1 Kings 16

“Then the word of the LORD came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying,” Naming Baasha and Hanani keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust, and made thee prince over my people Israel; and thou hast walked in the…” Naming Israel and Forasmuch keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Behold, I will take away the posterity of Baasha, and the posterity of his house; and will make thy house like the…” Naming Baasha and Jeroboam keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

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

“Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, and what he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles…” 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.

“So Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah: and Elah his son reigned in his stead.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And also by the hand of the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of the LORD against Baasha, and against his…” Naming Baasha and Hanani keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

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

“And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself…” Naming Tirzah and Arza keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in…” The number twenty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he slew all the house of Baasha: he…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD , which he spake against Baasha by…” Naming Baasha and Jehu keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, by which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to sin…” 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 Elah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings…” 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.

“In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped…” The number twenty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired, and hath also slain the king: wherefore all Israel…” Naming Israel and Omri keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.” Naming Gibbethon and 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, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king’s house, and…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD , in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his…” 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 Zimri, and his treason that he wrought, are they not written in the book of the chronicles…” 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.

“Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died…” Naming Omri and Tibni keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, twelve years: six years reigned he…” The number thirty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD , and did worse than all that were before him.” Naming Omri keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin, to provoke…” 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 Omri which he did, and his might that he shewed, are they not written in the book 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.

“So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria: and Ahab his son reigned in his stead.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the…” The number thirty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him.” Naming Ahab and Omri keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.” Naming Baal and Samaria keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that…” Naming Ahab and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“In his days did Hiel the Beth-elite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up…” Naming Abiram and Beth keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.