The Peaceful Kingdom

111.1: Rev 5.5; 22.16The royal line of David is like a tree that has been cut down; but just as new branches sprout from a stump, so a new king will arise from among David's descendants.

2The Spirit of the LORD will give him wisdom,

and the knowledge and skill to rule his people.

He will know the LORD's will and honour him,

3and find pleasure in obeying him.

He will not judge by appearance or hearsay;

411.4: 2 Thes 2.8he will judge the poor fairly

and defend the rights of the helpless.

At his command the people will be punished,

and evil persons will die.

511.5: Eph 6.14He will rule his people with justice and integrity.

611.6–9: Is 65.25Wolves and sheep will live together in peace,

and leopards will lie down with young goats.

Calves and lion cubs will feed11.6 Some ancient translations will feed; Hebrew and well-fed cattle. together,

and little children will take care of them.

7Cows and bears will eat together,

and their calves and cubs will lie down in peace.

Lions will eat straw as cattle do.

8Even a baby will not be harmed

if it plays near a poisonous snake.

911.9: Hab 2.14On Zion, God's sacred hill,

there will be nothing harmful or evil.

The land will be as full of knowledge of the LORD

as the seas are full of water.

The Exiled People will Return

1011.10: Rom 15.12A day is coming when the new king from the royal line of David will be a symbol to the nations. They will gather in his royal city and give him honour. 11When that day comes, the Lord will once again use his power and bring back home those of his people who are left in Assyria and Egypt, in the lands of Pathros, Ethiopia11.11 Ethiopia: See Word List., Elam, Babylonia, and Hamath, and in the coastlands and on the islands of the sea. 12The LORD will raise a signal flag to show the nations that he is gathering together again the scattered people of Israel and Judah and bringing them back from the four corners of the earth. 13The kingdom of Israel will not be jealous of Judah any more, and Judah will not be the enemy of Israel. 14Together they will attack the Philistines on the west and plunder the people who live to the east. They will conquer the people of Edom and Moab, and the people of Ammon will obey them. 1511.15: Rev 16.12The LORD will dry up the Gulf of Suez, and he will bring a hot wind to dry up the Euphrates, leaving only seven tiny streams, so that anyone will be able to walk across. 16There will be a highway out of Assyria for those of his people Israel who have survived there, just as there was for their ancestors when they left Egypt.