Numbers 21

“And when king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south, heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies; then…” Naming Israel and Arad keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Israel vowed a vow unto the LORD , and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the LORD hearkened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and…” Naming Canaanites and Hormah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people…” Naming Edom and Hor keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in 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.

“And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD , and against thee…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in Oboth.” Naming Israel and Oboth keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they journeyed from Oboth, and pitched at Ije-abarim, in the wilderness which is before Moab, toward the…” Naming Ije and Moab keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“From thence they removed, and pitched in the valley of Zared.” Naming Zared keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“From thence they removed, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, which is in the wilderness that cometh out of the…” Naming Amorites and Arnon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the LORD , What he did in the Red sea, and in the brooks of Arnon,” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And at the stream of the brooks that goeth down to the dwelling of Ar, and lieth upon the border of Moab.” Naming Moab keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And from thence they went to Beer: that is the well whereof the LORD spake unto Moses, Gather the people together, and…” Naming Beer and Gather keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it:” Naming Israel and Spring keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The princes digged the well, the nobles of the people digged it, by the direction of the lawgiver, with their staves…” Naming Mattanah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And from Mattanah to Nahaliel: and from Nahaliel to Bamoth:” Naming Nahaliel and Bamoth keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And from Bamoth in the valley, that is in the country of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, which looketh toward Jeshimon.” Naming Bamoth and Jeshimon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, saying,” Naming Amorites and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Let me pass through thy land: we will not turn into the fields, or into the vineyards; we will not drink of the waters…” The line’s distinctive content terms include borders, drink, fields. Its relationship to verses 23 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out…” Naming Israel and Sihon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from Arnon unto Jabbok, even unto the children…” Naming Ammon and Arnon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Israel took all these cities: and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all the…” Naming Israel and Amorites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, Come into Heshbon, let the city of Sihon be built and prepared:” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon: it hath consumed Ar of Moab, and the lords of…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Woe to thee, Moab! thou art undone, O people of Chemosh: he hath given his sons that escaped, and his daughters, into…” Naming Amorites and Chemosh keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“We have shot at them; Heshbon is perished even unto Dibon, and we have laid them waste even unto Nophah, which…” Naming Dibon and Heshbon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites.” Naming Amorites and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Moses sent to spy out Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof, and drove out the Amorites that were there.” Naming Amorites and Jaazer keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they turned and went up by the way of Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he, and all his…” Naming Bashan and Edrei 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, Fear him not: for I have delivered him into thy hand, and all his people, and his land…” Naming Amorites and Fear keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“So they smote him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was none left him alive: and they possessed his land.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.