2 Kings 17

“In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years.” The number nine 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 , but not as the kings of Israel that were before him.” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant, and gave him presents.” Naming Against and Assyria keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no…” Naming Assyria and Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years.” 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 ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in…” Naming Assyria and Gozan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, which had brought them up out of the…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the LORD their God, and they built…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree:” The line’s distinctive content terms include green, groves, high. Its relationship to verses 9 and 11 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the LORD carried away before them; and…” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, anger, burnt. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe…” Naming Notwithstanding keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he…” 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 they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and…” The line’s distinctive content terms include anger, caused, daughters. Its relationship to verses 16 and 18 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made.” Naming Also keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them;” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried…” Naming Israel and Assyria keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim…” Naming Samaria and Assyria keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the LORD : therefore the LORD sent lions…” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, beginning, dwelling. Its relationship to verses 24 and 26 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Beth-el, and taught them how they…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Howbeit every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had…” Naming Howbeit and Samaritans keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima,” Naming Ashima and Babylon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech…” Naming Adrammelech and Anammelech keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“So they feared the LORD , and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“They feared the LORD , and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence.” The line’s distinctive content terms include carried, feared, gods. Its relationship to verses 32 and 34 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the LORD , neither do they after their statutes, or…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“With whom the LORD had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to…” 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.

“But the LORD , who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and a stretched out arm, him shall ye…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the statutes, and the ordinances, and the law, and the commandment, which he wrote for you, ye shall observe to do…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the covenant that I have made with you ye shall not forget; neither shall ye fear other gods.” 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.

“But the LORD your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Howbeit they did not hearken, but they did after their former manner.” Naming Howbeit keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“So these nations feared the LORD , and served their graven images, both their children, and their children’s children…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.