2 Samuel 5:4

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

David [was] thirty years old when he began to reign, [and] he reigned forty years.

Complete Jewish Bible:

David was thirty years old when he began his rule, and he ruled forty years.

Berean Standard Bible:

David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years.

American Standard Version:

David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

David^{H1732} was thirty^{H7970} years^{H8141} old^{H1121} when he began to reign^{H4427}, and he reigned^{H4427} forty^{H705} years^{H8141}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:

BibleHub.com BibleRef.com

Commentary for 2 Samuel 5:4

2 Samuel 5:4 is a verse that succinctly marks a significant transition in the history of Israel, as it states, "David [was] thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years." This verse is situated within the broader narrative of David's ascent to the throne, following a tumultuous period in Israel's history.

The historical context of this verse is rooted in the transition from the reign of Saul, Israel's first king, to David's kingship. After Saul's death, David, who had already been anointed by the prophet Samuel as Saul's successor, was first recognized as king by the tribe of Judah in Hebron. However, it was not until after a seven-and-a-half-year reign in Hebron that David was anointed king over all Israel, as recorded in the preceding verses of 2 Samuel 5. The unification of the tribes under David's leadership marked a pivotal moment for Israel, as it solidified the young nation's unity and set the stage for a period of unprecedented political stability and expansion.

The themes present in this verse include divine timing and fulfillment, as David's age and the duration of his reign underscore the realization of God's promise to him. It also highlights the theme of leadership, as David's reign is characterized by his ability to unite the people and establish a dynasty that would become central to Israel's identity. Additionally, the verse speaks to the theme of legacy, as David's forty-year reign would become the standard by which future kings of Israel and Judah were measured, echoing the biblical emphasis on the number forty as a period of trial and probation leading to a new era.

In summary, 2 Samuel 5:4 encapsulates a turning point in Israel's history, emphasizing the divine orchestration of David's rise to power at the age of thirty and the longevity and significance of his reign, which would last forty years and lay the foundation for Israel's golden age under his son Solomon.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H1732
   There are 911 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָּוִד
   Transliteration: Dâvid
   Pronunciation: daw-veed'
   Description: rarely (fully); דָּוִיד; from the same as דּוֹד; loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse; David.
   
2. Strong's Number: H7970
   There are 164 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שְׁלוֹשִׁים
   Transliteration: shᵉlôwshîym
   Pronunciation: shel-o-sheem'
   Description: or שְׁלֹשִׁים; multiple of שָׁלוֹשׁ; thirty; or (ordinal) thirtieth; thirty, thirtieth. Compare שָׁלִישׁ.
   
3. Strong's Number: H8141
   There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁנֶה
   Transliteration: shâneh
   Pronunciation: shaw-neh'
   Description: (in plural or (feminine) שָׁנָה; from שָׁנָה; a year (as a revolution of time); [phrase] whole age, [idiom] long, [phrase] old, year([idiom] -ly).
   
4. Strong's Number: H1121
   There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּן
   Transliteration: bên
   Pronunciation: bane
   Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
   
5. Strong's Number: H4427
   There are 284 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מָלַךְ
   Transliteration: mâlak
   Pronunciation: maw-lak'
   Description: a primitive root; to reign; inceptively, to ascend the throne; causatively, to induct into royalty; hence (by implication) to take counsel; consult, [idiom] indeed, be (make, set a, set up) king, be (make) queen, (begin to, make to) reign(-ing), rule, [idiom] surely.
   
6. Strong's Number: H705
   There are 178 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַרְבָּעִים
   Transliteration: ʼarbâʻîym
   Pronunciation: ar-baw-eem'
   Description: multiple of אַרְבַּע; forty; -forty.