2 Kings 18

“Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of…” Naming Ahaz and Elah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. His…” The number twenty 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 right in the sight of the LORD , according to all that David his father did.” Naming David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that…” Naming Israel and Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For he clave to the LORD , and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria…” Naming Assyria keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.” Naming Gaza and Philistines keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And at the end of three years they took it: even in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is the ninth year of Hoshea king…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan…” Naming Assyria and Gozan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD their God, but transgressed his covenant, and all that Moses the servant…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of…” Naming Assyria and Hezekiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD , and in the treasures of the king’s…” Naming Hezekiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD , and from the pillars which…” Naming Hezekiah 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 sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rab-shakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host…” Naming Jerusalem and Assyria keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household…” Naming Asaph and Eliakim keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Rab-shakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What…” 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.

“Thou sayest, (but they are but vain words,) I have counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that…” 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.

“Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go…” Naming Egypt and Pharaoh keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But if ye say unto me, We trust in the LORD our God: is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah 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.

“Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put thy trust on Egypt…” 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.

“Am I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, Go up against this land, 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.

“Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rab-shakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in…” Naming Eliakim and Hilkiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But Rab-shakeh said unto them, Hath my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words? hath he not…” 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 Rab-shakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ language, and spake, saying, Hear the word of the great…” Naming Assyria and Hear keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand:” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD , saying, The LORD will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a…” Naming Hezekiah and Until keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?” 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.

“Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? have they delivered…” 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.

“Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of mine hand, that the LORD…” 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 the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not.” Naming Answer keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph…” Naming Asaph and Eliakim keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.