1 Kings 6

“And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And the house which king Solomon built for the LORD , the length thereof was threescore cubits, and the breadth…” 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 porch before the temple of the house, twenty cubits was the length thereof, according to the breadth of the…” The number twenty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And for the house he made windows of narrow lights.” The line’s distinctive content terms include house, lights, narrow. Its relationship to verses 3 and 5 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And against the wall of the house he built chambers round about, against the walls of the house round about, both of…” The line’s distinctive content terms include round, chambers, house. Its relationship to verses 4 and 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The nethermost chamber was five cubits broad, and the middle was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits…” The number five makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was…” The line’s distinctive content terms include building, house, built. Its relationship to verses 6 and 8 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The door for the middle chamber was in the right side of the house: and they went up with winding stairs into the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include middle, chamber, door. Its relationship to verses 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“So he built the house, and finished it; and covered the house with beams and boards of cedar.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And then he built chambers against all the house, five cubits high: and they rested on the house with timber of cedar.” The number five makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying,” Naming Solomon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep…” Naming Concerning and David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“So Solomon built the house, and finished it.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And he built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar, both the floor of the house, and the walls of the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include house, covered, floor. Its relationship to verses 14 and 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And he built twenty cubits on the sides of the house, both the floor and the walls with boards of cedar: he even built…” 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 house, that is, the temple before it, was forty cubits long.” The number forty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the cedar of the house within was carved with knops and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen.” The line’s distinctive content terms include cedar, carved, flowers. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And the oracle he prepared in the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of the LORD .” 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.

“And the oracle in the forepart was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the…” The number twenty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold: and he made a partition by the chains of gold before the oracle…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And the whole house he overlaid with gold, until he had finished all the house: also the whole altar that was by the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include gold, house, overlaid. Its relationship to verses 21 and 23 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And within the oracle he made two cherubims of olive tree, each ten cubits high.” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part…” The number five makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the other cherub was ten cubits: both the cherubims were of one measure and one size.” The number ten makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“The height of the one cherub was ten cubits, and so was it of the other cherub.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And he set the cherubims within the inner house: and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubims, so that the wing…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And he overlaid the cherubims with gold.” The line’s distinctive content terms include cherubims, gold, overlaid. Its relationship to verses 27 and 29 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers…” The line’s distinctive content terms include carved, cherubims, figures. Its relationship to verses 28 and 30 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And the floor of the house he overlaid with gold, within and without.” The line’s distinctive content terms include floor, gold, house. Its relationship to verses 29 and 31 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And for the entering of the oracle he made doors of olive tree: the lintel and side posts were a fifth part of the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include doors, entering, fifth. Its relationship to verses 30 and 32 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The two doors also were of olive tree; and he carved upon them carvings of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“So also made he for the door of the temple posts of olive tree, a fourth part of the wall.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And the two doors were of fir tree: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door…” 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 carved thereon cherubims and palm trees and open flowers: and covered them with gold fitted upon the carved…” The line’s distinctive content terms include carved, cherubims, covered. Its relationship to verses 34 and 36 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And he built the inner court with three rows of hewed stone, and a row of cedar beams.” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of the LORD laid, in the month Zif:” Naming Zif keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts…” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.