Note 9
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In arriving at a time when Solomon was born, I believe it is important to understand the meaning of II Samuel 15:7 which states, "And it came to pass after forty years…" There is some disagreement as to what this forty years represents.

There are those that declare that the King James Bible is in error on this verse, and should read four years instead of forty years. Many commentaries declare II Samuel 15:7 should read four years, as do most of the modern versions of the Bible. Some believe II Samuel 15:7 reflects a mistake in the interpretation of the King James Version of the Bible. Some even go so far as to state that this verse indicates that the King James Bible is not inspired, that it should be discarded in favor of the more modern versions.

It seems consistent to me, however, to believe that the King James Bible is inspired, that it is God’s Word for us, and the text correctly states forty years. Whether I understand exactly what the forty years represents isn’t really important. It is more important that I believe the Bible is true, that it is the very words of God Himself.

II Timothy 3:16, 17 openly and plainly declares, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." The Bible is my guide, and it is good for me to be instructed by the Bible. It is not good for me to try to instruct, or change, the Bible, which is the Word of God. I would never try to correct God, or give Him instruction in anything at all. So why would I try to correct His Word? I don’t need to change the Bible to fit my understanding. I need to change my understanding to fit the Bible.

As far as to what the forty years represent, I do not believe the forty years has reference to the length of David’s reign over Israel. David only ruled forty years, therefore it would be impossible to say that Absalom waited forty years to put David off the throne. David would already be off the throne and dead. The forty years could be the age of Absalom when he rebelled against his father, but according to I Chronicles 3:1-4, David had six children born in Hebron. Absalom was one of those children. Absalom was probably in his late twenties, or early thirties when he rebelled against David.

It seems more likely to me that when II Samuel 15:7 states, "And it came to pass after forty years…" that after David was forty years old (about the time David committed adultery with Bathsheba), then some time passed, then Absalom’s rebellion came to fruition. The rebellion of Absalom began long before he took over the throne and caused David to escape. The seed of Absalom’s rebellion actually began when David committed adultery with Bathsheba.

Now that we understand that II Samuel 15:7 means that David was about 40 years old when he committed adultery, we continue to II Samuel 12:24 which states, "And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: nd she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him." David and Bathsheba conceived Solomon after their first child died. The first child lived approximately two years, and then Solomon was born, making Solomon’s birth approximately three years after the first child. David age is estimated to be forty three years when Solomon is born.