1 Kings Chapter 4
1 Kings 4:1 "So king Solomon was king over all Israel."
“All Israel”:
Solomon was in firm control of all of the people.
Israel’s squabbling factions had fallen in line behind the king.
Verses
constitute a list of “Solomon’s” chief administrators. Solomon ruled over all twelve tribes.
After his reign, the twelve tribes will be broken into the ten tribes and two tribes. The ten will be spoken of as Israel, and the two as Judah.
1 Kings 4:2 "And these [were] the princes which he had; Azariah the son of Zadok the priest,"
“Azariah the son of Zadok”:
Actually, he was the son of Ahimaaz and the grandson of Zadok, as “son of” can mean “descendant of” (1 Chron.
In David’s roster of officials, the army commander came first (2 Sam. 8:16; 20:23). Under Solomon, the priest and other officials preceded the military leader.
Princes in this instance probably are speaking of the men in authority in the government of Solomon.
They were his subordinates but were over the people.
In this particular instance, Azariah is actually the
Azariah was a fairly common name of the priests who were in the lineage of Eleazar. "Eleazar" and "Azariah" both mean helped by Jehovah.
This could possibly mean that Azariah was priest to Solomon.
If he is not priest then; he could be a spiritual adviser.
We can assume that he was high priest, because his name is the first one on the list given here.
1 Kings 4:3 "Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder."
“Elihoreph and Ahiah”:
Probably they prepared royal edicts and kept official records. “Recorder”:
Likely he maintained the records of all important daily affairs in the kingdom. This listing is showing who did what job in the service of Solomon.
The scribes wrote letters and proclamations from the king.
They kept accounts as well.
Jehoshaphat had done this same job for David.
He wrote down the things the king had said.
He kept records for the king himself, and kept records of all that was done.
1 Kings 4:4 "And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada [was] over the host: and Zadok and Abiathar [were] the priests:"
“Priests”:
Zadok and Abiathar had served together as
Although Abiathar had been removed from priestly service and exiled
We remember that Benaiah became the commander of the army, when he killed Joab. Zadok and Abiathar had served David.
Abiathar was sent away and removed from serving as priest.
This just means that during the reign of Solomon (the beginning), he acted as priest.
Zadok had served David and was now getting old.
This is perhaps, the reason for naming Azariah priest.
1 Kings 4:5 "And Azariah the son of Nathan [was] over the officers; and Zabud the son of Nathan [was] principal officer, [and] the king's friend:"
The twelve officers who provided food for Solomon's household after mentioned.
"And Zabud the son of Nathan":
Another of the sons of Nathan the prophet: for he being a principal instrument of settling Solomon on the throne, had interest enough to promote his sons to the chief places of honor and trust.
And this here,
"Was principal officer, and the king's friend":
A chief minister about him, very intimate with him, that kept him company, privately conversed with him, was in his secrets, and admitted to great privacy and nearness to him.
It is obvious this Azariah is not the same one mentioned (in verse 2).
This was a very common name.
All we know for sure about this Azariah is just what we read here.
He was the captain of Solomon's guards.
Zabud had the honor of being called the king's friend.
1 Kings 4:6 "And Ahishar [was] over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda [was] over the tribute."
“Over the household”:
One who managed Solomon’s properties, both lands and buildings (16:9; 18:3; 2 Kings 18:18, 37; 19:2).
“Over the tribute”:
One who oversaw the conscripted workers of Solomon
Ahishar was the steward, or keeper, of the household help.
He was over the entire working staff of the palace, or household.
Adoniram was in charge of forced labor and collecting the tribute.
Verses
Solomon had an extensive administrative system.
The “governors” of these districts were responsible for raising revenue for sustaining the government and specifically providing for the needs of the royal household
These verses contain a roster of “Solomon’s” district governors.
1 Kings 4:7 "And 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."
“Twelve officers”:
Solomon divided the land into 12 geographical districts (different from the tribal boundaries), each supervised by a deputy.
