1 Kings — Chapter 4
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1So king Solomon was king over all Israel.
2And these were the princes which he had; Azariah the son of Zadok the priest,
3Elihoreph and Ahiah, 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 the priests:
5And Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers: and Zabud the son of Nathan was principal officer, and the king’s friend:
6And Ahishar was over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute.
7And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, which provided victuals for the king and his household: each man his month in a year made provision.
8And these are their names: The son of Hur, in mount Ephraim:
9The son of Dekar, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Beth-shemesh, and Elon-beth-hanan:
10The son of Hesed, in Aruboth; to him pertained Sochoh, and all the land of Hepher:
11The son of Abinadab, in all the region of Dor; which had Taphath the daughter of Solomon to wife:
12Baana the son of Ahilud; to him pertained Taanach and Megiddo, and all Beth-shean, which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel, from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah, even unto the place that is beyond Jokneam:
13The son of Geber, in Ramoth-gilead; to him pertained the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead; to him also pertained the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, threescore great cities with walls and brasen bars:
14Ahinadab the son of Iddo had Mahanaim:
15Ahimaaz was in Naphtali; he also took Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wife:
16Baanah the son of Hushai was in Asher and in Aloth:
17Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar:
18Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin:
19Geber the son of Uri was in the country of Gilead, in the country of Sihon king of the Amorites, and of Og king of Bashan; and he was the only officer which 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 reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, 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 an hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallowdeer, and fatted fowl.
24For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, 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 victual for king Solomon, and for all that came unto king Solomon’s table, every man in his month: they lacked nothing.
28Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries 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 country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.
31For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all 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 tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.
34And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.
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.
1King Solomon ruled over all Israel.
2These were his officials:Azariah son of Zadok was the priest.
3Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, wrote down what happened. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was in charge of the records.
4Benaiah son of Jehoiada was commander of the army.Zadok and Abiathar were priests.
5Azariah son of Nathan was supervisor of the district governors.Zabud son of Nathan was a priest and adviser to the king.
6Ahishar was supervisor of the palace. Adoniram son of Abda was supervisor of the work crews.
7Solomon had 12 district governors appointed throughout Israel who acquired supplies for the king and his palace. Each was responsible for one month in the year.
8These were their names:Ben Hur was in charge of the hill country of Ephraim.
9Ben Deker was in charge of Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh, and Elon Beth Hanan.
10Ben Hesed was in charge of Arubboth; he controlled Socoh and all the territory of Hepher.
11Ben Abinadab was in charge of Naphath Dor. (He was married to Solomon’s daughter Taphath.)
12Baana son of Ahilud was in charge of Taanach and Megiddo, as well as all of Beth Shean next to Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth Shean to Abel Meholah and on past Jokmeam.
13Ben Geber was in charge of Ramoth Gilead; he controlled the villages of Jair son of Manasseh in Gilead, as well as the region of Argob in Bashan, including 60 large walled cities with bronze bars locking their gates.
14Ahinadab son of Iddo was in charge of Mahanaim.
15Ahimaaz was in charge of Naphtali. (He married Solomon’s daughter Basemath.)
16Baana son of Hushai was in charge of Asher and Aloth.
17Jehoshaphat son of Paruah was in charge of Issachar.
18Shimei son of Ela was in charge of Benjamin.
19Geber son of Uri was in charge of the land of Gilead (the territory which had once belonged to King Sihon of the Amorites and to King Og of Bashan). He was sole governor of the area.
20The people of Judah and Israel were as innumerable as the sand on the seashore; they had plenty to eat and drink and were happy.
21(5:1) Solomon ruled all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These kingdoms paid tribute as Solomon’s subjects throughout his lifetime.
22Each day Solomon’s royal court consumed 30 cors of finely milled flour, 60 cors of cereal,
2310 calves fattened in the stall, 20 calves from the pasture, and 100 sheep, not to mention rams, gazelles, deer, and well-fed birds.
24His royal court was so large because he ruled over all the kingdoms west of the Euphrates River from Tiphsah to Gaza; he was at peace with all his neighbors.
25All the people of Judah and Israel had security; everyone from Dan to Beer Sheba enjoyed the produce of their vines and fig trees throughout Solomon’s lifetime.
26Solomon had 4,000 stalls for his chariot horses and 12,000 horses.
27The district governors acquired supplies for King Solomon and all who ate in his royal palace. Each was responsible for one month in the year; they made sure nothing was lacking.
28Each one also brought to the assigned location his quota of barley and straw for the various horses.
29God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment; the breadth of his understanding was as infinite as the sand on the seashore.
30Solomon was wiser than all the men of the east and all the sages of Egypt.
31He was wiser than any man, including Ethan the Ezrahite or Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. He was famous in all the neighboring nations.
32He composed 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs.
33He produced manuals on botany, describing every kind of plant, from the cedars of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows on walls. He also produced manuals on biology, describing animals, birds, insects, and fish.
34People from all nations came to hear Solomon’s display of wisdom; they came from all the kings of the earth who heard about his wisdom.
