'Do you not know that the LORD, the God of Israel, gave the kingdom over Israel to David forever, him and his sons, by a covenant of salt? — Abijah invoked the Davidic covenant (הֲלֹא־לָכֶם לָדַעַת כִּי־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל נָתַן הַמְּלוּכָה לְדָוִד עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל לְעוֹלָם): God granted the kingdom permanently (לְעוֹלָם) to David 'and his sons' via 'a covenant of salt' (בְרִית־מֶלַח). Salt-covenants (representing permanence and faithfulness) were binding agreements. The invocation asserted southern legitimacy through covenant.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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