1 Kings 4:2-12

2 and these were his high officials: Azari'ah the son of Zadok was the priest;

3 Elihor'eph and Ahi'jah the sons of Shisha were secretaries; Jehosh'aphat the son of Ahi'lud was recorder;

4 Benai'ah the son of Jehoi'ada was in command of the army; Zadok and Abi'athar were priests;

5 Azari'ah the son of Nathan was over the officers; Zabud the son of Nathan was priest and king's friend;

6 Ahi'shar was in charge of the palace; and Adoni'ram the son of Abda was in charge of the forced labor.

7 Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household; each man had to make provision for one month in the year.

8 These were their names: Ben-hur, in the hill country of E'phraim;

9 Ben-deker, in Makaz, Sha-al'bim, Beth-she'mesh, and E'lonbeth-ha'nan;

10 Ben-hesed, in Arub'both (to him belonged Socoh and all the land of Hepher);

11 Ben-abin'adab, in all Naphath-dor (he had Taphath the daughter of Solomon as his wife);

12 Ba'ana the son of Ahi'lud, in Ta'anach, Megid'do, and all Beth-she'an which is beside Zarethan below Jezreel, and from Beth-she'an to A'bel-meho'lah, as far as the other side of Jok'meam;

1 Kings 4:2-12 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.