Jeremiah 38

“Then Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur the son…” Naming Pashur and Gedaliah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thus saith the LORD , He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Thus saith the LORD , This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon’s army, which shall take…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death: for thus he weakeneth the…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Then Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he is in your hand: for the king is not he that can do any thing against you.” Naming Zedekiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the…” Naming Jeremiah and Hammelech keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Now when Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Ebed-melech went forth out of the king’s house, and spake to the king, saying,” Naming Ebed keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast…” Naming Jeremiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty men with thee, and take up Jeremiah…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“So Ebed-melech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took thence old cast…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah, Put now these old cast clouts and rotten rags under thine armholes…” Naming Jeremiah and Ebed keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that is in the house of the…” Naming Jeremiah and Zedekiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then Jeremiah said unto Zedekiah, If I declare it unto thee, wilt thou not surely put me to death? and if I give thee…” 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 Zedekiah the king sware secretly unto Jeremiah, saying, As the LORD liveth, that made us this soul, I will not put…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the LORD , the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon’s princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of 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 Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver…” Naming Chaldeans and Jeremiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the LORD , which I speak unto thee…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But if thou refuse to go forth, this is the word that the LORD hath shewed me:” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, refuse, shewed. Its relationship to verses 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah’s house shall be brought forth to the king of Babylon’s…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“So they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans: and thou shalt not escape out of their hand…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Then said Zedekiah unto Jeremiah, Let no man know of these words, and thou shalt not die.” Naming Jeremiah and Zedekiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But if the princes hear that I have talked with thee, and they come unto thee, and say unto thee, Declare unto us now…” Naming Declare keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then thou shalt say unto them, I presented my supplication before the king, that he would not cause me to return to…” Naming Jonathan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then came all the princes unto Jeremiah, and asked him: and he told them according to all these words that the king…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“So Jeremiah abode in the court of the prison until the day that Jerusalem was taken: and he was there when Jerusalem…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.