King James Bible

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1 Samuel

4

:

18

And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
And it came to pass when he made mention burn Verb H2142 כְּהַזְכִּירֹ֣ו ke·haz·ki·rov
of the ark ark Noun H727 אֲרֹ֣ון a·ro·vn
of God angels Noun H430 הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים ha·'e·lo·him
that he fell cast down Verb H5307 וַיִּפֹּ֣ל vai·yip·pol
Analysis:
Read more about: Eli, Eli
from off the seat seat Noun H3678 הַ֠כִּסֵּא hak·kis·se
backward backwards Adverb H322 אֲחֹ֨רַנִּ֜ית a·cho·ran·nit
of the gate gate Noun H8179 הַשַּׁ֗עַר ha·sha·'ar
and his neck neck Noun H4665 מַפְרַקְתֹּו֙ maf·rak·tov
brake break down Verb H7665 וַתִּשָּׁבֵ֤ר vat·ti·sha·ver
and he died crying Verb H4191 וַיָּמֹ֔ת vai·ya·mot,
for he was an old aged man Verb H2204 זָקֵ֥ן za·ken
and heavy great Adjective H3515 וְכָבֵ֑ד ve·cha·ved;
And he had judged avenge Verb H8199 שָׁפַ֥ט sha·fat
Israel Israel Noun H3478 יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל yis·ra·'el
Analysis:
Read more about: Israel
forty forty Noun H705 אַרְבָּעִ֥ים 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 שָׁנָֽה׃ sha·nah.

Locations

Israel

ISRAEL, KINGDOM OF" I. THE FIRST PERIOD1. The Two Kingdoms2. The Ist Dynasty3. The IInd Dynasty4. Civil WarII. PERIOD OF THE SYRIAN WARS1. The IIIrd Dynasty2. World-Politics3. Battle of Karkar4. Loss of Territory5. Reform of Religion6. Revolution7. The IVth Dynasty8. Renewed Prosperity9. AnarchyIII. DECLINE AND FALL1. Loss of Independence2. Decline3. Extinct... View Details

People

Eli

Eli, an Israelite

Eli

a priest at Shiloh

Parallel Verses

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King James Bible And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.
Hebrew Greek English And it came to pass, when When he made mention of mentioned the ark of God, that he Eli fell from off the seat backward by the side of beside the gate, and his neck brake, was broken and he died: died, for he was an old man, and heavy. And Thus he had judged Israel forty years.
New American Standard Bible 1995 And it came to pass, when When he made mention of mentioned the ark of God, that he Eli fell from off the seat backward by the side of beside the gate, and his neck brake, was broken and he died: died, for he was an old man, and heavy. And Thus he had judged Israel forty years.