {וְיָשְׁבָה | wə-yāšəḇāh} “and she will dwell” and the prepositional phrase lavetach {לָבֶטַח | lā-ve-ṭaḥ} “in security” form a chiasm dwell–ban–dwell that highlights the shift from judgment to assured restoration. |