1 Kings 11 42

1 Kings 11:42 kjv

And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.

1 Kings 11:42 nkjv

And the period that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.

1 Kings 11:42 niv

Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.

1 Kings 11:42 esv

And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.

1 Kings 11:42 nlt

Solomon ruled in Jerusalem over all Israel for forty years.

1 Kings 11 verses

1 Kings 11 42 Meaning

1 Kings 11:42 states the total duration of King Solomon's reign, affirming that he reigned for forty years from Jerusalem over the entire nation of Israel. This verse serves as a formal conclusion to the detailed account of his rule within the Book of 1 Kings, summarizing his long and extensive dominion before detailing his death and the subsequent division of the kingdom. It is a standard chronological formula used in biblical historical narratives to mark the end of a monarch's time on the throne.

1 Kings 11 42 Context

1 Kings 11:42 provides the concluding statement of Solomon's life and reign, marking a pivotal moment in Israelite history. The preceding verses in chapter 11 detail Solomon's devastating apostasy—his marriage to numerous foreign wives, who led his heart astray to serve other gods (1 Ki 11:1-8). This disobedience violated the foundational commandments of the covenant (Deut 7:3-4). As a result, God raised up adversaries against Solomon and prophesied the division of his kingdom after his death (1 Ki 11:9-25), specifically indicating that ten tribes would be torn away, leaving only one tribe for Solomon's son (1 Ki 11:29-39). Despite the gravity of Solomon's sin, God, in His faithfulness to the Davidic Covenant, promised not to completely remove the kingdom from his line, ensuring that a remnant and a lamp would remain in Jerusalem for David's sake (1 Ki 11:12-13, 34-36). Thus, verse 42 summarizes the end of an era – a magnificent reign that, despite its initial glory and wisdom, concluded with moral failure, divine judgment, and the prophetic anticipation of the united monarchy's imminent fragmentation.

1 Kings 11 42 Word analysis

• The length of the time:
  • Hebrew: וְהַיָּמִים (və·hay·yā·mîm), literally "and the days." This is a common Hebrew idiom to denote a duration or period, similar to "the years of life" or "the time of."
  • Significance: It formally encapsulates the total span of Solomon's rule, preparing the reader for the transition to the next reign.
• Solomon:
  • Hebrew: שְׁלֹמֹה (šə·lō·mōh), derived from the root shalom (peace, wholeness).
  • Significance: His name fittingly represented the peace and prosperity that characterized the majority of his reign (1 Ki 4:24), contrasting sharply with the unrest and impending division at its end due to his apostasy.
• reigned:
  • Hebrew: מָלַךְ (mā·laḵ), a verb meaning "to rule as king, to be king, to ascend to the throne."
  • Significance: It clearly indicates his authoritative position and the extent of his kingship over the nation.
• in Jerusalem:
  • Hebrew: בִּירוּשָׁלַם (bî·rū·šā·laim), "in Jerusalem."
  • Significance: Jerusalem was the capital city established by his father David, chosen by God as the place where His name would dwell and the Temple would be built (2 Sam 5:6-9; 1 Ki 8:29). It signifies the center of the Davidic dynasty's power and religious authority, highlighting the unified spiritual and political center under Solomon.
• over all Israel:
  • Hebrew: עַל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל (`al-kāl-yiś·rā·’êl), "over all Israel."
  • Significance: This phrase emphasizes the breadth and completeness of Solomon's dominion, ruling over all twelve tribes from Dan to Beersheba (1 Ki 4:25). It marks the peak of the united monarchy's influence and control, making the subsequent division (foretold in 1 Ki 11) even more poignant.
• was forty years:
  • Hebrew: אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה (`ar·bā·‘îm šā·nāh), "forty years."
  • Significance: "Forty" is a conventional and often symbolic number in the Bible, representing a significant or complete period (e.g., forty days, forty years of wilderness wandering, forty years of peace under judges). While it could be a precise number, it often conveys a full generation or a significant epoch rather than an exact count down to the day. Solomon's reign, mirroring David's forty years (2 Sam 5:4), marks a complete dynastic cycle of peace and unified rule, which ultimately culminated in national failure due to disobedience.

Words-group analysis:

• "reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel": This phrase highlights the political and geographic completeness of Solomon's rule. His authority was centralized in the divinely chosen capital, extending fully over every tribe. This complete dominion sets the stage for the dramatic consequences of the kingdom's division immediately following his death, emphasizing what was lost due to his deviation from God's commands.

1 Kings 11 42 Bonus section

The consistent use of the "forty years" for both David and Solomon (1 Ki 2:11; 11:42) could represent a significant "golden age" for the united kingdom, totaling eighty years of Davidic rule before the national schism. This symmetrical timeframe might emphasize a distinct epoch in Israelite history. While God was faithful to uphold the Davidic covenant and preserve a "lamp" in Jerusalem (1 Ki 11:36), Solomon's reign serves as a stark warning: even immense wisdom, wealth, and power cannot exempt a ruler or nation from the consequences of disobedience to God's commands. His life illustrates that privilege does not guarantee piety, and a grand beginning can still lead to a disappointing end if faith is compromised.

1 Kings 11 42 Commentary

1 Kings 11:42 serves as a conclusive chronological summary, bringing to a close the narrative of King Solomon's reign, the longest of the united monarchy kings alongside his father, David. The specific duration of "forty years" is a standard regnal formula, often signifying a complete and significant period in biblical narratives. This statement underscores the initial glory and comprehensive extent of Solomon's rule "over all Israel" from "Jerusalem," the seat of God's chosen dynasty and Temple. However, following the detailed account of his apostasy earlier in the chapter, this verse implicitly contrasts the length and scope of his reign with its deteriorating spiritual condition and the divine judgment that foreshadowed the kingdom's subsequent division. Despite his grand accomplishments, the ultimate evaluation of his reign is tempered by his failure to remain wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord, marking a tragic transition from the pinnacle of Israel's power to its impending fragmentation.