1 Kings 4:20-34

Solomon’s Prosperity

20 The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore, and they were eating and drinking and rejoicing.
21 And Solomon reigned over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates [a] to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These kingdoms offered tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.
22 Solomon’s provisions for a single day were thirty cors of fine flour, [b] sixty cors of meal, [c]
23 ten fat oxen, twenty range oxen, and a hundred sheep, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened poultry.
24 For Solomon had dominion over everything west of the Euphrates [d]—over all the kingdoms from Tiphsah to Gaza—and he had peace on all sides.
25 Throughout the days of Solomon, Judah and Israel dwelt securely from Dan to Beersheba, each man under his own vine and his own fig tree.
26 Solomon had 4,000 [e] stalls for his chariot horses and 12,000 horses. [f]
27 Each month the governors in turn provided food for King Solomon and all who came to his table. They saw to it that nothing was lacking.
28 Each one also brought to the required place their quotas of barley and straw for the chariot horses and other horses.

Solomon’s Wisdom

29 And God gave Solomon wisdom, exceedingly deep insight, and understanding beyond measure, like the sand on the seashore.
30 Solomon’s wisdom was greater than that of all the men of the East, greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.
31 He was wiser than all men—wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and wiser than Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread throughout the surrounding nations.
32 Solomon composed three thousand proverbs, and his songs numbered a thousand and five.
33 He spoke of trees, from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop growing in the wall, and he taught about animals, birds, reptiles, and fish.
34 So men of all nations came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.

1 Kings 4:20-34 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.

Footnotes 6

  • [a]. Hebrew the River; also in verse 24
  • [b]. 30 cors is approximately 187 bushels or 6,600 liters (probably about 5.5 tons or 5 metric tons of flour).
  • [c]. 60 cors is approximately 375 bushels or 13,200 liters (probably about 11 tons or 10 metric tons of meal).
  • [d]. Or beyond the River
  • [e]. Some LXX manuscripts (see also 2 Chronicles 9:25); Hebrew 40,000
  • [f]. Or horsemen or charioteers
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