Bible Strands
1 Kings 2:11
The length of David’s reign over Israel was forty years—seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The narrator places this chronological note between David’s burial in the City of David and Solomon’s immediate enthronement. It functions as a historical bracket marking the end of one reign and the beginning of another.
The words — The phrase וְ/הַ/יָּמִ֗ים (ve./hai./ya.Mim) literally means "and the days," introducing the duration clause. The verb מָלַ֤ךְ (ma.Lakh) states "he reigned," which governs the count of אַרְבָּעִ֖ים ('ar.ba.'Im) or "forty" שָׁנָ֑ה (sha.Nah) or "years" over יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Yis.ra.'El) or "Israel."
The thread — The same forty-year reign is recorded in 2 Samuel 5:4 and 1 Chronicles 29:26, which also supply David’s age at accession and his title over all Israel. These parallel texts cross-verify the chronological boundary between the united monarchy and the divided kingdom.
Why it lands — The text states the exact duration and geographic division of David’s rule before noting Solomon’s secure succession. It requires the reader to recognize the transition as a documented historical fact rather than a theological claim.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 5:4 David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years.
- 1 Chronicles 29:26 David son of Jesse was king over all Israel.