1 Kings 4:7-17

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 the hill country of E'phraim;

9 Ben-deker, in Makaz, Sha-al'bim, Beth-she'mesh, and E'lonbeth-ha'nan;

10 Ben-hesed, in Arub'both (to him belonged Socoh and all the land of Hepher);

11 Ben-abin'adab, in all Naphath-dor (he had Taphath the daughter of Solomon as his wife);

12 Ba'ana the son of Ahi'lud, in Ta'anach, Megid'do, and all Beth-she'an which is beside Zarethan below Jezreel, and from Beth-she'an to A'bel-meho'lah, as far as the other side of Jok'meam;

13 Ben-geber, in Ra'moth-gil'ead (he had the villages of Ja'ir the son of Manas'seh, which are in Gilead, and he had the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, sixty great cities with walls and bronze bars);

14 Ahin'adab the son of Iddo, in Mahana'im;

15 Ahi'ma-az, in Naph'tali (he had taken Bas'emath the daughter of Solomon as his wife);

16 Ba'ana the son of Hushai, in Asher and Bealoth;

17 Jehosh'aphat the son of Paru'ah, in Is'sachar;

1 Kings 4:7-17 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.