1 Kings 4ASV
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1 Kings4

American Standard Version · Public Domain

1And king Solomon was king over all Israel.

2And these were the princes whom he had: Azariah the son of Zadok, the priest;

3Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder;

4and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host; and Zadok and Abiathar were priests;

5and Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers; and Zabud the son of Nathan was chief minister, and the king’s friend;

6and Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the men subject to taskwork.

7And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided victuals for the king and his household: each man had to make provision for a month in the year.

8And these are their names: Ben-hur, in the hill-country of Ephraim;

9Ben-deker, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Beth-shemesh, and Elon-beth-hanan;

10Ben-hesed, in Arubboth (to him pertained Socoh, and all the land of Hepher);

11Ben-abinadab, in all the height of Dor (he had Taphath the daughter of Solomon to wife);

12Baana the son of Ahilud, in Taanach and Megiddo, and all Beth-shean which is beside Zarethan, beneath Jezreel, from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah, as far as beyond Jokmeam;

13Ben-geber, in Ramoth-gilead (to him pertained the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead; even to him pertained the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, threescore great cities with walls and brazen bars);

14Ahinadab the son of Iddo, in Mahanaim;

15Ahimaaz, in Naphtali (he also took Basemath the daughter of Solomon to wife);

16Baana the son of Hushai, in Asher and Bealoth;

17Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar;

18Shimei the son of Ela, in Benjamin;

19Geber the son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan; and he was the only officer that was in the land.

20Judah and Israel were many as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and making merry.

21And Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought tribute, and served Solomon all the days of his life.

22And Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal,

23ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and a hundred sheep, besides harts, and gazelles, and roebucks, and fatted fowl.

24For he had dominion over all the region on this side the River, from Tiphsah even to Gaza, over all the kings on this side the River: and he had peace on all sides round about him.

25And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig-tree, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, all the days of Solomon.

26And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.

27And those officers provided victuals for king Solomon, and for all that came unto king Solomon’s table, every man in his month; they let nothing be lacking.

28Barley also and straw for the horses and swift steeds brought they unto the place where the officers were, every man according to his charge.

29And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea-shore.

30And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east, and all the wisdom of Egypt.

31For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all the nations round about.

32And he spake three thousand proverbs; and his songs were a thousand and five.

33And he spake of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall; he spake also of beasts, and of birds, and of creeping things, and of fishes.

34And there came of all peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Kings 4.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: Solomon's court. (1–19). Solomon's dominions, His daily provision. (20–28). The wisdom of Solomon. (29–34).

vv1-19

In the choice of the great officers of Solomon's court, no doubt, his wisdom appeared. Several are the same that were in his father's time. A plan was settled by which no part of the country was exhausted to supply his court, though each sent its portion.

vv20-28

Never did the crown of Israel shine so bright, as when Solomon wore it. He had peace on all sides. Herein, his kingdom was a type of the Messiah's; for to Him it is promised that he shall have the heathen for his inheritance, and that princes shall worship him. The spiritual peace, and joy, and holy security, of all the faithful subjects of the Lord Jesus, were typified by that of Israel. The kingdom of God is not, as Solomon's was, meat and drink, but, what is infinitely better, righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. The vast number of his attendants, and the great resort to him, are shown by the provision daily made. Herein Christ far outdoes Solomon, that he feeds all his subjects, not with the bread that perishes, but with that which endures to eternal life.

vv29-34

Solomon's wisdom was more his glory than his wealth. He had what is here called largeness of heart, for the heart is often put for the powers of the mind. He had the gift of utterance, as well as wisdom. It is very desirable, that those who have large gifts of any kind, should have large hearts to use them for the good of others. What treasures of wisdom and knowledge are lost! But every sort of knowledge that is needful for salvation is to be found in the holy Scriptures. There came persons from all parts, who were more eager after knowledge than their neighbours, to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Solomon was herein a type of Christ, in whom are hid all treasures of wisdom and knowledge; and hid for us, for he is made of God to us, wisdom. Christ's fame shall spread through all the earth, and men of all nations shall come to him, learn of him, and take upon them his easy yoke, and find rest for their souls.

Cross References

1 Kings 4
v21Psalms 72:8-11thematic

Solomon's extensive borders and tributary kingdoms typify the global, peaceful reign of the Messiah.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v21Genesis 15:18fulfillment

Solomon's borders directly fulfill the territorial covenant promise made by God to Abraham.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v25Micah 4:4thematic

The proverbial expression of peace and safety: sitting securely under one's own vine and fig tree.

Supported by JFB

v25Zechariah 3:10thematic

Prophetic imagery echoing Solomon's peaceful reign, where every man invites his neighbor under his vine.

Supported by JFB

v34Matthew 12:42thematic

Christ notes the Queen of the South came to hear Solomon's wisdom, pointing to Himself.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v61 Kings 5:13thematic

Adoniram's role over the tribute/levy of compulsory labor is detailed further in chapter five.

Supported by JFB

v291 Kings 3:12thematic

The fulfillment of God's promise to grant Solomon unmatched wisdom and understanding.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v311 Chronicles 2:6thematic

Identifies Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara as wise descendants of Zerah, whom Solomon excelled.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v52 Samuel 15:37thematic

Illuminates the official court role of 'the king's friend' previously held by Hushai.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

Parallels David's monthly military division system with Solomon's monthly provision officer system.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v20Genesis 22:17thematic

The massive population of Judah and Israel fulfills the patriarchal promise of sand-like multiplication.

Supported by Matthew Henry

Solomon's accumulation of thousands of horses stands in tension with the Mosaic prohibition for kings.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v32 Samuel 8:16thematic

Shows continuity in Solomon's administration, retaining Jehoshaphat the recorder from David's reign.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v21Exodus 23:31fulfillment

Matches the boundaries of the land promised in Exodus from the river to the Philistines.

Supported by Matthew Poole

Confirms Solomon's continued work of setting in order many proverbs for the people.

Supported by Matthew Henry