Topical Bible: David: King of Israel: Length of Reign, Forty Years

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Length of Reign: Forty Years

David, the second king of Israel, is one of the most significant figures in biblical history. His reign is marked by a period of consolidation, expansion, and spiritual leadership that left a lasting legacy on the nation of Israel and the Judeo-Christian tradition.

Anointed as King

David's journey to kingship began when he was anointed by the prophet Samuel. As recorded in 1 Samuel 16:13 , "So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward." This divine selection set David apart as God's chosen leader, despite his humble beginnings as a shepherd boy.

Reign Over Judah

David's reign began in Hebron, where he was anointed king over the tribe of Judah. This initial phase of his kingship lasted seven and a half years. During this time, David established his rule and gained the loyalty of his tribe, as noted in 2 Samuel 2:11 : "And the length of time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months."

King Over All Israel

Following the death of Saul's son, Ish-bosheth, David was anointed king over all Israel. This marked the beginning of his reign over the united kingdom, which lasted thirty-three years. 2 Samuel 5:4-5 states, "David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years."

Jerusalem: The Capital

One of David's significant achievements was the capture of Jerusalem, which he established as the political and spiritual capital of Israel. This strategic move united the tribes and centralized the nation's worship. David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, signifying the city's importance as the religious heart of Israel (2 Samuel 6:12-15).

Military Conquests and Expansion

David's reign was characterized by military success and territorial expansion. He subdued surrounding nations, including the Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites, thereby securing Israel's borders and establishing it as a dominant regional power. His military prowess and strategic alliances contributed to a period of relative peace and prosperity.

Covenant with God

A pivotal moment in David's reign was the establishment of the Davidic Covenant, in which God promised that David's descendants would rule Israel forever. This covenant is recorded in 2 Samuel 7:12-16 , where God declares, "When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom."

Personal Challenges and Legacy

Despite his successes, David's reign was not without personal challenges and moral failures. His adultery with Bathsheba and the subsequent murder of her husband, Uriah, brought turmoil to his household and kingdom (2 Samuel 11-12). Nevertheless, David's heartfelt repentance and enduring faith in God are evident in the Psalms, many of which he authored.

David's reign of forty years left an indelible mark on Israel's history. His leadership, military conquests, and spiritual devotion set the stage for the future of the Israelite monarchy and the coming of the Messiah, who would be known as the Son of David.

Nave's Topical Index

1 Kings 2:11
And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.
Nave's Topical Index

1 Chronicles 29:27,28
And the time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Divided Kingdom.
... of prosperity that resembled the time of David and Solomon. ... 1) Jehovah rules not
only in Israel but over ... of his reign, (c) The character of the king himself, (d ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter xiii the divided kingdom.htm

The First Kings.
... This varied and, much of it, wasted life, led the king, in his sober years of ... There
were no more such monarchs in Israel, after David and Solomon, and ...
/.../headley/half hours in bible lands volume 2/the first kings.htm

The Antiquities of the Jews
... King Of Syria And Pekah King Of Israel, Made War ... How, Upon Herod's Going Down Into
David's Sepulcher, The ... And Bound Him; Whom Yet Archelaus King Of Cappadocia ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/the antiquities of the jews/

The History of Solomon
... and greatest of birth of them of Israel, with the ... the Ark of God from the city of
David, Sion, into ... King Solomon, with all the multitude of the children that ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the history of solomon.htm

Kings
... Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings 1 ... it alludes
to Ahab seldom by name, but usually as "the king of Israel"; further, in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/kings.htm

Jeremiah, a Lesson for the Disappointed.
... restorer of paths to dwell in[5]." Israel (the ten ... end; the kings of the house of
David again ruled ... This great king, who afterwards honoured Daniel, and was at ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon ix jeremiah a lesson.htm

The Prophet Hosea.
... of, iii.5: "Afterwards shall the children of Israel return and ... the Lord their God,
and David their King, and shall ... with those of the time of David and Solomon ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet hosea.htm

Cheer Up, My Comrades!
... He was to bring Israel out of Egypt; but his ... If the king's enemies think us troublesome,
we reckon it to ... could bring back Goliath's head but that young David. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 26 1880/cheer up my comrades.htm

Book 9 Footnotes
... other way of Divine punishment, as did David for many ... to have exacted the money of
Israel of all ... Josephus says, this king was slain by Nebuchadnezzar himself. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 9 footnotes.htm

How Pekah Died by the Treachery of Hoshea who was a Little after ...
... the same time Pekah, the king of Israel, died by ... their psalteries, as they were
instructed by David to do ... When the king had bestowed on the multitude, besides ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 13 how pekah died.htm