Divine preservation of Judah — the Davidic covenant — 'However, the LORD was not willing to destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and since he had promised to give a lamp to him and to his descendants forever' (אך לא אבה יהוה להשׁמיד את בית דוד למען הברית אשׁר כרת עם דוד ולאשׁר אמר לתת לו נר ולבניו עד עולם). The qualifier 'however' (אך) introduces divine grace intervening in judgment. The refusal to destroy Judah's house (לא אבה להשׁמיד) is explicitly grounded in the Davidic covenant (הברית עם דוד). The phrase 'give a lamp' (לתת נר, give a light) alludes to 1 Kings 11:36 and 15:4, reflecting the promise that David's line will endure with a perpetual light. The promise 'forever' (עד עולם) invokes the eternal covenant structure. This verse is the Chronicler's theological framework: individual kings may apostatize, but the covenant ensures Judah's continuity. Grace precedes judgment.

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