2 Kings 21

“Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s…” The number twelve 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 evil in the sight of the LORD , after the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And he built altars in the house of the LORD , of which the LORD said, In Jerusalem will I put my name.” Naming Jerusalem keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD .” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits…” The line’s distinctive content terms include anger, dealt, enchantments. Its relationship to verses 5 and 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And he set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house, of which the LORD said to David, and to Solomon…” Naming David and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Neither will I make the feet of Israel move any more out of the land which I gave their fathers; only if they will…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But they hearkened not: and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the LORD destroyed before…” Naming Israel and Manasseh keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the LORD spake by his servants the prophets, saying,” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, prophets, servants. Its relationship to verses 9 and 11 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Because Manasseh king of Judah hath done these abominations, and hath done wickedly above all that the Amorites did…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Jerusalem…” Naming Jerusalem and Ahab keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their enemies; and they shall…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Because they have done that which was evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and all that he did, and his sin that he sinned, are they not written in the…” 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 Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza: and Amon…” Naming Amon and Manasseh keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Amon was twenty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name…” The number twenty 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 evil in the sight of the LORD , as his father Manasseh did.” Naming Manasseh keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he walked in all the way that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshipped…” The line’s distinctive content terms include father, served, walked. Its relationship to verses 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And he forsook the LORD God of his fathers, and walked not in the way of the LORD .” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“And the servants of Amon conspired against him, and slew the king in his own house.” Naming Amon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah…” Naming Amon and Josiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Now the rest of the acts of Amon which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings 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 he was buried in his sepulchre in the garden of Uzza: and Josiah his son reigned in his stead.” Naming Josiah and Uzza keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.