2 Kings 9

“And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets, and said unto him, Gird up thy loins, and take this…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And when thou comest thither, look out there Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him…” Naming Jehoshaphat and Jehu keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then take the box of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus saith the LORD , I have anointed thee king over…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“So the young man, even the young man the prophet, went to Ramoth-gilead.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And when he came, behold, the captains of the host were sitting; and he said, I have an errand to thee, O captain. And…” 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 arose, and went into the house; and he poured the oil on his head, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the…” Naming Ahab and Jezebel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of…” Naming Ahab and Ahijah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her. And he opened the door…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord: and one said unto him, Is all well? wherefore came this mad fellow…” 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 they said, It is false; tell us now. And he said, Thus and thus spake he to me, saying, Thus saith the LORD , I…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then they hasted, and took every man his garment, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew with…” Naming Jehu keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram had kept Ramoth-gilead, he and…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“But king Joram was returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him, when he fought with…” Naming Jezreel and Hazael keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went to Jezreel; for Joram lay there. And Ahaziah king of Judah was come down to see…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And there stood a watchman on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, I see a…” 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.

“So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu said, What hast thou…” 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 he sent out a second on horseback, which came to them, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu…” 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 the watchman told, saying, He came even unto them, and cometh not again: and the driving is like the driving of…” Naming Jehu and Nimshi keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Joram said, Make ready. And his chariot was made ready. And Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went…” Naming Joram and Ahaziah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is treachery, O Ahaziah.” Naming Ahaziah and Joram keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength, and smote Jehoram between his arms, and the arrow went out at his heart…” Naming Jehoram and Jehu keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then said Jehu to Bidkar his captain, Take up, and cast him in the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite: for…” Naming Ahab and Bidkar keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons, saith the LORD ; and I will requite thee…” Naming Naboth and Surely keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. And Jehu followed after him, and…” Naming Ahaziah and Gur keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And his servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his sepulchre with his fathers in the city…” Naming David and Jerusalem keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And in the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab began Ahaziah to reign over Judah.” Naming Ahab and Ahaziah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out…” Naming Jehu and Jezebel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?” 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 lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my side? who? And there looked out to him two or three…” 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 said, Throw her down. So they threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the…” Naming Throw keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when he was come in, he did eat and drink, and said, Go, see now this cursed woman, and bury her: for she is a…” The line’s distinctive content terms include bury, cursed, daughter. Its relationship to verses 33 and 35 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands.” The line’s distinctive content terms include bury, feet, hands. Its relationship to verses 34 and 36 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, This is the word of the LORD , which he spake by his servant…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that 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.