"Then come up after him, and he shall come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead; and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.'" — David's declaration is absolutory: *ki otho tzivviti lihyot nagid 'al-Yisra'el ve'al-Yehudah* (for I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah). The verb *tzivah* (appointed, commanded) is the language of royal prerogative—David exercises his authority to *designate* his successor. The phrase *yehi melekh tachatay* (he shall be king in my stead) again invokes the substitutive succession. The division *'al-Yisra'el ve'al-Yehudah* (over Israel and over Judah) suggests the united monarchy under David and Solomon's rule, distinct from the later schism. David's declaration is unambiguous and claims divine sanction (the entire command has been framed as David's exercise of God-given authority).

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