King James Bible

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1 Kings

15

:

10

And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
reigned consult Verb H4427 מָלַ֖ךְ ma·lach
And forty forty Noun H705 וְאַרְבָּעִ֤ים ve·'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 whole age Noun H8141 שָׁנָ֔ה sha·nah,
he in Jerusalem Jerusalem Noun H3389 בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם bi·ru·sha·lim;
Analysis:
Read more about: Jerusalem
And his mother's dam Noun H517 אִמֹּ֔ו im·mov,
name base Noun H8034 וְשֵׁ֣ם ve·shem
[was] Maachah Maachah Noun H4601 מַעֲכָ֖ה ma·'a·chah
Analysis:
Read more about: Maachah, Maacah
the daughter apple Noun H1323 בַּת־ bat-
of Abishalom Abishalom Noun H53 אֲבִישָׁלֹֽום׃ a·vi·sha·lo·vm.
Analysis:
Read more about: Abishalom

Locations

Jerusalem

JERUSALEMje-roo'-sa-lem:I. THE NAME1. In Cuneiform2. In Hebrew3. In Greek and Latin4. The Meaning of Jerusalem5. Other NamesII. GEOLOGY, CLIMATE AND SPRINGS1. Geology2. Climate and Rainfall3. The Natural SpringsIII. THE NATURAL SITE1. The Mountains Around2. The Valleys3. The HillsIV. GENERAL TOPOGRAPHY OF JERUSALEM1. Description of Josephus2. Summary of the... View Details

People

Abishalom

|my father is peace,| two Israelites Father or grandfather of Maachah , wife of Rehobaom mother of Abijah 1 Kings 15:2 1Kings 15:10 Absalom  King Davids son  2 Chronicles 11:20, 2 Chronicles 11:21 2 Samuel 12:27

Maachah

Maachah [N] [H] [S] oppression, a small Syrian kingdom near Geshur, east of the Hauran, the district of Batanea ( Joshua 13:13 ;  2 Sam Joshua 10:6  Joshua 10:8 ;  1 Chronicles 19:7 ).    A daughter of Talmai, king of the old native population of Geshur. She became one of David's wives, and was the mother of Absalom ( 2 Samuel 3:3 ).&nbs... View Details

Parallel Verses

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King James Bible And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.
Hebrew Greek English And forty and one years He reigned he forty-one years in Jerusalem. And Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Maachah, Maacah the daughter of Abishalom.
New American Standard Bible 1995 And forty and one years He reigned he forty-one years in Jerusalem. And Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Maachah, Maacah the daughter of Abishalom.