New American Standard Bible 1995

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2 Samuel

15

:

7

Now it came about at the end of forty years that Absalom said to the king, "Please let me go and pay my vow which I have vowed to the LORD, in Hebron.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
Now it came to fall out, come to pass, become, be Verb H1961 וַיְהִ֕י vay·hi
about at the end end Noun H7093 מִקֵּ֖ץ mik·ketz
of forty forty Noun H705 אַרְבָּעִ֣ים ar·ba·'im
Analysis:

Forty: Transition or change

Often people will speak of the number forty as a generational number. There is no evidence for such an interpretation from the Scripture. The number 40 expresses a change or transition. The examples for such a view are seen throughout both the Old and New Covenants. 

  • It rained for 40 days in the days of Noah (see Genesis 7:12). These rains brought about a transition; HaShem would begin the world again with the family of Noah. 
  • Moses was on Mount Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights (see Exodus 34:28). Although this was the second time Moses went up to the mountain, it was this time that the Law was actually given to the Children of Israel and a transition was made to Israel being commanded to observe the Law.
  • Yeshua was tested in the mountains of Judah for 40 days and 40 nights (see Matthew 4:2) and afterwards He began His ministry. Hence, a transition was made from when Yeshua did not minister to the time when He began to fulfill His Father's will in a formal way.
  • After the resurrection, Yeshua appeared for 40 days (Acts 1:3) and He ascended into the heavens. Yeshua's earthly ministry had finished and there was a transition to His disciples carrying on His work.
  • In the account of Absalom, the reader is told that at the end of 40 years (see 2 Samuel 15:7), Absalom requested permission to go to Hebron from his father. Although he said that he wanted to pay his vows, this was said so he could depart and begin his rebellion against David, his father. Why is 40 years mentioned? To what does the 40 years refer? Some commentaries say the 40 years was from when Saul began the monarchy. Whether this is true or not is undetermined. However, what is for sure is that there was a transition in the leadership of Israel. The number 40 appears in verse 7 to assist the reader in identifying this change in leadership.

Numerous other examples could be provided, but these few sufficiently demonstrate the meaning and use of the number 40 in the Scriptures. 

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years a year Noun H8141 שָׁנָ֑ה sha·nah;
that Absalom "my father is peace," two Isr. Noun H53 אַבְשָׁלֹום֙ av·sha·lo·vm
said to utter, say Verb H559 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר vai·yo·mer
to the king, king Noun H4428 הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ ham·me·lech,
"Please I (we) pray, now Interjection H4994 נָּ֗א na
let me go to go, come, walk Verb H1980 אֵ֣לֲכָה e·la·chah
and pay to be complete or sound Verb H7999 וַאֲשַׁלֵּ֛ם va·'a·shal·lem
my vow a vow Noun H5088 נִדְרִ֛י nid·ri
which who, which, that Particle H834 אֲשֶׁר־ a·sher-
I have vowed to vow Verb H5087 נָדַ֥רְתִּי na·dar·ti
to the LORD, the proper name of the God of Israel Noun H3068 לַֽיהוָ֖ה Yah·weh
in Hebron. "association, league," a city in S. Judah Noun H2275 בְּחֶבְרֹֽון׃ be·chev·ro·vn.
Analysis:
Read more about: Hebron

Locations

Hebron

HEBRON (1)he'-brun (chebhron, "league" or "confederacy"; Chebron): One of the most ancient and important cities in Southern Palestine, now known to the Moslems as el Khalil (i.e. Khalil er Rahman, "the friend of the Merciful," i.e. of God, a favorite name for Abraham; compare James 2:23). The city is some 20 miles South of Jerusalem, situated in an open vall... View Details

People

Lord

Lord [N] [B] [S] There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.    Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form "Jehovah" is retained only in  Exodus 6:3 ;  Psalms 83:18 ;  Isaiah 12:2 ;  26:4 , both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.&nb... View Details

Lord

Lord [N] [B] [S] There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.    Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form "Jehovah" is retained only in  Exodus 6:3 ;  Psalms 83:18 ;  Isaiah 12:2 ;  26:4 , both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.&nb... View Details

Lord

Lord [N] [B] [S] There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.    Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form "Jehovah" is retained only in  Exodus 6:3 ;  Psalms 83:18 ;  Isaiah 12:2 ;  26:4 , both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.&nb... View Details

Lord

Lord [N] [B] [S] There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.    Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form "Jehovah" is retained only in  Exodus 6:3 ;  Psalms 83:18 ;  Isaiah 12:2 ;  26:4 , both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.&nb... View Details

Parallel Verses

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Added text
New American Standard Bible 1995 Now it came about at the end of forty years that Absalom said to the king, "Please let me go and pay my vow which I have vowed to the LORD, in Hebron.
King James Bible Now And it came about at the end of to pass after forty years years, that Absalom said to unto the king, "Please I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow vow, which I have vowed to unto the LORD, in Hebron.
Hebrew Greek English Now it came about at the end of forty years that Absalom said to the king, "Please let me go and pay my vow which I have vowed to the LORD, in Hebron.