002_cudworth_co_498_523 13/02/15 11:26 Pagina 521 THE DIVISION OF ISRAEL’S KINGDOM IN CHRONICLES 521 (db[) of Solomon, the son of David (dywd-!b), rebelled (drm) against his master (i.e. Rehoboam). Though Japhet argues that the label db[, which she translates “slave”, reflects poorly on Jeroboam, it likely has the more neutral/positive nuance of “servant” as it is used for Jeroboam in 1 Kgs 11,26 (see also v. 13 and again 2 Chr 8,9) 69. Additionally, scholars have also seen a criticism against Jeroboam in the word drm, which can carry either a negative (e.g. 2 Kgs 24,1) or a positive (e.g. 2 Kgs 18,7) connotation 70. Since Jeroboam had all Israel on his side at this point, its use here must point to his jus- tified rebellion in 2 Chr 10,2-3. In fact, the support of the people makes him look more like a faithful leader than the true son of David, Rehoboam. Nevertheless, this understanding leaves another question: how could a “son of Nebat”, a servant of the “son of David”, success- fully rebel against the Davidic king? Abijah continues with two more “sons” in v. 7, where he explains that certain “sons of worth- lessness” (l[ylb ynb) prevailed over the “son of Solomon” when the latter was young and tender-hearted. YHWH had entrusted his kingdom to the Davidides as long as they remained faithful to him, especially as it pertained to matters of the temple cult (cf. 1 Chr 28,9-10). Rehoboam, however, squandered this blessing when the sons of worthlessness persuaded him to neglect one of the cult’s most fundamental aspects (i.e. all Israel). The Chronicler stresses Rehoboam’s missed opportunity with his paradigmatic verb qzxth (“he could not strengthen himself be- fore them”, v. 7). He frequently uses the term (qzx, hithpael) to show how various kings have established their kingdom (1 Chr 11,10; 2 Chr 1,1; 13,21; 15,8; 17,1; 27,6; 32,5; see especially 16:9). Rehoboam eventually did establish his kingdom according to 12,13, but his rule extended only to Jerusalem. This reflects poorly on him since he squandered the vast kingdom built by David and Solomon (cf. 9,26). Hence, Abijah’s bold declarations on behalf of the Da- vidic monarchy (13,5.8) affirm that he himself will not continue Rehoboam’s course, but faithfully maintain YHWH’s cult established by David and Solomon (vv. 10-12). 69 Cf. FRISCH, “Jeroboam and the Division of the Kingdom”, 16-17, 25. 70 JAPHET, I & II Chronicles, 691.