but Abishai son of Zeruiah killed the Philistine and saved David’s life. Then David’s men made a promise to him, saying, “Never again will you go out with us to battle. If you were killed, Israel would lose its greatest leader.”
I will not tear away all the kingdom from him, but I will leave him one tribe to rule. I will do this because of David, my servant, and because of Jerusalem, the city I have chosen.”
I will allow Solomon’s son to continue to rule over one tribe so that there will always be a descendant of David, my servant, in Jerusalem, the city where I chose to be worshiped.
But Jehosheba, King Jehoram’s daughter and Ahaziah’s sister, took Joash, Ahaziah’s son. She stole him from among the other sons of the king who were about to be murdered. She put Joash and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah, so he was not killed.
But the Lord would not destroy David’s family because of the agreement he had made with David. He had promised that one of David’s descendants would always rule.
I won’t punish you in my anger, and I won’t destroy Israel again. I am God and not a human; I am the Holy One, and I am among you. I will not come against you in anger.