Deuteronomy 16

“Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God…” Naming Abib keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the LORD thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of…” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And there shall be no leavened bread seen with thee in all thy coast seven days; neither shall there any thing 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.

“Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within any of thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee:” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But at the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And thou shalt roast and eat it in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: and thou shalt turn in the morning…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the LORD thy God: thou…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the…” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand…” The verse names God and Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy…” Naming Levite keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes.” Naming Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine:” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and…” Naming Levite keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD shall choose: because the…” 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.

“Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of…” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God…” 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.

“Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the LORD thy God, which thou shalt make thee.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Neither shalt thou set thee up any image; which the LORD thy God hateth.” Naming Neither keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.