Numbers 9

“And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they were come…” Naming Egypt and Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season.” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of…” 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 spake unto the children of Israel, that they should keep the passover.” 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 kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according to…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead body of a man, that they could not keep the passover on that…” Naming Aaron and Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And those men said unto him, We are defiled by the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not…” 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 Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you.” Naming Moses and Stand 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, saying,” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But the man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be…” 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 stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passover unto the LORD ; according to the ordinance of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony…” The line’s distinctive content terms include tabernacle, appearance, cloud. Its relationship to verses 14 and 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“So it was alway: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched: as…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge 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.

“And so it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; according to the commandment of the LORD they abode…” The line’s distinctive content terms include commandment, LORD, abode. Its relationship to verses 19 and 21 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then…” The line’s distinctive content terms include cloud, journeyed, morning. Its relationship to verses 20 and 22 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed: they kept…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.