Each month a different deputy collected provisions in his district to supply the king and his staff.
These twelve were like superintendents, who took care of the need for food for this mass of people.
Each of these men took a month that they were responsible for the food.
1 Kings 4:8 "And these [are] their names: The son of Hur, in mount Ephraim:"
Or rather the names of their fathers; for of many of them not their own names but their fathers' names are given, as being well known.
"The son of Hur, in Mount Ephraim”:
A fruitful country in the tribe of Ephraim, from whence this officer was to furnish the king with provisions for one month in the year.
This is the beginning of the list of those who provided the provision for the king's table.
Mount Ephraim is a very fertile land.
1 Kings 4:9 "The son of Dekar, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and
A place in the tribe of Dan, on the borders of it.
"And in Shaalbim, and
1 Kings 4:10 "The son of Hesed, in Aruboth; to him [pertained] Sochoh, and all the land of Hepher:"
Which seems to have been in the tribe of Judah by the places that follow. "To him pertained Sochoh”:
There were two places of this name in that tribe (Joshua 15:35). "And all the land of Hepher”:
There was an Hepher in the land of Canaan, which was a royal city in the times of the Canaanites, Joshua 12:17.
And there was a Hepher, the name of a man, a descendant of Judah, to whom very probably, this land belonged (1 Chron. 4:6).
Unless it can be thought to be the portion of land given to the daughters of Hepher (Joshua 17:3).
1 Kings 4:11 "The son of Abinadab, in all the region of Dor; which had Taphath the daughter of Solomon to wife:"
The same with Dor and her towns, belonged to the half tribe of Manasseh, on this side of Jordan (Joshua 17:11).
"Which had Taphath the daughter of Solomon to wife":
Not when he was first put into this office, when, in all probability, Solomon had not a daughter marriageable.
But behaving well in it, in process of time he bestowed a daughter of his on him. In (verse 11), we see that the son of Abinadab married the daughter of Solomon. This tells us that this was later on in Solomon's life.
1 Kings 4:12 "Baana the son of Ahilud; [to him pertained] Taanach and Megiddo, and all
All which were places in the tribe of Manasseh (Joshua 17:11).
"Which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel":
So described to distinguish it, as is thought, from Zaretan (in Joshua 3:16); and the country this officer presided over reached also.
"From
The two first of these were in the tribe of Manasseh and the last in the tribe of Zebulun (Joshua 19:11).
1 Kings 4:13 "The son of Geber, in
A city in the tribe of Gad, and was a city of refuge (Joshua 20:8).
"To him pertained the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead":
Of which (see Numbers 32:41).
"To him also pertained the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, threescore great cities with walls and brasen bars":
Called by Josephus Ragaba, beyond Jordan (see Deut. 3:4).
This is speaking of the area where the provisions came from.
It included 60 cities.
All of these cities were walled cities.
1 Kings 4:14 "Ahinadab the son of Iddo [had] Mahanaim:"
This is another city on the other side Jordan, where both
This and the places adjacent must be very fruitful, since this officer was to furnish the king with provisions for a month once a year from there.
1 Kings 4:15 "Ahimaaz [was] in Naphtali; he also took Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wife:"
Out of that tribe he made a monthly provision annually.
"He also took Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wife":
Another daughter of Solomon's, in the course of time (see 1 Kings 4:11).
We have not seen a list of the children of Solomon.
We know of two daughters, he had from this lesson.
Basmath is the second daughter of Solomon.
Ahimaaz married her.
1 Kings 4:16 "Baanah the son of Hushai [was] in Asher and in Aloth:"
In the tribe of Asher.
This was a very plentiful tribe, particularly for oil.
This officer was perhaps the son of Hushai, the Archite, David's friend, and it may be promoted for his sake.