1King Solomon was king over all Israel.
2These 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;
4Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;
5Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers; Zabud the son of Nathan was chief minister, the king’s friend;
6Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the men subject to forced labor.
7Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household. Each man had to make provision for a month in the year.
8These are their names: Ben Hur, in the hill country of Ephraim;
9Ben Deker, in Makaz, in Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh, and Elon Beth Hanan;
10Ben Hesed, in Arubboth (Socoh and all the land of Hepher belonged to him);
11Ben Abinadab, in all the height of Dor (he had Taphath, Solomon’s daughter, as 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 (the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead, belonged to him; and the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, sixty great cities with walls and bronze bars, belonged to him);
14Ahinadab the son of Iddo, in Mahanaim;
15Ahimaaz, in Naphtali (he also took Basemath the daughter of Solomon as 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 who was in the land.
20Judah and Israel were numerous as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and making merry.
21Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.
22Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty cors of fine flour, sixty measures of meal,
23ten head of fat cattle, twenty head of cattle out of the pastures, and one hundred sheep, besides deer, and gazelles, and roebucks, and fattened fowl.
24For he had dominion over all 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 around him.
25Judah and Israel lived safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.
26Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.
27Those officers provided food for king Solomon, and for all who came to king Solomon’s table, every man in his month. They let nothing be lacking.
28They also brought Barley and straw for the horses and swift steeds to the place where the officers were, each man according to his duty.
29God gave Solomon abundant wisdom and understanding, and very great understanding, even as the sand that is on the seashore.
30Solomon’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, Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all the nations all around.
32He spoke three thousand proverbs; and his songs numbered one thousand five.
33He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that grows out of the wall; he also spoke of animals, of birds, of creeping things, and of fish.
34People of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon, sent by all kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.
Summary
Solomon's kingdom is described at its zenith: his officials, daily provisions, and wisdom surpassing all the East. He speaks 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs, and kings come from everywhere to hear his wisdom.
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
- Jerusalem is central — site of Solomon's Temple and royal palace; capital of the united kingdom, then of Judah (southern kingdom) after the division.
- The kingdom divides after Solomon: Israel (north, capital eventually at Samaria) and Judah (south, capital Jerusalem).
- Key locations: Gibeon (Solomon's dream, ch.3), Tyre (Hiram's city in Phoenicia, chs.5-7), Mount Carmel (Elijah vs. Baal prophets, ch.18), Zarephath (Sidonian widow, ch.17), Mount Horeb/Sinai (Elijah flees, ch.19), Ramoth-gilead (Ahab's death, ch.22).
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik emphasizes that chapter 4 shows the fruit of wisdom applied to governance. Solomon's administration was not merely efficient — it produced peace, prosperity, and security for the entire nation. But Guzik also notes the seeds of trouble: the forced labor (v.6), the massive horse stalls violating Deuteronomy 17:16 (v.26), and the administrative system that weakened tribal identity. Glory and danger coexist.
- Charles Spurgeon: "Every man under his vine and under his fig tree — this is the picture of a kingdom at peace. Not merely the absence of war, but the presence of contentment. Each man has enough. Each man is secure. Each man rests in his own place without fear. This is what wise governance produces — not merely national greatness but individual flourishing. And this is what Christ's kingdom will ultimately bring: not merely salvation from hell, but every soul at rest under the shade of His grace."
Reflection
- 1. Wise leadership produces flourishing for everyone (vv.20, 25). Under Solomon's wisdom, the entire nation prospered — not just the elite. Good governance, rooted in God's wisdom, creates conditions where ordinary people can thrive. Pray for wise leaders. Be a wise leader in whatever sphere God has given you. Your wisdom (or folly) affects everyone under your influence.
- 2. God keeps His promises — fully and specifically (vv.20-21). The sand-like population, the Euphrates-to-Egypt borders, the peace on every side — these are exact fulfillments of promises made to Abraham centuries earlier. God does not forget. He does not approximate. What He promises, He delivers — in His time and in full measure.
- 3. Prosperity can contain the seeds of its own destruction (vv.6, 26). The forced labor that built Solomon's glory became the grievance that split the kingdom. The horses that demonstrated his power violated God's law for kings. Success is dangerous precisely because it feels like vindication. Examine your prosperity: is it built on practices that will eventually produce resentment, rebellion, or judgment?
- 4. Wisdom encompasses all of life (vv.32-33). Solomon's wisdom was not limited to theology or governance — he spoke of trees, beasts, birds, fish. Biblical wisdom is comprehensive: it applies to science, art, relationships, work, and nature. There is no secular/sacred divide in God's wisdom. All truth is God's truth, and all creation is His classroom.
- 5. The golden age points forward to Christ (v.25). Solomon's reign is the closest the Old Testament comes to the messianic kingdom. But it was temporary — it lasted only one generation. The permanent fulfillment awaits Christ, who is "greater than Solomon" (Matthew 12:42) and whose kingdom of peace will have no end (Isaiah 9:7).