There happened to be in Gilgal a worthless character named Sheba son of Bikri, of the tribe of Benjamin. He blew the trumpet and called out, "Down with David! We won't follow him! Men of Israel, let's go home!"

When the people saw that the king would not listen to them, they shouted, "Down with David and his family! What have they ever done for us? People of Israel, let's go home! Let Rehoboam look out for himself !" So the people of Israel rebelled,

Micaiah answered, "I can see the army of Israel scattered over the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, 'These men have no leader; let them go home in peace.' "

Near sunset the order went out through the Israelite ranks: "Each of you go back to your own country and city!"

And I will not take the whole kingdom away from him; instead, I will leave him one tribe for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city I have made my own."

But I will not take the whole kingdom away from Solomon, and I will keep him in power as long as he lives. This I will do for the sake of my servant David, whom I chose and who obeyed my laws and commands.

but I will let Solomon's son keep one tribe, so that I will always have a descendant of my servant David ruling in Jerusalem, the city I have chosen as the place where I am worshiped.

Because of Solomon's sin I will punish the descendants of David, but not for all time.' "

But I will not withdraw my support from him as I did from Saul, whom I removed so that you could be king.

You will always have descendants, and I will make your kingdom last forever. Your dynasty will never end.' "

Why do the nations plan rebellion? Why do people make their useless plots?

"Let us free ourselves from their rule," they say; "let us throw off their control."

Then he warns them in anger and terrifies them with his fury.

Human anger only results in more praise for you; those who survive the wars will keep your festivals.

His dynasty will be as permanent as the sky; a descendant of his will always be king.

if they disregard my instructions and do not keep my commandments,

But I will not stop loving David or fail to keep my promise to him.

"Once and for all I have promised by my holy name: I will never lie to David.

It will be as permanent as the moon, that faithful witness in the sky."

Here I will make one of David's descendants a great king; here I will preserve the rule of my chosen king.

When word reached the king of Judah that the armies of Syria were already in the territory of Israel, he and all his people were so terrified that they trembled like trees shaking in the wind.

They intend to invade Judah, terrify the people into joining their side, and then put Tabeel's son on the throne.

"But I, the LORD, declare that this will never happen.

A child is born to us! A son is given to us! And he will be our ruler. He will be called, "Wonderful Counselor," "Mighty God," "Eternal Father," "Prince of Peace."

His royal power will continue to grow; his kingdom will always be at peace. He will rule as King David's successor, basing his power on right and justice, from now until the end of time. The LORD Almighty is determined to do all this.

The LORD says, "The time is coming when I will choose as king a righteous descendant of David. That king will rule wisely and do what is right and just throughout the land.

When he is king, the people of Judah will be safe, and the people of Israel will live in peace. He will be called 'The LORD Our Salvation.'

At that time I will choose as king a righteous descendant of David. That king will do what is right and just throughout the land.

The people of Judah and of Jerusalem will be rescued and will live in safety. The city will be called 'The LORD Our Salvation.'

In the same way I have made a covenant with my servant David that he would always have a descendant to be king, and I have made a covenant with the priests from the tribe of Levi that they would always serve me; and those covenants can never be broken.

Now, his own people hated him, and so they sent messengers after him to say, 'We don't want this man to be our king.'

Now, as for those enemies of mine who did not want me to be their king, bring them here and kill them in my presence!' "

They were not grateful to the family of Gideon for all the good that he had done for Israel.

A messenger reported to David, "The Israelites are pledging their loyalty to Absalom."

And David said to Abishai and to all his officials, "My own son is trying to kill me; so why should you be surprised at this Benjaminite? The LORD told him to curse; so leave him alone and let him do it.