1 Kings 4:22

22 Shlomo's provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and sixty measures of meal,

1 Kings 4:22 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 4:22

And Solomon's provision for one day was thirty measures of
fine flour
The measure here used was the "corus", or "cor", the same with the homer, which was equal to ten ephahs, and, according to Bishop Cumberland F23, held seventy five wine gallons and five pints, and somewhat more; by which may be known how many gallons of fine flour these thirty measures held, which were all consumed in one day:

and threescore measures of meal:
sixty measures of a coarser sort, for the servants, not so finely dressed; the same measure is here used as before; and it is observed by some, that one cor is equivalent to six hundred forty eight Roman pounds, and allowing to one man two pounds a day for his food, there would be food enough for 29,160 men out of 90 times 648, or 58,320 pounds F24. Others exaggerate the account; Vilalpandus says it would have sufficed 48,600 persons; Seth Calvisius 54,000, and Salianus 70,000 F25; the Jews say F26 that he had 60,000 that ate at his table; that is, who were maintained at his court.


FOOTNOTES:

F23 Scripture Weights and Measures, ch. 3. p. 86.
F24 Vid. Scheuchzer. Physic. Sacr. p. 516.
F25 Vid. Witsii Miscellan. tom. 2. exercit. 10. sect. 26.
F26 Shalshalet Hakabala, fol. 8. 2.

1 Kings 4:22 In-Context

20 Yehudah and Yisra'el were many as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and making merry.
21 Shlomo ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Pelishtim, and to the border of Mitzrayim: they brought tribute, and served Shlomo all the days of his life.
22 Shlomo's provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and sixty measures of meal,
23 ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and one hundred sheep, besides harts, and gazelles, and roebucks, and fattened fowl.
24 For he had dominion over all [the region] on this side the River, from Tifsach even to `Aza, over all the kings on this side the River: and he had shalom on all sides round about him.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.