1 Kings 4:1-9

1 King Shlomo was king over all Isra'el,

2 and these were his high officials: 'Azaryah the son of Tzadok, the cohen;

3 Elichoref and Achiyah the sons of Shisha, secretaries; Y'hoshafat the son of Achilud, secretary of state;

4 B'nayah the son of Y'hoyada, commander of the army; Tzadok and Evyatar, cohanim;

5 'Azaryah the son of Natan, chief administrator; Zavud the son of Natan, the king's trusted counselor;

6 Achishar, in charge of the palace; Adoniram the son of 'Avda, in charge of forced labor.

7 Shlomo had twelve officers over all Isra'el who were in charge of providing food and supplies for the king and his household; each one was in charge of provisions for one month out of the year.

8 They were: the son of Hur, in the hills of Efrayim;

9 the son of Deker, in Makatz, Sha'albim, Beit-Shemesh and Eilon-Beit-Hanan;

1 Kings 4:1-9 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.