2 Kings 5

“Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him…” Naming Syria and Naaman keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and…” Naming Israel and Naaman keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him…” Naming Samaria keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took…” The number ten makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have…” Naming Israel and Naaman keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to 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.

“So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call…” Naming Naaman keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be…” 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 his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing…” 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 went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh…” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But he said, As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he…” The line’s distinctive content terms include liveth, LORD, receive. Its relationship to verses 15 and 17 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules’ burden of earth? for thy…” 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.

“In this thing the LORD pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he…” Naming Rimmon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way.” The line’s distinctive content terms include departed, little, peace. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not…” Naming Elisha and Gehazi keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet…” 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 said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go…” The line’s distinctive content terms include bestowed, departed, hand. Its relationship to verses 23 and 25 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy…” 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 said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a…” 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.

“The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.