1 Chronicles 21

“And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.” Naming Israel and David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beer-sheba even to Dan; and bring the…” Naming Beer and Dan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they…” 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.

“Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came…” Naming Joab and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and an…” The number thousand makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the king’s word was abominable to Joab.” Naming Benjamin and Joab keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel.” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, do away the…” Naming David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the LORD spake unto Gad, David’s seer, saying,” Naming David and Gad keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Go and tell David, saying, Thus saith the LORD , I offer thee three things: choose thee one of them, that I may do it…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD , Choose thee” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Either three years’ famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD ; for very great are his…” Naming David and Gad keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“So the LORD sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of…” Naming Jebusite keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn…” Naming David and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and 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.

“Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the LORD…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spake in the name of the LORD .” Naming David and Gad keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Ornan turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat.” The number four makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshingfloor, and bowed himself to David…” Naming David and Ornan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of this threshingfloor, that I may build an altar therein unto the LORD …” Naming David and Grant keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Ornan said unto David, Take it to thee, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes: lo, I give…” Naming David and Ornan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is…” Naming David and Nay keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And David built there an altar unto the LORD , and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the…” Naming David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the LORD commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“At that time when David saw that the LORD had answered him in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he…” Naming David and Jebusite keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For the tabernacle of the LORD , which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering, were at that…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“But David could not go before it to enquire of God: for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the LORD .” Naming David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.