2 Kings 25

“And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.” Naming Zedekiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of…” The line’s distinctive content terms include bread, city, famine. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which is by…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the army of the Chaldees pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho: and all his army were…” Naming Chaldees and Jericho keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“So they took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon him.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of…” Naming Zedekiah and Babylon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which is the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar king of…” Naming Babylon and Jerusalem keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he burnt the house of the LORD , and the king’s house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great man’s…” Naming Jerusalem keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And all the army of the Chaldees, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down the walls of Jerusalem round…” Naming Chaldees and Jerusalem keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Now the rest of the people that were left in the city, and the fugitives that fell away to the king of Babylon, with…” Naming Babylon and Nebuzar keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But the captain of the guard left of the poor of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen.” The line’s distinctive content terms include captain, guard, husbandmen. Its relationship to verses 11 and 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And the pillars of brass that were in the house of the LORD , and the bases, and the brasen sea that was in the house…” Naming Babylon and Chaldees keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the pots, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass wherewith they…” The line’s distinctive content terms include brass, ministered, pots. Its relationship to verses 13 and 15 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And the firepans, and the bowls, and such things as were of gold, in gold, and of silver, in silver, the captain of…” The line’s distinctive content terms include gold, silver, bowls. Its relationship to verses 14 and 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The two pillars, one sea, and the bases which Solomon had made for the house of the LORD ; the brass of all these…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and the chapiter upon it was brass: and the height of the chapiter…” 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 captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And out of the city he took an officer that was set over the men of war, and five men of them that were in the king’s…” The number five makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Nebuzar-adan captain of the guard took these, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah:” Naming Babylon and Nebuzar keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the king of Babylon smote them, and slew them at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away out of…” Naming Babylon and Hamath keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And as for the people that remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, even over them…” Naming Ahikam and Babylon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when all the captains of the armies, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah…” Naming Gedaliah and Babylon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Gedaliah sware to them, and to their men, and said unto them, Fear not to be the servants of the Chaldees: dwell…” 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.

“But it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal…” The number ten makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And all the people, both small and great, and the captains of the armies, arose, and came to Egypt: for they were…” Naming Chaldees and Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And he spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon;” Naming Babylon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life.” The line’s distinctive content terms include bread, changed, continually. Its relationship to verses 28 and 30 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his…” The line’s distinctive content terms include allowance, continual, daily. Its relationship to verses 29 shows what work it does in this passage.