1 Kings 4:1-11

1 Now Solomon was king over all Israel.

2 And these were his chief men: Azariah, the son of Zadok, was the priest;

3 Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, were scribes; Jehoshaphat, the son of Ahilud, was the recorder;

4 Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, was head of the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;

5 Azariah, the son of Nathan, was over those in authority in the different divisions of the country; Zabud, the son of Nathan, was priest and the king's friend;

6 Ahishar was controller of the king's house; Adoniram, the son of Abda, was overseer of the forced work.

7 And Solomon put twelve overseers over all Israel, to be responsible for the stores needed for the king and those of his house; every man was responsible for one month in the year.

8 And these are their names: ... the son of Hur in the hill country of Ephraim;

9 ... the son of Deker in Makaz and Shaalbim and Beth-shemesh and Elonbeth-hanan;

10 ... the son of Hesed in Arubboth; Socoh and all the land of Hepher were under his control;

11 ... the son of Abinadab in all Naphath-dor; his wife was Taphath, the daughter of Solomon.

1 Kings 4:1-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST KINGS 4

As in the preceding chapter we have a proof of the wisdom and understanding which the Lord gave to Solomon, as promised, so in this an account is given of the riches and honour he was possessed of; of him, as king over all Israel, and of his princes, 1Ki 4:1-6; of the providers of food for his household in the several parts of the land, 1Ki 4:7-19; of the largeness and extent of his dominions, and of the peace and prosperity thereof, 1Ki 4:20,21,24,25; of his daily provisions for his household and for his cattle, 1Ki 4:22,23,26-28; and of his superior wisdom and knowledge to all others in all nations, which brought some out of all to hear it, 1Ki 4:29-34.