So he went another way and did not return by the way that he came to Bethel — The prophet departs, keeping the divine prohibition sacred. The verb וַיֵּלֶךְ (vayyelech, he went) shows obedient movement away from Bethel and its defiled sanctuary. The phrase לֹא־שָׁב בַּדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר בָּא־בָהּ בֵּית־אֵל (lo-shav badderech asher ba-bah beit-el, did not return by the way he came to Bethel) emphasizes the prophet's strict adherence to the divine directive. Yet his departure opens the space for the deceptive encounter that will follow.

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