1 Chronicles 11

“Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.” Naming David and Hebron keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And moreover in time past, even when Saul was king, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Therefore came all the elders of Israel to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus; where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land.” Naming David and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, Thou shalt not come hither. Nevertheless David took the castle of Zion…” Naming David and Jebus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. So Joab the son of Zeruiah went…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And David dwelt in the castle; therefore they called it the city of David.” Naming David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he built the city round about, even from Millo round about: and Joab repaired the rest of the city.” Naming Joab and Millo keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“So David waxed greater and greater: for the LORD of hosts was with him.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“These also are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, and…” Naming Israel and David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had; Jashobeam, an Hachmonite, the chief of the captains: he…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighties.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“He was with David at Pas-dammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where was a parcel of…” Naming Philistines and David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they set themselves in the midst of that parcel, and delivered it, and slew the Philistines; and the LORD saved…” Naming Philistines keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Now three of the thirty captains went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the host of the…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And David was then in the hold, and the Philistines’ garrison was then at Beth-lehem.” Naming Beth and David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Beth-lehem, that is at the…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Beth-lehem, that was by the…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And Abishai the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three: for lifting up his spear against three hundred, he slew…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Of the three, he was more honourable than the two; for he was their captain: howbeit he attained not to the first…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done many acts; he slew two lionlike men of…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And he slew an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high; and in the Egyptian’s hand was a spear like a…” The number five makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among the three mighties.” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Behold, he was honourable among the thirty, but attained not to the first three: and David set him over his guard.” The number thirty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Also the valiant men of the armies were, Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Beth-lehem,” Naming Also and Asahel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,” Naming Harorite and Helez keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abi-ezer the Antothite,” Naming Abi and Antothite keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,” Naming Ahohite and Hushathite keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,” Naming Netophathite and Baanah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah, that pertained to the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,” Naming Benaiah and Benjamin keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,” Naming Abiel and Arbathite keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,” Naming Azmaveth and Baharumite keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shage the Hararite,” Naming Gizonite and Hararite keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur,” Naming Ahiam and Eliphal keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,” Naming Ahijah and Hepher keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai,” Naming Carmelite and Ezbai keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Haggeri,” Naming Haggeri and Joel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armourbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah,” Naming Ammonite and Berothite keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,” Naming Ithrite and Gareb keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,” Naming Ahlai and Hittite keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a captain of the Reubenites, and thirty with him,” The number thirty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Hanan the son of Maachah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,” Naming Hanan and Joshaphat keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jehiel the sons of Hothan the Aroerite,” Naming Aroerite and Ashterathite keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite,” Naming Jediael and Joha keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,” Naming Eliel and Elnaam keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Eliel, and Obed, and Jasiel the Mesobaite.” Naming Eliel and Jasiel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.