Isaiah 10

“Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed;” Naming Woe keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their…” The line’s distinctive content terms include aside, fatherless, judgment. Its relationship to verses 1 and 3 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee…” 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.

“Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.” Naming Assyrian keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not…” Naming Howbeit keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings?” 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.

“Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus?” 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.

“As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria;” Naming Jerusalem and Samaria keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?” 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.

“Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh…” 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.

“Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns 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 shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and they shall be as when a…” 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 rest of the trees of his forest shall be few, that a child may write them.” 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 come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And the LORD of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb: and as…” 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 come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“He is come to Aiath, he is passed to Migron; at Michmash he hath laid up his carriages:” Naming Aiath and Michmash keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“They are gone over the passage: they have taken up their lodging at Geba; Ramah is afraid; Gibeah of Saul is fled.” Naming Geba and Gibeah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Lift up thy voice, O daughter of Gallim: cause it to be heard unto Laish, O poor Anathoth.” Naming Anathoth and Gallim keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Madmenah is removed; the inhabitants of Gebim gather themselves to flee.” Naming Gebim and Madmenah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“As yet shall he remain at Nob that day: he shall shake his hand against the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.