Deuteronomy 3

“Then we turned, and went up the way to Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people…” Naming Bashan and Edrei keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the LORD said unto me, Fear him not: for I will deliver him, and all his people, and his land, into thy hand; and…” Naming Amorites and Fear keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“So the LORD our God delivered into our hands Og also, the king of Bashan, and all his people: and we smote him until…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And we took all his cities at that time, there was not a city which we took not from them, threescore cities, all the…” Naming Argob and Bashan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“All these cities were fenced with high walls, gates, and bars; beside unwalled towns a great many.” Naming All keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And we utterly destroyed them, as we did unto Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men, women, and children…” Naming Heshbon and Sihon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But all the cattle, and the spoil of the cities, we took for a prey to ourselves.” The line’s distinctive content terms include cattle, cities, prey. Its relationship to verses 6 and 8 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And we took at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites the land that was on this side Jordan, from…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“(Which Hermon the Sidonians call Sirion; and the Amorites call it Shenir;)” Naming Amorites and Hermon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“All the cities of the plain, and all Gilead, and all Bashan, unto Salchah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in…” Naming Bashan and All keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it 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.

“And this land, which we possessed at that time, from Aroer, which is by the river Arnon, and half mount Gilead, and…” Naming Arnon and Aroer keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, being the kingdom of Og, gave I unto the half tribe of Manasseh; all the…” Naming Bashan and Argob keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Jair the son of Manasseh took all the country of Argob unto the coasts of Geshuri and Maachathi; and called them after…” Naming Argob and Bashan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And I gave Gilead unto Machir.” Naming Gilead and Machir keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And unto the Reubenites and unto the Gadites I gave from Gilead even unto the river Arnon half the valley, and the…” Naming Ammon and Arnon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The plain also, and Jordan, and the coast thereof, from Chinnereth even unto the sea of the plain, even the salt sea…” Naming Ashdoth and Chinnereth keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And I commanded you at that time, saying, The LORD your God hath given you this land to possess it: ye shall pass over…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But your wives, and your little ones, and your cattle, (for I know that ye have much cattle,) shall abide in your…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Until the LORD have given rest unto your brethren, as well as unto you, and until they also possess the land which 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 I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, Thine eyes have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto these two…” 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 fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you.” 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 besought the LORD at that time, saying,” The line’s distinctive content terms include besought, LORD, time. Its relationship to verses 22 and 24 shows what work it does in this passage.

“O Lord GOD , thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven…” 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.

“I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon.” Naming Jordan and Lebanon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But the LORD was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the LORD said unto me, Let it suffice thee…” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, hear, matter. Its relationship to verses 25 and 27 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Get thee up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and…” Naming Get and Jordan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and 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.

“So we abode in the valley over against Beth-peor.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.