7 And Solomon H8010 had twelve H8147 H6240 officers H5324 over all Israel, H3478 which provided victuals H3557 for the king H4428 and his household: H1004 each man H259 his month H2320 in a year H8141 made provision. H3557
Now the children H1121 of Israel H3478 after their number, H4557 to wit, the chief H7218 fathers H1 and captains H8269 of thousands H505 and hundreds, H3967 and their officers H7860 that served H8334 the king H4428 in any matter H1697 of the courses, H4256 which came in H935 and went out H3318 month H2320 by month H2320 throughout all the months H2320 of the year, H8141 of every H259 course H4256 were twenty H6242 and four H702 thousand. H505 Over the first H7223 course H4256 for the first H7223 month H2320 was Jashobeam H3434 the son H1121 of Zabdiel: H2068 and in his course H4256 were twenty H6242 and four H702 thousand. H505 Of the children H1121 of Perez H6557 was the chief H7218 of all the captains H8269 of the host H6635 for the first H7223 month. H2320 And over the course H4256 of the second H8145 month H2320 was Dodai H1737 an Ahohite, H266 and of his course H4256 was Mikloth H4732 also the ruler: H5057 in his course H4256 likewise were twenty H6242 and four H702 thousand. H505 The third H7992 captain H8269 of the host H6635 for the third H7992 month H2320 was Benaiah H1141 the son H1121 of Jehoiada, H3077 a chief H7218 priest: H3548 and in his course H4256 were twenty H6242 and four H702 thousand. H505 This is that Benaiah, H1141 who was mighty H1368 among the thirty, H7970 and above the thirty: H7970 and in his course H4256 was Ammizabad H5990 his son. H1121 The fourth H7243 captain for the fourth H7243 month H2320 was Asahel H6214 the brother H251 of Joab, H3097 and Zebadiah H2069 his son H1121 after H310 him: and in his course H4256 were twenty H6242 and four H702 thousand. H505 The fifth H2549 captain H8269 for the fifth H2549 month H2320 was Shamhuth H8049 the Izrahite: H3155 and in his course H4256 were twenty H6242 and four H702 thousand. H505 The sixth H8345 captain for the sixth H8345 month H2320 was Ira H5896 the son H1121 of Ikkesh H6142 the Tekoite: H8621 and in his course H4256 were twenty H6242 and four H702 thousand. H505 The seventh H7637 captain for the seventh H7637 month H2320 was Helez H2503 the Pelonite, H6397 of the children H1121 of Ephraim: H669 and in his course H4256 were twenty H6242 and four H702 thousand. H505 The eighth H8066 captain for the eighth H8066 month H2320 was Sibbecai H5444 the Hushathite, H2843 of the Zarhites: H2227 and in his course H4256 were twenty H6242 and four H702 thousand. H505 The ninth H8671 captain for the ninth H8671 month H2320 was Abiezer H44 the Anetothite, H6069 of the Benjamites: H1145 and in his course H4256 were twenty H6242 and four H702 thousand. H505 The tenth H6224 captain for the tenth H6224 month H2320 was Maharai H4121 the Netophathite, H5200 of the Zarhites: H2227 and in his course H4256 were twenty H6242 and four H702 thousand. H505 The eleventh H6249 H6240 captain for the eleventh H6249 H6240 month H2320 was Benaiah H1141 the Pirathonite, H6553 of the children H1121 of Ephraim: H669 and in his course H4256 were twenty H6242 and four H702 thousand. H505 The twelfth H8147 H6240 captain for the twelfth H8147 H6240 month H2320 was Heldai H2469 the Netophathite, H5200 of Othniel: H6274 and in his course H4256 were twenty H6242 and four H702 thousand. H505
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 1 Kings 4
Commentary on 1 Kings 4 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 4
1Ki 4:1-6. Solomon's Princes.
1. So King Solomon was king over all Israel—This chapter contains a general description of the state and glory of the Hebrew kingdom during the more flourishing or later years of his reign.
2. these were the princes—or chief officers, as is evident from two of them marrying Solomon's daughters.
Azariah the son of Zadok the priest—rather, "the prince," as the Hebrew word frequently signifies (Ge 41:45; Ex 2:16; 2Sa 8:18); so that from the precedency given to his person in the list, he seems to have been prime minister, the highest in office next the king.
3. scribes—that is, secretaries of state. Under David, there had been only one [2Sa 8:17; 20:25]. The employment of three functionaries in this department indicates either improved regulations by the division of labor, or a great increase of business, occasioned by the growing prosperity of the kingdom, or a more extensive correspondence with foreign countries.
recorder—that is, historiographer, or annalist—an office of great importance in Oriental courts, and the duties of which consisted in chronicling the occurrences of every day.
