Deuteronomy 21

“If one be found slain in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it, lying in the field, and it be not…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure unto the cities which are round about him 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 it shall be, that the city which is next unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take an heifer…” 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 elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley, which is neither eared nor sown, 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 priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the LORD thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to…” 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.

“And all the elders of that city, that are next unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer that is…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Be merciful, O LORD , unto thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and lay not innocent blood unto thy people of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“So shalt thou put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies, and the LORD thy God hath delivered them into thine hands, and…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“And seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire unto her, that thou wouldest have her to thy wife;” The line’s distinctive content terms include beautiful, captives, desire. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Then thou shalt bring her home to thine house; and she shall shave her head, and pare her nails;” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And she shall put the raiment of her captivity from off her, and shall remain in thine house, and bewail her father…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let her go whither she will; but thou shalt not sell…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved…” 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 he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother…” The line’s distinctive content terms include voice, chastened, father. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; 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 if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:” The line’s distinctive content terms include death, committed, hang. Its relationship to verses 21 and 23 shows what work it does in this passage.

“His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.