002_cudworth_498_523 24/02/15 11:55 Pagina 508 508 TROY D. CUDWORTH tive of YHWH. By using this expression for the southern kingdom, a much more concise phrase than in 1 Kgs 12,23, the Chronicler can refer to the southern kingdom in terms similar to the old theme. The fact that they represent “all Israel” in essence confirms that Rehoboam did not cause the nation to fall completely; yet since the separation came from YHWH, this group could not embody “all Israel” in toto. As with the prophetic word of Ahijah in 10,15, so Shemaiah also supported the actions of Jeroboam and the northern kingdom in seceding from the southern kingdom. 4. Is Rehoboam a valiant military leader? With respect to this last unsuccessful attempt to reclaim the kingdom (11,1-4), Japhet maintains that Rehoboam displayed a re- markable turnaround 32. She explains that the Chronicler changes the depiction of Rehoboam in 1 Kings from one of the most sinful monarchs of Judah to a king with courage, flexibility, and humility. The formerly cowardly king now takes initiative with the military and also yields immediately to the “word of God” by sending the army home. Nevertheless, to see him as a valiant military leader does not capture the point. The Chronicler retains this story in his history to show precisely that Rehoboam could not win a battle against the northern tribes because he was guilty of neglecting the sincere plea of his people 33. He offers no hint that this aspect of Rehoboam’s abortive attempt to regain the kingdom differs at all from the ac- count in 1 Kings 12. In addition, Rehoboam does not stand out in any way as penitent in the event. Shemaiah prophesies to him and “all Israel in Judah and Benjamin” with the result that “they listened to the word of YHWH and returned and did not go against Jeroboam” (all plural verbs). Rehoboam himself did not send them home as a great leader in control of the situation, but faded into the back- ground of all (southern) Israel acquiescing to the divine verdict. The Chronicler does have a particular way of describing true penance for a king as seen in his later additions to Rehoboam’s 32 JAPHET, I & II Chronicles, 660. 33 I plan to explore this general relationship between a king’s sins and his performance at war in the books of Chronicles at greater length elsewhere.