1 Chronicles 4

“The sons of Judah; Pharez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and Shobal.” Naming Carmi and Hezron keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Reaiah the son of Shobal begat Jahath; and Jahath begat Ahumai, and Lahad. These are the families of the…” Naming Jahath and Ahumai keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And these were of the father of Etam; Jezreel, and Ishma, and Idbash: and the name of their sister was Hazelelponi:” Naming Etam and Hazelelponi keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Penuel the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These are the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah…” Naming Beth and Ephratah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Ashur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah.” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Naarah bare him Ahuzam, and Hepher, and Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah.” Naming Naarah and Ahuzam keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the sons of Helah were, Zereth, and Jezoar, and Ethnan.” Naming Ethnan and Helah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Coz begat Anub, and Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum.” Naming Aharhel and Anub keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with…” Naming Jabez and Because keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that…” 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 Chelub the brother of Shuah begat Mehir, which was the father of Eshton.” Naming Chelub and Eshton keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Eshton begat Beth-rapha, and Paseah, and Tehinnah the father of Ir-nahash. These are the men of Rechah.” Naming Beth and Eshton keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the sons of Kenaz; Othniel, and Seraiah: and the sons of Othniel; Hathath.” Naming Othniel and Hathath keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Meonothai begat Ophrah: and Seraiah begat Joab, the father of the valley of Charashim; for they were craftsmen.” Naming Charashim and Joab keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh; Iru, Elah, and Naam: and the sons of Elah, even Kenaz.” Naming Elah and Caleb keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the sons of Jehaleleel; Ziph, and Ziphah, Tiria, and Asareel.” Naming Asareel and Jehaleleel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the sons of Ezra were, Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon: and she bare Miriam, and Shammai, and Ishbah the…” Naming Epher and Eshtemoa keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And his wife Jehudijah bare Jered the father of Gedor, and Heber the father of Socho, and Jekuthiel the father of…” Naming Bithiah and Gedor keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the sons of his wife Hodiah the sister of Naham, the father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maachathite.” Naming Eshtemoa and Garmite keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the sons of Shimon were, Amnon, and Rinnah, Ben-hanan, and Tilon. And the sons of Ishi were, Zoheth, and…” Naming Ben and Amnon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The sons of Shelah the son of Judah were, Er the father of Lecah, and Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families…” Naming Ashbea and Judah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Jokim, and the men of Chozeba, and Joash, and Saraph, who had the dominion in Moab, and Jashubi-lehem. And these…” Naming Chozeba and Jashubi keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“These were the potters, and those that dwelt among plants and hedges: there they dwelt with the king for his work.” The line’s distinctive content terms include dwelt, hedges, king. Its relationship to verses 22 and 24 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The sons of Simeon were, Nemuel, and Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul:” Naming Jamin and Jarib keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son.” Naming Mibsam and Mishma keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the sons of Mishma; Hamuel his son, Zacchur his son, Shimei his son.” Naming Hamuel and Mishma keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brethren had not many children, neither did all their family…” The number six makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And they dwelt at Beer-sheba, and Moladah, and Hazar-shual,” Naming Beer and Hazar keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And at Bilhah, and at Ezem, and at Tolad,” Naming Bilhah and Ezem keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And at Bethuel, and at Hormah, and at Ziklag,” Naming Bethuel and Hormah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And at Beth-marcaboth, and Hazar-susim, and at Beth-birei, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities unto the reign of…” Naming Beth and David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And their villages were, Etam, and Ain, Rimmon, and Tochen, and Ashan, five cities:” The number five makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And all their villages that were round about the same cities, unto Baal. These were their habitations, and their…” Naming Baal keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Meshobab, and Jamlech, and Joshah the son of Amaziah,” Naming Amaziah and Jamlech keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Joel, and Jehu the son of Josibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel,” Naming Asiel and Jehu keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Elioenai, and Jaakobah, and Jeshohaiah, and Asaiah, and Adiel, and Jesimiel, and Benaiah,” Naming Adiel and Asaiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Ziza the son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah;” Naming Allon and Jedaiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“These mentioned by their names were princes in their families: and the house of their fathers increased greatly.” The line’s distinctive content terms include families, fathers, greatly. Its relationship to verses 37 and 39 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And they went to the entrance of Gedor, even unto the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks.” Naming Gedor keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they found fat pasture and good, and the land was wide, and quiet, and peaceable; for they of Ham had dwelt there…” Naming Ham keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And these written by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and smote their tents, and the habitations that…” Naming Hezekiah and Judah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And some of them, even of the sons of Simeon, five hundred men, went to mount Seir, having for their captains…” The number five makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And they smote the rest of the Amalekites that were escaped, and dwelt there unto this day.” Naming Amalekites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.