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.
David ruled over Israel for a total of forty years: he ruled for seven years in Hebron, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
This verse records that David had a long and complete reign of forty years as king over Israel, ruling from two different capitals during his kingship.
📚 Historical Context
This verse from 1 Kings summarizes the total length of King David's reign over Israel, marking the end of his life and the beginning of his son Solomon's rule as described in the biblical narrative. David, who was anointed as king after Saul's death, initially ruled over the tribe of Judah in Hebron for seven years before unifying the kingdom and establishing Jerusalem as the capital for the remaining thirty-three years. This highlights the historical transition from tribal conflicts to a more centralized monarchy in ancient Israel.
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