2 Chronicles 36

“Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father’s stead in Jerusalem.” Naming Jehoahaz and Jerusalem keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.” 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 king of Egypt put him down at Jerusalem, and condemned the land in an hundred talents of silver and a talent…” The number hundred makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and turned his name to Jehoiakim. And…” Naming Egypt and Eliakim keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did…” The number twenty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon.” Naming Babylon and Against keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the vessels of the house of the LORD to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon.” Naming Babylon and Nebuchadnezzar keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found in him, behold…” Naming Israel and Jehoiachin keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he…” The number eight makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And when the year was expired, king Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the…” Naming Babylon and Jerusalem keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.” 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 did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet…” Naming Jeremiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and…” 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.

“Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the…” Naming Jerusalem and Moreover keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD , and the…” Naming Babylon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire…” Naming Jerusalem keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons…” Naming Babylon and Persia keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she…” The number ten makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be…” Naming Cyrus and Persia keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath…” 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.