Numbers 14

“And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.” The line’s distinctive content terms include congregation, cried, lifted. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them…” Naming Aaron keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be…” 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 they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.” Naming Aaron and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their…” Naming Caleb and Jephunneh keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and…” The line’s distinctive content terms include land, delight, floweth. Its relationship to verses 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Only rebel not ye against the LORD , neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence…” Naming Only keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for…” 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.

“I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than…” The line’s distinctive content terms include disinherit, greater, mightier. Its relationship to verses 11 and 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And Moses said unto the LORD , Then the Egyptians shall hear it, (for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from…” 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 will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that thou LORD art among this people, that…” The line’s distinctive content terms include cloud, face, LORD. Its relationship to verses 13 and 15 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Now if thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying,” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include iniquity, children, clearing. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast…” Naming Egypt and Pardon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word:” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, pardoned, word. Its relationship to verses 19 and 21 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD .” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see…” 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 my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“(Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley.) To morrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness by…” Naming Amalekites and Canaanites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,” Naming Aaron and Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the…” 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.

“Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD , as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:” Naming Say keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of…” 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 your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your…” 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.

“I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: 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 the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him…” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD .” Naming Even keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of the men that went to search the land, lived…” Naming Caleb and Jephunneh keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Moses told these sayings unto all the children of Israel: and the people mourned greatly.” Naming Israel and Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we be here, and will…” The line’s distinctive content terms include early, here, LORD. Its relationship to verses 39 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the LORD ? but it shall not prosper.” 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.

“Go not up, for the LORD is not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies.” The line’s distinctive content terms include enemies, LORD, smitten. Its relationship to verses 41 and 43 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned away…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the LORD , and Moses, departed…” 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.

“Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even…” Naming Amalekites and Canaanites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.