4. Benaiah … was over the host—formerly captain of the guard. He had succeeded Joab as commander of the forces.
Zadok and Abiathar were the priests—Only the first discharged the sacred functions; the latter had been banished to his country seat and retained nothing more than the name of high priest.
5. over the officers—that is, the provincial governors enumerated in 1Ki 4:17-19.
principal officer, and the king's friend—perhaps president of the privy council, and Solomon's confidential friend or favorite. This high functionary had probably been reared along with Solomon. That he should heap those honors on the sons of Nathan was most natural, considering the close intimacy of the father with the late king, and the deep obligations under which Solomon personally lay to the prophet.
6. Ahishar was over the household—steward or chamberlain of the palace.
Adoniram—or Adoram (2Sa 20:24; 1Ki 12:18), or Hadoram (2Ch 10:18),
was over the tribute—not the collection of money or goods, but the levy of compulsory laborers (compare 1Ki 5:13, 14).
1Ki 4:7-21. His Twelve Officers.
7. Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel—The royal revenues were raised according to the ancient, and still, in many parts, existing usage of the East, not in money payments, but in the produce of the soil. There would be always a considerable difficulty in the collection and transmission of these tithes (1Sa 8:15). Therefore, to facilitate the work, Solomon appointed twelve officers, who had each the charge of a tribe or particular district of country, from which, in monthly rotation, the supplies for the maintenance of the king's household were drawn, having first been deposited in "the store cities" which were erected for their reception (1Ki 9:19; 2Ch 8:4, 6).
8. The son of Hur—or, as the Margin has it, Benhur, Bendekar. In the rural parts of Syria, and among the Arabs, it is still common to designate persons not by their own names, but as the sons of their fathers.
21. Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river—All the petty kingdoms between the Euphrates and the Mediterranean were tributary to him. Similar is the statement in 1Ki 4:24.
22, 23. Solomon's provision for one day—not for the king's table only, but for all connected with the court, including, besides the royal establishment, those of his royal consorts, his principal officers, his bodyguards, his foreign visitors, &c. The quantity of fine floor used is estimated at two hundred forty bushels; that of meal or common flour at four hundred eighty. The number of cattle required for consumption, besides poultry and several kinds of game (which were abundant on the mountains) did not exceed in proportion what is needed in other courts of the East.
24. from Tiphsah—that is, Thapsacus, a large and flourishing town on the west bank of the Euphrates, the name of which was derived from a celebrated ford near it, the lowest on that river.
even to Azzah—that is, Gaza, on the southwestern extremity, not far from the Mediterranean.
25. every man under his vine and … fig tree—This is a common and beautiful metaphor for peace and security (Mic 4:4; Zec 3:10), founded on the practice, still common in modern Syria, of training these fruit trees up the walls and stairs of houses, so as to make a shady arbor, beneath which the people sit and relax.
26. forty thousand stalls—for the royal mews (see on 2Ch 9:25).
28. Barley … and straw—Straw is not used for litter, but barley mixed with chopped straw is the usual fodder of horses.
dromedaries—one-humped camels, distinguished for their great fleetness.
1Ki 4:29-34. His Wisdom.
29. God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart—that is, high powers of mind, great capacity for receieving, as well as aptitude for communicating knowledge.
30. Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country—that is, the Arabians, Chaldeans, and Persians (Ge 25:6).
all the wisdom of Egypt—Egypt was renowned as the seat of learning and sciences, and the existing monuments, which so clearly describe the ancient state of society and the arts, show the high culture of the Egyptian people.
31. wiser than all men—that is, all his contemporaries, either at home or abroad.
than Ethan—or Jeduthun, of the family of Merari (1Ch 6:44).
Heman—(1Ch 15:17-19)—the chief of the temple musicians and the king's seers (1Ch 25:5); the other two are not known.
the sons of Mahol—either another name for Zerah (1Ch 2:6); or taking it as a common noun, signifying a dance, a chorus, "the sons of Mahol" signify persons eminently skilled in poetry and music.
32. he spake three thousand proverbs—embodying his moral sentiments and sage observations on human life and character.
songs … a thousand and five—Psalm 72, 127, 132, and the Song of Songs are his.
33. he spake of trees, from the cedar … to the hyssop—all plants, from the greatest to the least. The Spirit of God has seen fit to preserve comparatively few memorials of the fruits of his gigantic mind. The greater part of those here ascribed to him have long since fallen a prey to the ravages of time, or perished in the Babylonish captivity, probably because they were not inspired.