1 Kings 4

Solomon’s administration

1 King Solomon became king of all Israel.

2 These were his officials: the priest Azariah, Zadok's son;

3 the scribes Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha; Jehoshaphat, the recorder, Ahilud's son;

4 the general Benaiah, Jehoiada's son; the priests Zadok and Abiathar;

5 Azariah, Nathan's son, who was in charge of the officials; Zabud, Nathan's son, a priest and royal friend;

6 Ahishar, who was in charge of the palace; and Adoniram, Abda's son, who was supervisor of the work gangs.

7 Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel. They supplied the king and his palace with food. Each would provide the supplies for one month per year.

8 Here are their names: Ben-hur in the highlands of Ephraim;

9 Ben-deker in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth-shemesh, and Elon-bethhanan;

10 Ben-hesed in Arubboth, who had Socoh and all the land of Hepher;

11 Ben-abinadab in all of Naphath-dor (Taphath, Solomon's daughter, was his wife);

12 Baana, Ahilud's son, in Taanach, Megiddo, and all Beth-shean beside Zarethan and below Jezreel, from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah and over to the region opposite Jokmeam;

13 Ben-geber in Ramoth-gilead, who controlled the villages of Jair, Manasseh's son, which were in Gilead, and who had the Argob region that was in Bashan—sixty large walled cities with bronze bars;

14 Ahinadab, Iddo's son, in Mahanaim;

15 Ahimaaz in Naphtali, who also took Solomon's daughter Basemath as his wife;

16 Baana, Hushai's son, in Asher and Bealoth;

17 Jehoshaphat, Paruah's son, in Issachar;

18 Shimei, Ela's son, in Benjamin;

19 Geber, Uri's son, in the land of Gilead, the land of the Amorite king Sihon and of King Og of Bashan; and there was a single officer who was in the land of Judah.^[a]

20 Judah and Israel grew numerous like the sand alongside the sea. They ate, drank, and celebrated.

21 ^[b] Solomon ruled over all the states from the Euphrates River through the Philistines' land and as far as the border of Egypt. These areas brought tribute to Solomon and served him all the days of his life.

22 Solomon's food requirements for a single day included thirty kors of refined flour; sixty kors of flour;

23 ten head of grain-fattened cattle; twenty head of pastured cattle; one hundred sheep; as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks, and the best of fowl.

24 He ruled over all the lands west of the Euphrates River, from Tiphsah to Gaza, and over all the kings west of the Euphrates. He had peace on all sides.

25 The people of Judah and Israel from Dan all the way to Beer-sheba lived securely under their vines and fig trees throughout the days of Solomon.

26 Solomon had forty thousand horse stalls for his chariots and twelve thousand additional horses.

27 The officials provided King Solomon and all who joined him at the royal table with monthly food rations. They left out nothing.

28 Each brought their share of barley and straw for the horses and for the chariot horses, bringing it to its proper place.

29 And God gave Solomon wisdom and very great understanding—insight as long as the seashore itself.

30 Solomon's wisdom was greater than all the famous Easterners, greater even than all the wisdom of Egypt.

31 He was wiser than anyone, more wise than Ethan the Ezrahite or Mahol's sons: Heman, Calcol, and Darda. His reputation was known throughout the region.

32 Solomon spoke three thousand proverbs and one thousand five songs.

33 He described the botany of trees, whether the cedar in Lebanon or the hyssop that grows out of the wall. He also described cattle, birds, anything that crawls on the ground, and fish.

34 People came from everywhere to listen to Solomon's wisdom; even the earth's kings who had heard about his wisdom came!

1 Kings 4 Commentary

Chapter 4

Solomon's court. (1-19) Solomon's dominions, His daily provision. (20-28) The wisdom of Solomon. (29-34)

Verses 1-19 In the choice of the great officers of Solomon's court, no doubt, his wisdom appeared. Several are the same that were in his father's time. A plan was settled by which no part of the country was exhausted to supply his court, though each sent its portion.

Verses 20-28 Never did the crown of Israel shine so bright, as when Solomon wore it. He had peace on all sides. Herein, his kingdom was a type of the Messiah's; for to Him it is promised that he shall have the heathen for his inheritance, and that princes shall worship him. The spiritual peace, and joy, and holy security, of all the faithful subjects of the Lord Jesus, were typified by that of Israel. The kingdom of God is not, as Solomon's was, meat and drink, but, what is infinitely better, righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. The vast number of his attendants, and the great resort to him, are shown by the provision daily made. Herein Christ far outdoes Solomon, that he feeds all his subjects, not with the bread that perishes, but with that which endures to eternal life.

Verses 29-34 Solomon's wisdom was more his glory than his wealth. He had what is here called largeness of heart, for the heart is often put for the powers of the mind. He had the gift of utterance, as well as wisdom. It is very desirable, that those who have large gifts of any kind, should have large hearts to use them for the good of others. What treasures of wisdom and knowledge are lost! But every sort of knowledge that is needful for salvation is to be found in the holy Scriptures. There came persons from all parts, who were more eager after knowledge than their neighbours, to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Solomon was herein a type of Christ, in whom are hid all treasures of wisdom and knowledge; and hid for us, for he is made of God to us, wisdom. Christ's fame shall spread through all the earth, and men of all nations shall come to him, learn of him, and take upon them his easy yoke, and find rest for their souls.

Footnotes

• [a]. LXX; MT lacks of Judah.
• [b]. 5:1 in Heb
• [c]. One kor is possibly equal to fifty gallons.

Chapter Summary

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.