"And in Aloth":
Which signifies ascensions, mountains went upon by steps; near to this place was a high mountain, called the ladder of Tyre.
Perhaps that and the parts adjacent may be meant here.
1 Kings 4:17 "Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar:"
In the tribe of Issachar; he had the whole tribe at his command to make a monthly provision out of for the king once a year, as had the preceding officer and the following one.
We are seeing, in these Scriptures, the names of the people, who served Solomon in a place of importance.
We are also seeing that they did not all live in Jerusalem.
1 Kings 4:18 "Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin:"
So described, to distinguish him from that Shimei that cursed David, who was of the same tribe (see 2 Sam. 16:5).
1 Kings 4:19 "Geber 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."
Which was beyond Jordan, and inhabited by the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh; this must be understood of all the country, excepting what was under the jurisdiction of the son of Geber (1 Kings 4:13); and which had been:
"The country of Sihon king of the Amorites, and of Og king of Bashan":
Until it was taken from them by Moses (Num. 21:25).
"And he was the only officer which was in the land":
Which is not true of Geber; for there was another officer in the land of Gilead besides him, the son of Geber before observed.
Unless it should be rendered "in that land", in that part of the land he had.
But then the same might have been observed of all the rest of the officers.
The words may be rendered best, "and there was one officer in the land"; which some understand of one officer over all the rest, Azariah the son of Nathan (1 Kings 4:5).
But it seems best what other Jewish writers say, that this was another officer appointed for the intercalated month; there was an officer in the land fixed for that month to make provision out of the land.
Perhaps anywhere, where he pleased, being not limited to any certain place.
These twelve providers for Solomon's family were emblems of the twelve apostles of Christ, appointed to provide food for his family, the church; and if you add to them the Apostle Paul, it will make thirteen, as this officer did.
Shimei was a Benjamite name.
Gilead, mentioned here, is on the eastern side of the Jordan River.
The land, spoken of in the verse above, is east of the Jordan.
Verses
These descriptions of prosperity, safety, and peace reveal how extensively and extravagantly God blessed Solomon.
Being “as numerous as the sand by the sea” recalls the LORD’s covenant with Abraham (Gen. 22:17), and figuratively suggests population growth.
“From Tiphsah” (on the Euphrates River to the northeast), “even to Gaza” (on the western coast in the southern part of Philistia), speaks to the breadth of Solomon’s empire.
1 Kings 4:20 "Judah and Israel [were] many, as the sand which [is] by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry."
“Many, as the sand … by the sea”:
A clear allusion to the LORD’s promise to Abraham (in Gen. 22:17).
The early years of Solomon’s reign, characterized by population growth, peace and prosperity, were a foreshadowing of the blessings that will prevail in Israel when the Abrahamic covenant is fulfilled.
The great growth and prosperity of Solomon’s kingdom attest the faithfulness of God in carrying out the provisions of the Abrahamic covenant through the line of David.
There was peace and great prosperity during the time Solomon reigned.
Israel and Judah made up the twelve tribes.
The prosperity was felt by all of the Hebrews, not just Solomon's family.
It truly was a time to eat, drink and be merry.
Verses
The wide dominion of Solomon’s kingdom and the splendor of life at his court are clearly seen here (compare 2 Chron. 9:26).
1 Kings 4:21 "And 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."
“All kingdoms” The borders of the kingdoms which Solomon influenced echoed the LORD’s promise to Abram (in Gen. 15:18).
However, Solomon’s reign was not the fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant for 3 reasons:
(1)Israel still only lived in the land “from Dan even to Beersheba” (verse 25). Abraham’s descendants did not inhabit all the land promised to Abraham;
(2)The
(3)According to (Numbers 34:6), the Mediterranean sea is to be the western border of the Land of Promise, indicating that Tyre was to be a part of the Promised Land. However, Hiram king of Tyre was a sovereign who entered into a bilateral or parity treaty (between equals), with Solomon
The river mentioned here, is the Euphrates.
