Deuteronomy 1

“These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain over against…” Naming Dizahab and Hazeroth keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“(There are eleven days’ journey from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadesh-barnea.)” Naming Horeb and Kadesh 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 fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“After he had slain Sihon the king of the Amorites, which dwelt in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, which dwelt at…” Naming Amorites and Astaroth keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“On this side Jordan, in the land of Moab, began Moses to declare this law, saying,” Naming Jordan and Moab keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The LORD our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount:” Naming Horeb keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the…” Naming Amorites and Canaanites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham…” 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 I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone:” The line’s distinctive content terms include able, bear, myself. Its relationship to verses 10 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The LORD your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“(The LORD God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised…” 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.

“How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife?” 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.

“Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you.” Naming Take keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And ye answered me, and said, The thing which thou hast spoken is good for us to do.” The line’s distinctive content terms include good, thing. Its relationship to verses 13 and 15 shows what work it does in this passage.

“So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains over thousands, and…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And I commanded you at that time all the things which ye should 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 when we departed from Horeb, we went through all that great and terrible wilderness, which ye saw by the way of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And I said unto you, Ye are come unto the mountain of the Amorites, which the LORD our God doth give unto us.” Naming Amorites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“And ye came near unto me every one of you, and said, We will send men before us, and they shall search us out the…” 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 saying pleased me well: and I took twelve men of you, one of a tribe:” The number twelve makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And they turned and went up into the mountain, and came unto the valley of Eshcol, and searched it out.” Naming Eshcol keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they took of the fruit of the land in their hands, and brought it down unto us, and brought us word again, and…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Notwithstanding ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God:” Naming Notwithstanding keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because the LORD hated us, he hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt…” Naming Amorites and Because keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; 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.

“Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them.” Naming Dread keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Yet in this thing ye did not believe the LORD your God,” Naming Yet keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Who went in the way before you, to search you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to shew you by…” The line’s distinctive content terms include cloud, fire, night. Its relationship to verses 34 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And the LORD heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and sware, saying,” 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.

“Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to give unto your…” 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.

“Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Also the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go in thither.” Naming Also and Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause…” 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 your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But as for you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea.” Naming Red keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then ye answered and said unto me, We have sinned against the LORD , we will go up and fight, according to all that…” 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 LORD said unto me, Say unto them, Go not up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest ye be smitten before…” Naming Say keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“So I spake unto you; and ye would not hear, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD , and went presumptuously…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And the Amorites, which dwelt in that mountain, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and destroyed you in…” Naming Amorites and Hormah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And ye returned and wept before the LORD ; but the LORD would not hearken to your voice, nor give ear unto you.” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, hearken, returned. Its relationship to verses 44 and 46 shows what work it does in this passage.

“So ye abode in Kadesh many days, according unto the days that ye abode there.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.