But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God: 'Say to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, saying — A prophet intervenes at the moment of impending war, preventing Judah from attacking Israel. The phrase דְּבַר־יְהוָה־הָיָה (devar-YHWH-hayah, the word of the LORD came) marks divine interruption into the political narrative. Shemaiah becomes the messenger of reconciliation, counseling acceptance of the schism as divinely ordained.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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