The Mediterranean sea was the western border of Solomon's kingdom.
This is speaking of a peaceful kingdom where Solomon was highly thought of.
The people brought him presents.
He was king over all the land and they served him willingly.
This was a time of peace that they had not known before.
1 Kings 4:22 "And Solomon's provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal,"
“Provision”:
I.e., the daily provisions for Solomon’s palace.
Hebrew "cors"; each of which contained ten ephods (see Exodus 16:36). So this provision was sufficient for near three thousand persons. "Meal":
Of a coarser sort, for common use and for the inferior sort.
1 Kings 4:23 "Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and a hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallow deer, and fatted fowl."
Such as were kept up in the stall and fatted. "And twenty oxen out of the pastures":
Which were killed as they were taken from thence, and not put up to be fed. "And a hundred sheep":
Out of the folds.
"Beside harts, and roebucks, and fallow deer":
Which were clean creatures, according to the Levitical law (Deut. 14:5).
These were hunted in fields, or taken out of the park, or were presents from other countries.
So that here was plenty of beef, mutton, and venison: for the spiritual application of this to the antitypical Solomon, and his provisions (see Matt. 22:4).
"And fatted fowl":
Such as we call capons (a castrated domestic cock fattened for eating).
Some Jewish writers, because of the likeness of sound in the word here used, take them to be Barbary fowls, or such as were brought from that country.
There is a sort of birds called which were without a voice that neither heard men, nor knew their voice.
We see from this, that the people who worked in and around the household of Solomon, including his body guards and officers, would have numbered well over ten thousand.
The food, mentioned above, would feed somewhere between ten and fifteen thousand people abundantly.
1 Kings 4:24 "For 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."
“Tiphsah … Azzah”:
Tiphsah was located on the west bank of the Euphrates and Azzah (Gaza), on the southwestern Mediterranean coast.
These towns represented the northeast and southwest points of Solomon’s influence.
We see that a government, which was over as many subjects as Solomon's was, would have to have a very large number of people working directly for him.
The food was just one expenditure that they had.
We must remember that there are millions of people under the rule of Solomon at this time.
Probably, a few thousand of the men he fed, were his personal army that guarded Solomon.
There was no war.
One reason for this was the power and authority that Solomon had.
1 Kings 4:25 "And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to
Dwelling “under his vine and his fig tree”:
Was the ideal state for a Hebrew person, symbolic of daily happiness through God’s blessing (Joel 2:22; Micah 4:4).
During the 40 year reign of Solomon, there was peace in the land.
The men could stay at home and work the vineyards and the fig trees, because there was no war to fight.
1 Kings 4:26 "And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen."
“Had forty thousand stalls”:
Though the Hebrew text reads 40,000, this was probably a copyist’s error in transcribing the text, and it should read 4,000 (as in 2 Chron. 9:25).
Solomon’s accumulation of horses and chariots violated God’s prohibition (in Deuteronomy 17:16).
This huge number of horsemen, chariots, and horses just show the tremendous wealth of Solomon.
This could very well be the reason there was peace in the land.
He had plenty of war machinery to put down any uprising.
No one would dare come against Solomon in war.
1 Kings 4:27 "And 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."
The twelve before mentioned; and this is repeated here, after the account of his horses, to observe, that they provided for them also, as well as for the sake of what follows.
That the large provision made by them was not only for Solomon's family and domestic servants, but for strangers from different arts, who came upon messages to him, or to visit him, and to behold the splendor of his court.
"And for all that came unto Solomon's table":
Which was an open table for all comers, as there were some from all parts of the earth (1 Kings 4:34).
"Every man in his month":
Each of the twelve officers provided food in the month assigned to him.
"They lacked nothing":
They always had enough to supply the king with, and they failed not in the performance of their duty, nor came short of their salaries, being fully and punctually paid them.
This is speaking of the officers we have read of earlier in the lesson.
