1 Kings 4

“So king Solomon was king over all Israel.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And these were the princes which he had; Azariah the son of Zadok the priest,” Naming Azariah and Zadok keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder.” Naming Ahiah and Ahilud keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:” Naming Abiathar and Benaiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers: and Zabud the son of Nathan was principal officer, and the king’s…” Naming Nathan and Azariah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Ahishar was over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute.” Naming Abda and Adoniram keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, which provided victuals for the king and his household: each man his…” The number twelve makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And these are their names: The son of Hur, in mount Ephraim:” Naming Ephraim and Hur keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The son of Dekar, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Beth-shemesh, and Elon-beth-hanan:” Naming Beth and Dekar keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The son of Hesed, in Aruboth; to him pertained Sochoh, and all the land of Hepher:” Naming Aruboth and Hepher keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The son of Abinadab, in all the region of Dor; which had Taphath the daughter of Solomon to wife:” Naming Abinadab and Dor keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Baana the son of Ahilud; to him pertained Taanach and Megiddo, and all Beth-shean, which is by Zartanah beneath…” Naming Beth and Abel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The son of Geber, in Ramoth-gilead; to him pertained the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead; to…” Naming Argob and Bashan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Ahinadab the son of Iddo had Mahanaim:” Naming Ahinadab and Iddo keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Ahimaaz was in Naphtali; he also took Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wife:” Naming Ahimaaz and Basmath keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Baanah the son of Hushai was in Asher and in Aloth:” Naming Aloth and Asher keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar:” Naming Issachar and Jehoshaphat keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin:” Naming Benjamin and Elah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Geber the son of Uri was in the country of Gilead, in the country of Sihon king of the Amorites, and of Og king of…” Naming Amorites and Bashan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry.” Naming Israel and Judah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt…” Naming Solomon and Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal,” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallowdeer…” The number ten makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, all…” Naming Beer and Dan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.” The number forty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And those officers provided victual for king Solomon, and for all that came unto king Solomon’s table, every man in…” Naming Solomon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries brought they unto the place where the officers were, every man…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the…” Naming Solomon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.” Naming Egypt and Solomon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.” 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 spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he…” Naming Lebanon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his…” Naming Solomon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.