2 Samuel 5:5 Meaning and Explanation
“In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →David's forty years divide into seven and a half years at Hebron over Judah and thirty-three years at Jerusalem over the whole nation.
What Does 2 Samuel 5:5 Mean?
The summary is filled in with detail. David's first years were spent at Hebron, reigning over Judah alone while the house of Saul still held the north. Only afterward, from Jerusalem, did he reign over the united nation of Israel and Judah together.
The two stages trace a movement from partial to whole, from a kingdom divided to a people made one under a single throne. God does not give the fullness of His promise all at once but unfolds it in His time. What began small at Hebron grew into a reign over all Israel, a pattern of a kingdom that begins as a seed and spreads to fill the land.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 5:5
What does 2 Samuel 5:5 mean?
David's forty years divide into seven and a half years at Hebron over Judah and thirty-three years at Jerusalem over the whole nation.