Of course, they had men under them, who took care of the actual work.
Providing provender for this large group would not be the work of one man, but of large groups of people working under the officer.
1 Kings 4:28 "Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries brought they unto the place where [the officers] were, every man according to his charge."
Or rather mules, by comparing the passage with (2 Chronicles 9:24).
The particular kind of creatures meant is not agreed on; though all take them to be a swifter sort of creatures than horses; or the swifter of horses, as race horses or posts horses.
Barley was for their provender, that being the common food of horses in those times and countries, and in others, as Bochart has shown from various writers.
And in the Misnah it is called the food of beasts.
And Solomon is said to have every day his own horses.
Two hundred thousand Neapolitan measures of called "tomboli"; so the Roman soldiers.
The horses were allowed a certain quantity of barley every morning, and sometimes they had money instead of it, which they therefore called "hordiarium".
And the "straw" was for the litter of them.
"Brought they unto the place where the officers were":
Not where the king was, as the Vulgate Latin version; where Solomon was, as the Arabic version, that is, in Jerusalem.
"Where the officers were":
In their respective jurisdictions, as our version supplies it, which would be bringing them to themselves; but to the place where the beasts were.
Whether in Jerusalem, or in any, other parts of the kingdom.
"Every man according to his charge":
Which he was to perform monthly.
This is probably speaking of barley and straw for the horses.
"Dromedaries" means a relay of animals on a
These were probably mules.
This means there were officers posted in various places and they had fast animals they used to run the post to bring messages to the king.
The horses and men were stationed throughout the land and they were provided food, and food for the horses, at their outposts.
Each provider had a place they served.
1 Kings 4:29 "And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that [is] on the sea shore."
“Wisdom” in the Old Testament begins with the fear of the LORD (Prov. 1:7; Eccl.
The Hebrew word for wisdom means “skill”:
Living life according to the patterns God built into creation.
So wisdom is best understood as the right use of knowledge, knowing what, when, and how to do something.
God also gave Solomon a “largeness of” (“compassionate”), “heart”.
Jesus described Himself as one greater than Solomon (Matt. 12:42), for in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2:3).
In earlier verses, we learned that Solomon's wisdom and understanding were placed in his heart in his
Solomon's wisdom from God had brought all of this together. God blessed him in every way. He was wise and powerful, but had a tremendously understanding heart as well.
1 Kings 4:30 "And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt."
“The east … Egypt”:
The men to the East of Israel in Mesopotamia and Arabia (Job 1:3), and in Egypt were known for their wisdom.
Egypt had been renowned for learning and science, as well as culture.
Solomon’s wisdom was superior to all at home or abroad (verse 31).
The people from the east have always been thought of as wise.
We read of the wise men from the east that came to see Jesus.
Matthew 2:1 "Now when Jesus was born in
The wisdom of Egypt was worldly in nature.
Some of the schools in America today are still studying things that originated in Egypt.
Geometry, astronomy, and much of medicine are some of the things.
Embalming of the dead came from Egypt as well.
1 Kings 4:31 "For 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."
“Ethan the Ezrahite” was likely the same Ethan originally appointed by David as one of the leaders among the temple musicians (1 Chron. 15:19).
He also wrote (Psalm 89).
“Sons of Mahol”:
This probably meant “singers,” a guild of musicians who created sacred songs.
After studying these 4 people mentioned above, I would say they were thought of as very wise people.
A standard that was set for wisdom in the land until Solomon's wisdom far surpassed theirs.
There are many opinions of who they were. Some believe they are all Ezrahites.
Some believe the name Mahol is speaking of them being musicians and singers.
"Mahol" means a dance.
Two of the Psalms, (chapter 88 and 89), speak of Ezrahite in their title.
The only part of this that pertains to our lesson, is the fact that they were thought of as very wise, but not as wise as Solomon.
