1 Kings 4:1-6

1 Forsooth king Solomon was reigning on all Israel.

2 And these were the princes which he had; Azariah, the son of Zadok, the priest; (And these were the leaders that he had; Azariah, the son of Zadok, was the priest who was over-the-year, that is, the calendar of events;)

3 Elihoreph, and Ahiah, (the) sons of Shisha, were scribes; Jehoshaphat, the son of Ahilud, was chancellor;

4 Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, was prince upon the host (was the leader of the army); and Zadok and Abiathar were priests;

5 Azariah, the son of Nathan, was upon them that stood nigh [to] the king (was over those who stood close to the king/was over the regional governors); Zabud, the son of Nathan, was [a] priest, a friend of the king;

6 and Ahishar was steward of the house; and Adoniram, the son of Abda, was upon the tributes (was in charge of the taxes, or the levies/was in charge of the forced labour).

1 Kings 4:1-6 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.