Isaac arrives, Hagar departs and a well is secured

“And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.” Naming Sarah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.” Naming Abraham and Isaac keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.” The number hundred makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.” Naming Sarah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son…” 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 child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.” Naming Abraham and Isaac keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.” Naming Abraham and Egyptian keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of his son.” Naming Abraham keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.” The line’s distinctive content terms include bondwoman, nation, seed. Its relationship to verses 12 and 14 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on…” Naming Abraham and Beer keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include bowshot, child, death. Its relationship to verses 15 and 17 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth…” 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.

“Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.” Naming Arise keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.” Naming Egypt and Paran keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s…” 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 Abraham said, I will swear.” 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 Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away.” Naming Abimelech and Abraham keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to…” Naming Abimelech keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.” 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 Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?” 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, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have…” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Wherefore he called that place Beer-sheba; because there they sware both of them.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Thus they made a covenant at Beer-sheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they…” 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 Abraham planted a grove in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.” Naming Abraham and Beer keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines’ land many days.” Naming Abraham and Philistines keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.