1 Samuel 19

“And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.” Naming David and Jonathan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But Jonathan Saul’s son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee…” Naming David and Jonathan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee…” The line’s distinctive content terms include father, commune, field. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant…” Naming David and Jonathan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all 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 hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.” 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 Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in…” Naming Jonathan and David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter…” Naming David and Philistines keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played…” Naming David and Saul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence, and he…” Naming David and Saul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Saul also sent messengers unto David’s house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David’s wife…” Naming David and Michal keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats’ hair for his bolster, and covered it with…” Naming Michal keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.” Naming David and Saul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.” Naming Bring and David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats’ hair for his…” The line’s distinctive content terms include bolster, goats, hair. Its relationship to verses 15 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal…” 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 David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.” Naming David and Naioth keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing…” Naming Saul and David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the…” Naming Saul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and…” 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 he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until…” Naming Naioth and Ramah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and…” 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.