2 Chronicles 29

“Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And…” The number five makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD , according to all that David his father had done.” Naming David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD , and repaired them.” The line’s distinctive content terms include first, doors, house. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street,” Naming Levites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your…” Naming Hear keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD our God, and have forsaken him…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt…” Naming Also keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Wherefore the wrath of the LORD was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us.” 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.

“My sons, be not now negligent: for the LORD hath chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that ye should…” The line’s distinctive content terms include burn, chosen, incense. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites: and of…” Naming Azariah and Joah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And of the sons of Elizaphan; Shimri, and Jeiel: and of the sons of Asaph; Zechariah, and Mattaniah:” Naming Asaph and Elizaphan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And of the sons of Heman; Jehiel, and Shimei: and of the sons of Jeduthun; Shemaiah, and Uzziel.” Naming Heman and Jeduthun keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they gathered their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and came, according to the commandment of the king, by…” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, brethren, cleanse. Its relationship to verses 14 and 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD , to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness…” Naming Kidron and Levites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Now they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month came they to the…” The number eight makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Then they went in to Hezekiah the king, and said, We have cleansed all the house of the LORD , and the altar of burnt…” Naming Hezekiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign did cast away in his transgression, have we prepared and…” Naming Ahaz and Moreover keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the LORD .” Naming Hezekiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a sin offering for the…” 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 killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on the altar: likewise, when they…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And they brought forth the he goats for the sin offering before the king and the congregation; and they laid their…” The line’s distinctive content terms include congregation, goats, hands. Its relationship to verses 22 and 24 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the…” Naming David and Gad keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.” Naming David and Levites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song 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 all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until…” The line’s distinctive content terms include burnt, congregation, continued. Its relationship to verses 27 and 29 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and…” The line’s distinctive content terms include bowed, king, offering. Its relationship to verses 28 and 30 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the LORD , come near and bring sacrifices and…” Naming Hezekiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the number of the burnt offerings, which the congregation brought, was threescore and ten bullocks, an hundred…” 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 consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep.” The number six makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the…” Naming Levites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And also the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings, and the drink offerings for every…” The line’s distinctive content terms include offerings, burnt, abundance. Its relationship to verses 34 and 36 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly.” Naming Hezekiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.