New American Standard Bible 1995

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2 Chronicles

9

:

30

Solomon reigned forty years in Jerusalem over all Israel.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
Solomon David's son and successor to his throne Noun H8010 שְׁלֹמֹ֧ה she·lo·moh
reigned to be or become king or queen, to reign Verb H4427 וַיִּמְלֹ֨ךְ vai·yim·loch
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 a year Noun H8141 שָׁנָֽה׃ sha·nah.
in Jerusalem probably "foundation of peace," capital city of all Isr. Noun H3389 בִֽירוּשָׁלִַ֛ם vi·ru·sha·lim
Analysis:
Read more about: Jerusalem
over upon, above, over Prepostion H5921 עַל־ al-
all the whole, all Noun H3605 כָּל־ kol-
Israel. "God strives," another name of Jacob and his desc. Noun H3478 יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל yis·ra·'el
Analysis:
Read more about: Israel

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

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

Parallel Verses

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Added text
New American Standard Bible 1995 Solomon reigned forty years in Jerusalem over all Israel.
King James Bible And Solomon reigned forty years in Jerusalem over all Israel.Israel forty years.
Hebrew Greek English Solomon reigned forty years in Jerusalem over all Israel.