2 Samuel 14

“Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was toward Absalom.” Naming Absalom and Joab keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a…” Naming Joab and Tekoah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.” Naming Joab keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help…” Naming Help and Tekoah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead.” 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 thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the king said unto the woman, Go to thine house, and I will give charge concerning thee.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the woman of Tekoah said unto the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my father’s house: and the…” Naming Tekoah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the king said, Whosoever saith ought unto thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Then the woman said, Let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak one word unto my lord the king. And he said, Say on.” 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 woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God? for the king doth speak…” 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.

“For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Now therefore that I am come to speak of this thing unto my lord the king, it is because the people have made me…” The line’s distinctive content terms include king, handmaid, afraid. Its relationship to verses 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Then the king answered and said unto the woman, Hide not from me, I pray thee, the thing that I shall ask thee. And…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the king said, Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, As thy soul liveth…” 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.

“To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom…” Naming Joab keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.” Naming Absalom and Joab keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and thanked the king: and Joab said, To day thy servant…” Naming Joab keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house…” Naming Absalom keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to…” Naming Absalom and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year’s end that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king’s face.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to have sent him to the king; but he would not come to him: and when he sent again…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab’s field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on…” 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 Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent unto thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say…” 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 Joab came to the king, and told him: and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.