דברי הימים ב, פרק י״ג, פסוק ה׳

Abijah stands before the Israelites with a singular purpose: to win back their loyalty to the Davidic dynasty and lead them away from the idol worship introduced by Jeroboam. His goal in this confrontation is not bloodshed or destruction. Rather, he seeks to inspire deep regret for their actions, hoping to guide them back to God and to the rightful family chosen to lead them [רלב״ג].

He begins his address by appealing to a truth that is already widely recognized by everyone present [מצודת דוד]. He reminds the people that the authority of the house of David rests on a remarkably solid foundation, as the right to rule was granted directly by God. This was not a temporary assignment, but an explicit promise made to David and his future generations [מלבי״ם].

To emphasize the unbreakable nature of this promise, it is described as a covenant of salt, representing an agreement that is eternal, stable, and enduring [רש״י, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The choice of salt as a symbol is highly intentional. Just as salt serves as a powerful preservative that resists decay and protects against spoilage, the royal covenant granted to the house of David is permanent and cannot be revoked [מצודת דוד, רלב״ג]. The strength of this divine agreement is so absolute that the royal line is guaranteed to endure forever, remaining intact even in the event that David’s descendants commit sins [מלבי״ם].