1 Kings 15

“Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah.” Naming Abijam and Jeroboam keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD…” Naming David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Nevertheless for David’s sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to…” Naming Jerusalem and David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD , and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life.” Naming Jeroboam and Rehoboam keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, 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 Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead.” Naming Abijam and Asa keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned Asa over Judah.” Naming Asa and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.” The number forty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD , as did David his father.” Naming Asa and David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.” The line’s distinctive content terms include fathers, idols, land. Its relationship to verses 11 and 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa…” Naming Asa and Kidron keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa’s heart was perfect with the LORD all his days.” Naming Asa keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he brought in the things which his father had dedicated, and the things which himself had dedicated, into the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include dedicated, father, gold. Its relationship to verses 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.” Naming Asa and Baasha keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to…” Naming Judah and Asa keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the LORD , and the treasures…” Naming Asa and Ben keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“There is a league between me and thee, and between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent unto thee a present…” Naming Baasha and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“So Ben-hadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah.” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was exempted: and they took away the stones of Ramah, and…” Naming Asa and Baasha keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not…” 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 Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoshaphat his…” Naming Asa and David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned over…” 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 did evil in the sight of the LORD , and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha smote him at Gibbethon…” Naming Baasha and Gibbethon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha slay him, and reigned in his stead.” Naming Asa and Baasha keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And it came to pass, when he reigned, that he smote all the house of Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“Because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, by his provocation wherewith he…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, 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 Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.” Naming Asa and Baasha keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“In the third year of Asa king of Judah began Baasha the son of Ahijah to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, twenty and…” The number twenty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And he did evil in the sight of the LORD , and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel…” Naming Israel and Jeroboam keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.