1 Kings 4:21-31

21 Solomon's kingdom included all the nations from the Euphrates River to Philistia and the Egyptian border. They paid him taxes and were subject to him all his life. 1
22 The supplies Solomon needed each day were 150 bushels of fine flour and 300 bushels of meal;
23 10 stall-fed cattle, 20 pasture-fed cattle, and 100 sheep, besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and poultry.
24 Solomon ruled over all the land west of the Euphrates River, from Tiphsah on the Euphrates as far west as the city of Gaza. All the kings west of the Euphrates were subject to him, and he was at peace with all the neighboring countries.
25 As long as he lived, the people throughout Judah and Israel lived in safety, each family with its own grapevines and fig trees.
26 Solomon had forty thousand stalls for his chariot horses and twelve thousand cavalry horses. 2
27 His twelve governors, each one in the month assigned to him, supplied the food King Solomon needed for himself and for all who ate in the palace; they always supplied everything needed.
28 Each governor also supplied his share of barley and straw, where it was needed, for the chariot horses and the work animals.
29 God gave Solomon unusual wisdom and insight, and knowledge too great to be measured.
30 Solomon was wiser than the wise men of the East or the wise men of Egypt.
31 He was the wisest of all men: wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol, and his fame spread throughout all the neighboring countries. 3

1 Kings 4:21-31 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 3

  • 1. 4.21Genesis 15.18;2 Chronicles 9.26.
  • 2. 4.26 1 K 10.26;2 Chronicles 1.14; 9.25.
  • 3. 4.31 Ps 89 Title.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. where it was needed; [or] wherever King Solomon was.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.