Exodus 9

“Then the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people…” Naming Hebrews keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still,” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon 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 LORD shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of 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 appointed a set time, saying, To morrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land.” 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 did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. And the heart of Pharaoh was…” 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 LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it…” Naming Moses and Aaron keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a…” Naming Moses and Pharaoh keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all…” Naming Egyptians and Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken unto Moses.” Naming Moses and Pharaoh keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the…” Naming Hebrews keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared…” The line’s distinctive content terms include cause, declared, deed. Its relationship to verses 15 and 17 shows what work it does in this passage.

“As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go?” 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.

“Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since…” Naming Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“He that feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the…” Naming Pharaoh keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he that regarded not the word of the LORD left his servants and his cattle in the field.” The line’s distinctive content terms include cattle, field, left. Its relationship to verses 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt…” Naming Egypt and Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the…” Naming Egypt and Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote…” Naming Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.” Naming Goshen and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous…” Naming Aaron and Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Intreat the LORD (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and 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 Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD ; and the…” 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 thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the LORD God.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled.” The line’s distinctive content terms include barley, flax, bolled. Its relationship to verses 30 and 32 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But the wheat and the rie were not smitten: for they were not grown up.” The line’s distinctive content terms include grown, smitten, wheat. Its relationship to verses 31 and 33 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the LORD : and the thunders and hail…” Naming Moses and Pharaoh keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his…” Naming Pharaoh keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the LORD had spoken by…” Naming Israel and Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.