The number 40 seems to be special to God, for we often see it in the Scriptures. One of those occurrences happens with the first three kings of Israel (Saul, David, and Solomon), each of whom reigned 40 years.

Then Second Samuel breaks down David’s reign in this manner,

In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah (2 Samuel 5.5). 

In a previous post, I had said that David’s reign of 7 years in Hebron was incidental. Yet, the 40-year of the first three kings in while the kingdom was united, seems significant, although I would be hard-pressed to tell what the exact significance is.

If David’s 40-year reign had significance, then the break down of his reign in Second Samuel 5.5 might have significance. What is that significance?