2 Chronicles 13

“Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah.” Naming Abijah and Jeroboam keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Abijah set the battle in array with an army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men: Jeroboam…” The number four makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Abijah stood up upon mount Zemaraim, which is in mount Ephraim, and said, Hear me, thou Jeroboam, and all Israel;” Naming Abijah and Ephraim keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Ought ye not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to…” 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.

“Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, is risen up, and hath rebelled against his…” Naming David and Jeroboam keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And there are gathered unto him vain men, the children of Belial, and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam…” Naming Rehoboam and Belial keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And now ye think to withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David; and ye be a great multitude…” Naming David and Jeroboam keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Have ye not cast out the priests of the LORD , the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you priests after 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.

“But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him; and the priests, which minister unto the LORD , are…” Naming Aaron keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they burn unto the LORD every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense: the shewbread also set…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambushment was behind…” Naming Jeroboam and Judah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind: and they cried unto the LORD , and the priests…” Naming Judah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then the men of Judah gave a shout: and as the men of Judah shouted, it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all…” Naming Judah and Abijah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the children of Israel fled before Judah: and God delivered them into their hand.” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand…” The number five makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Beth-el with the towns thereof, and Jeshanah with the…” Naming Abijah and Beth keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah: and the LORD struck him, and he died.” Naming Abijah and Jeroboam keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But Abijah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters.” 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 rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, are written in the story of the prophet Iddo.” Naming Abijah and Iddo keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.