1 Samuel 14

“Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people that were…” The number six makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, I-chabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD’s priest in Shiloh…” Naming Ahiah and Ahitub keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines’ garrison, there was a sharp rock…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy…” The line’s distinctive content terms include heart, armourbearer, turn. Its relationship to verses 6 and 8 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them.” Naming Jonathan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto…” Naming Tarry keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the…” Naming Philistines and Hebrews keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a…” Naming Come and Jonathan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before…” Naming Jonathan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half…” The number twenty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also…” The line’s distinctive content terms include trembling, earth, field. Its relationship to verses 14 and 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had…” Naming Jonathan and Number keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of…” Naming Ahiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle: and, behold, every…” Naming Saul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Moreover the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp from the…” Naming Hebrews and Israelites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled…” Naming Ephraim and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Beth-aven.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth…” Naming Cursed and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground.” The line’s distinctive content terms include ground, honey, land. Its relationship to verses 26 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include people, dropped, feared. Its relationship to verses 25 and 27 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I…” Naming Jonathan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had…” 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 they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint.” Naming Aijalon and Michmash keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people…” The line’s distinctive content terms include people, blood, calves. Its relationship to verses 31 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the LORD , in that they eat with the blood. And he said…” Naming Saul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every…” Naming Bring and Disperse keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Saul built an altar unto the LORD : the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD .” Naming Saul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel…” 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 Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.” Naming Draw and Saul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For, as the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.” Naming Jonathan and Cast keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.” Naming Jonathan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as 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.

“Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.” Naming Philistines and Saul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.” Naming Amalekites and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchi-shua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the…” 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 name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host was Abner…” Naming Saul and Abner keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.” Naming Abiel and Abner keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant…” Naming Saul and Philistines keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.