1 Kings 3

“And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh’s daughter, and brought her into the city of…” Naming Pharaoh and David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD , until those…” Naming Only keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Solomon loved the LORD , walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high…” Naming David and Solomon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did…” The number thousand makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in…” Naming David and Solomon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I…” Naming David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor…” The line’s distinctive content terms include people, chosen, counted. Its relationship to verses 9 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for…” 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 the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.” Naming Solomon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast…” Naming Because keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will…” Naming David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in 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 it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And this woman’s child died in the night; because she overlaid it.” The line’s distinctive content terms include child, died, night. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and…” The line’s distinctive content terms include bosom, laid, arose. Its relationship to verses 19 and 21 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include morning, bear, child. Its relationship to verses 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is…” Naming Nay keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but…” 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 king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.” Naming Bring keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my…” The line’s distinctive content terms include child, living, bowels. Its relationship to verses 25 and 27 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.” Naming Give keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.