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.
In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months - (see the notes at 2 Samuel 11:10.) 'Those were the best days of David; and we know, from his own language, how sacredly he then held the trust of Abraham and the aspirations of Moses; nor can we doubt that, as Abiathar celebrated the divine offices, the high-souled leader of his people raised their confidence in that appointment and destiny for their nation of which he believed the dawn and fulfillment would be seen by them. Conscious of such untiring energy both of soul and body, and stirred by his prophetic insight into the future-moved also by the great dynastic changes both in Egypt, where at that time the sceptre passed from the 21st dynasty into the hands of the "military pontiffs," whose rule extended over the whole of Egypt (see Wilkinson in Rawlinson's "Herodotus," vol. 2:, p. 375), and in the far East, where a long series of conflicts resulted in the extension of the Assyrian empire as far westward as the Mediterranean-we cannot doubt that, during those seven years, the mightiest purposes were contemplated by the youthful king; or that, with the contagion of such enthusiasm, he was diffusing among his valiant but rude soldiery aspirations like his own; while he was organizing and instructing them in preparations for warfare of far higher pretensions and character then any which yet had been meditated by his countrymen' (Drew's 'Scripture Lands,' p. 136).