1 Kings 14

“At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick.” Naming Abijah and Jeroboam keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Jeroboam said to his wife, Arise, I pray thee, and disguise thyself, that thou be not known to be the wife of…” Naming Jeroboam and Ahijah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And take with thee ten loaves, and cracknels, and a cruse of honey, and go to him: he shall tell thee what shall…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And Jeroboam’s wife did so, and arose, and went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. But Ahijah could not see…” Naming Ahijah and Jeroboam keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the LORD said unto Ahijah, Behold, the wife of Jeroboam cometh to ask a thing of thee for her son; for he is sick…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And it was so, when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, that he said, Come in, thou wife…” 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.

“Go, tell Jeroboam, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Forasmuch as I exalted thee from among the people, and made thee…” Naming Israel and Forasmuch keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it thee: and yet thou hast not been as my servant David…” Naming David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to…” The line’s distinctive content terms include anger, back, behind. Its relationship to verses 10 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Arise thou therefore, get thee to thine own house: and when thy feet enter into the city, the child shall die.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him: for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Moreover the LORD shall raise him up a king over Israel, who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam that day: but what…” 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.

“For the LORD shall smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water, and he shall root up Israel out of this good land…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And Jeroboam’s wife arose, and departed, and came to Tirzah: and when she came to the threshold of the door, the child…” Naming Jeroboam and Tirzah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they buried him; and all Israel mourned for him, according to the word of the LORD , which he spake by the hand of…” Naming Ahijah and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred, and how he reigned, behold, they are written in the book of the…” Naming Israel and Jeroboam keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the days which Jeroboam reigned were two and twenty years: and he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty and one years old when he began to reign, and he…” The number forty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD , and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had…” Naming Judah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem:” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD , and the treasures of the king’s house; he even took away…” Naming Solomon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And king Rehoboam made in their stead brasen shields, and committed them unto the hands of the chief of the guard…” Naming Rehoboam keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And it was so, when the king went into the house of the LORD , that the guard bare them, and brought them back into…” The line’s distinctive content terms include guard, back, bare. Its relationship to verses 27 and 29 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the…” 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 there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days.” Naming Jeroboam and Rehoboam keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And his mother’s name was…” Naming Abijam and Ammonitess keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.