Verses
Solomon’s wisdom and creative genius was exceeded only by Jesus Christ (Matt. 12:42).
Besides his “proverbs” and “songs,” he wrote the Books of Proverbs, Song of Solomon, and Ecclesiastes.
Kings in the ancient Near East would sponsor “wisdom conferences”, where the wisest people would gather to discuss life’s patterns and problems.
1 Kings 4:32 "And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five."
“Proverbs … songs”:
Hundreds of Solomon’s proverbs have been preserved in the book of Proverbs.
One of his songs is the Song of Solomon.
Wise Solomon wrote most of the “proverbs”.
As for “Songs,” two psalms (72 and 127), and the Song of Solomon are traditionally ascribed to Solomon.
Solomon has also been credited traditionally with the writing of Ecclesiastes.
Because of his vast knowledge and wisdom, his literary productions cover every area of life (verse 33), and Solomon is therefore sought out by people from all areas.
Solomon’s prestige and honor grew all the more
This is an outstanding accomplishment by anyone's standards.
The book of Proverbs in the Bible is a tremendous example of the knowledge and wisdom that was bestowed upon him.
1 Kings 4:33 "And 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."
“Trees … beasts … fowl”:
Solomon described and taught about all kinds of plant and animal life e.g. (Prov.
This is explaining to us, that his wisdom was not in just one field of knowledge. He had been taught by one of the greatest song writers ever, his father king David. He had every advantage to accumulate learning that was available at that time. He was the son of a king.
A person can be filled with knowledge (accumulated learning), and still not be wise. Solomon had experienced the fact first hand that wisdom is a gift from God.
He had knowledge and wisdom in abundance.
He knew about nature and about created things.
His wisdom was a gift of the Spirit of God.
He knew about the earth, sky and the sea.
He knew of God's creations in them all.
1 Kings 4:34 "And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom."
“Came of all people”:
Solomon acquired an international reputation for his wisdom.
Many important visitors came from faraway places to learn from Solomon’s wisdom
His wisdom so far surpassed the normal man that kings from all over the known world came to partake of his wise sayings.
Isn't it strange, even today, people from all over the world study the Proverbs penned by Solomon that originated from God?
His wisdom was a gift from God.
1 Kings Chapter 4 Questions
1.King Solomon was king over all __________.
2.Who are princes speaking of in verse 2?
3."Azariah" and ____________ both mean “helped by Jehovah”.
4.Why can we assume that Azariah was high priest?
5.What was the duty of the scribe?
6.Who had been the recorder for Solomon?
7.When had Benaiah become commander of the army?
8.What had happened to Abiathar?
9.Who was captain of the guard for Solomon?
10.Who had the honor of being called the king's friend?
11.Who was over the household help?
12._____________ was in charge of collecting the tribute.
13.How many daughters of Solomon are mentioned in this lesson?
14.Shimei was a _________ name.
15.How could we describe Judah and Israel during Solomon's reign?
16.This time was a time to _____, __________, and be ________.
17.Where were the boundaries of Solomon's reign?
18.How much flour was needed for one day for Solomon?
19.How many people will the food (mentioned in verses 22 and 23), feed?
20.Why was it necessary for Solomon to have so many in his employ?
21.What is meant by verse 25?
22.How long did Solomon reign?
23.How many stalls of horses did Solomon have?
24.Who provided food for Solomon and his people?
25.The barley and straw were for the ___________.
26.What does "dromedaries" mean?
27.What three things do we read of (in verse 29), that God gave Solomon?
28.Verse 30 says, his wisdom excelled whose?
29.What wisdom has Egypt imparted to the world?
30.Embalming of the dead came from _________.
31.What observation did the author make about the 4 men in verse 31?
32.How many proverbs did Solomon speak?
33.How many songs did he write?
34.What is knowledge?
35.Where does wisdom come from?
36.Why did kings come to hear his wise sayings?
37.His wisdom was a ________ from _____.