1 Kings 4:1-19

Solomon's Officials

1 King Solomon was king over all Israel,
2 and these were his high officials: Azariah the son of Zadok was 1the priest;
3 Elihoreph and Ahijah the sons of Shisha were secretaries; 2Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
4 3Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was in command of the army; 4Zadok and Abiathar were priests;
5 Azariah the son of Nathan was over 5the officers; Zabud the son of Nathan was priest and 6king's friend;
6 Ahishar was in charge of the palace; and 7Adoniram the son of Abda was in charge of 8the 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 9the hill country of Ephraim;
9 Ben-deker, in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth-shemesh, and Elonbeth-hanan;
10 Ben-hesed, in Arubboth (to him belonged Socoh and all the land of Hepher);
11 Ben-abinadab, in all 10Naphath-dor (he had Taphath the daughter of Solomon as his wife);
12 Baana the son of Ahilud, in 11Taanach, Megiddo, and all 12Beth-shean that is beside Zarethan below Jezreel, and from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah, as far as the other side of Jokmeam;
13 Ben-geber, 13in Ramoth-gilead (he had 14the villages of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead, and he had 15the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, sixty great cities with walls and bronze bars);
14 Ahinadab the son of Iddo, in Mahanaim;
15 Ahimaaz, in Naphtali (he had taken Basemath the daughter of Solomon as his wife);
16 Baana the son of Hushai, in Asher and Bealoth;
17 Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar;
18 16Shimei the son of Ela, in Benjamin;
19 Geber the son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, 17the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan. And there was one governor who was over the land.

1 Kings 4:1-19 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.

Cross References 17

  • 1. 1 Chronicles 6:10
  • 2. 2 Samuel 8:16; 2 Samuel 20:24
  • 3. 1 Kings 2:35
  • 4. 2 Samuel 20:25; [1 Kings 2:27, 35]
  • 5. ver. 7
  • 6. [2 Samuel 15:37; 2 Samuel 16:16; 1 Chronicles 27:33]
  • 7. 1 Kings 5:14; [1 Kings 12:18; 2 Samuel 20:24; 2 Chronicles 10:18]
  • 8. [1 Kings 9:15]
  • 9. See Joshua 24:33
  • 10. Joshua 11:2
  • 11. [Joshua 17:11]
  • 12. [Joshua 17:11]
  • 13. [1 Kings 22:3]
  • 14. Numbers 32:41
  • 15. Deuteronomy 3:4
  • 16. 1 Kings 1:8
  • 17. Deuteronomy 3:8-10
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.