War against Benjamin brings devastating loss

“Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to…” 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 chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people…” The number four makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“(Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of…” 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 the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to…” Naming Benjamin and Gibeah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night, and thought to have slain me…” Naming Gibeah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Behold, ye are all children of Israel; give here your advice and counsel.” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And all the people arose as one man, saying, We will not any of us go to his tent, neither will we any of us turn into…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“But now this shall be the thing which we will do to Gibeah; we will go up by lot against it;” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And we will take ten men of an hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and an hundred of a thousand, and a…” The number ten makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is done…” 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.

“Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial, which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put…” Naming Israel and Belial keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against…” Naming Benjamin and Gibeah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword…” The number twenty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth…” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the men of Israel, beside Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword: all these were men of…” The number four makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us…” 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 the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah.” Naming Gibeah and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight…” Naming Israel and Benjamin keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day…” The number twenty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set their battle again in array in the place where they…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“(And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until even, and asked counsel of the LORD , saying, Shall…” 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 the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day.” Naming Benjamin and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of…” The number thousand makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the children of Israel enquired of the LORD , (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,” 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 Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out…” 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 Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah.” Naming Gibeah and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and put themselves in array…” Naming Benjamin and Gibeah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite…” 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 children of Benjamin said, They are smitten down before us, as at the first. But the children of Israel said…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and put themselves in array at Baal-tamar: and the liers in wait…” Naming Israel and Baal keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And there came against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was sore: but they knew not…” The number ten makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel: and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjamites that day twenty and…” The number twenty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten: for the men of Israel gave place to the Benjamites, because…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And the liers in wait hasted, and rushed upon Gibeah; and the liers in wait drew themselves along, and smote all the…” Naming Gibeah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers in wait, that they should make a great flame…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when the men of Israel retired in the battle, Benjamin began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty…” The number thirty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“But when the flame began to arise up out of the city with a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and…” Naming Benjamites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed: for they saw that evil was come upon them.” Naming Benjamin and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness; but the battle overtook…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Thus they inclosed the Benjamites round about, and chased them, and trode them down with ease over against Gibeah…” Naming Benjamites and Gibeah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these were men of valour.” The number thousand makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And they turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon: and they gleaned of them in the highways five…” The number five makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four months.” The number six makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the men of Israel turned again upon the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, as well…” Naming Benjamin and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.