1 Kings 4:22

22 The daily food requirements for Solomon’s palace were 150 bushels of choice flour and 300 bushels 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.

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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 The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They were very contented, with plenty to eat and drink.

21 Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River in the north to the land of the Philistines and the border of Egypt in the south. The conquered peoples of those lands sent tribute money to Solomon and continued to serve him throughout his lifetime.

22 The daily food requirements for Solomon’s palace were 150 bushels of choice flour and 300 bushels of meal ;

23 also 10 oxen from the fattening pens, 20 pasture-fed cattle, 100 sheep or goats, as well as deer, gazelles, roe deer, and choice poultry.

24 Solomon’s dominion extended over all the kingdoms west of the Euphrates River, from Tiphsah to Gaza. And there was peace on all his borders.

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew 30 cors [6.6 kiloliters] of choice flour and 60 cors [13.2 kiloliters] of meal.