1 Kings Chapter 4

Solomon's Princes

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.

Solomon's Twelve Officers

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 Bethshemesh, and Elonbethhanan: 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 Bethshean, which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel, from Bethshean to Abelmeholah, even unto the place that is beyond Jokneam: 13The son of Geber, in Ramothgilead; 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.

Solomon's Wealth

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 Beersheba, 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.

Solomon's Wisdom

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.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

Solomon’s Princes

1 King Solomon was king over all Israel. 2 These were the princes whom he had: Azariah the son of Zadok, the priest; 3 Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder; 4 and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the army; and Zadok and Abiathar were priests; 5 and Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers; and Zabud the son of Nathan was chief minister, the king’s friend; 6 and Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the men subject to forced labor.

Solomon’s Twelve Officers

7 Solomon 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. 8 These are their names: Ben Hur, in the hill country of Ephraim; 9 Ben Deker, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Beth Shemesh, and Elon Beth Hanan; 10 Ben Hesed, in Arubboth (to him belonged Socoh, and all the land of Hepher); 11 Ben Abinadab, in all the height of Dor (he had Taphath the daughter of Solomon as wife); 12 Baana 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; 13 Ben Geber, in Ramoth Gilead (to him belonged the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead; to him belonged the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, sixty great cities with walls and bronze bars); 14 Ahinadab the son of Iddo, in Mahanaim; 15 Ahimaaz, in Naphtali (he also took Basemath the daughter of Solomon as wife); 16 Baana the son of Hushai, in Asher and Bealoth; 17 Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar; 18 Shimei the son of Ela, in Benjamin; 19 Geber 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.

Solomon’s Prosperity

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

21 Solomon 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.

22 Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and sixty measures of meal, 23 ten head of fat cattle, and twenty head of cattle out of the pastures, and one hundred sheep, besides harts, and gazelles, and roebucks, and fattened fowl. 24 For 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. 25 Judah and Israel lived safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon. 26 Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. 27 Those 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. 28 Barley also and straw for the horses and swift steeds brought they to the place where the officers were, every man according to his duty.

Solomon’s Wisdom

29 God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and very great understanding, even as the sand that is on the seashore. 30 Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east, and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 For 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 all around. 32 He spoke three thousand proverbs; and his songs were one thousand five. 33 He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall; he spoke also of animals, and of birds, and of creeping things, and of fish. 34 There came of all peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.

Solomon’s Princes

1 So King Solomon ruled over Israel, 2 and these were his chief officials:

Azariah son of Zadok was the priest;

3 Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, a were secretaries;

Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;

4 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in charge of the army;

Zadok and Abiathar were priests;

5 Azariah son of Nathan was in charge of the governors;

Zabud son of Nathan was a priest and adviser to the king;

6 Ahishar was in charge of the palace;

and Adoniram b son of Abda was in charge of the forced labor.

Solomon’s Twelve Officers

7 Solomon had twelve governors over all Israel to provide food for the king and his household. Each one would arrange provisions for one month of the year, 8 and these were their names:

Ben-hur in the hill country of Ephraim;

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

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

11 Ben-abinadab in Naphath-dor c (Taphath, a daughter of Solomon, was his wife);

12 Baana son of Ahilud in Taanach, in Megiddo, and in all of Beth-shean next to Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah and on past Jokmeam;

13 Ben-geber in Ramoth-gilead (the villages of Jair son of Manasseh in Gilead belonged to him, as well as the region of Argob in Bashan with its sixty great cities with walls and bronze bars);

14 Ahinadab son of Iddo in Mahanaim;

15 Ahimaaz in Naphtali (he had married Basemath, a daughter of Solomon);

16 Baana son of Hushai in Asher and in Aloth;

17 Jehoshaphat son of Paruah in Issachar;

18 Shimei son of Ela in Benjamin;

19 Geber son of Uri in the land of Gilead, including the territories of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan.

There was also one governor in the land of Judah. d

Solomon’s Prosperity

20 The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore, and they were eating and drinking and rejoicing. 21 And Solomon reigned over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates e to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These kingdoms offered tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.

22 Solomon’s provisions for a single day were thirty cors of fine flour, f sixty cors of meal, g 23 ten fat oxen, twenty range oxen, and a hundred sheep, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened poultry. 24 For Solomon had dominion over everything west of the Euphrates h —over all the kingdoms from Tiphsah to Gaza—and he had peace on all sides. 25 Throughout the days of Solomon, Judah and Israel dwelt securely from Dan to Beersheba, each man under his own vine and his own fig tree.

26 Solomon had 4,000 i stalls for his chariot horses and 12,000 horses. j 27 Each month the governors in turn provided food for King Solomon and all who came to his table. They saw to it that nothing was lacking. 28 Each one also brought to the required place their quotas of barley and straw for the chariot horses and other horses.

Solomon’s Wisdom

29 And God gave Solomon wisdom, exceedingly deep insight, and understanding beyond measure, like the sand on the seashore. 30 Solomon’s wisdom was greater than that of all the men of the East, greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 He was wiser than all men—wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and wiser than Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread throughout the surrounding nations.

32 Solomon composed three thousand proverbs, and his songs numbered a thousand and five. 33 He spoke of trees, from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop growing in the wall, and he taught about animals, birds, reptiles, and fish.

34 So men of all nations came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.

Footnotes:

3 a Shisha  is also called Seraiah , Sheva , and Shavsha ; see 2 Samuel 8:17, 2 Samuel 20:25, and 1 Chronicles 18:16.
6 b Adoniram  is a variant of Adoram  and Hadoram ; see 2 Samuel 20:24 and 2 Chronicles 10:18.
11 c Or in all the heights of Dor ; Naphath-dor  is a variant of Naphoth-dor ; see Joshua 11:2.
19 d Some LXX manuscripts; Hebrew And he was the one governor in the land.
21 e Hebrew the River ; also in verse 24
22 f 30 cors  is approximately 187 bushels or 6,600 liters (probably about 5.5 tons or 5 metric tons of flour).
22 g 60 cors  is approximately 375 bushels or 13,200 liters (probably about 11 tons or 10 metric tons of meal).
24 h Or beyond the River
26 i Some LXX manuscripts (see also 2 Chronicles 9:25); Hebrew 40,000
26 j Or horsemen  or charioteers

Solomon's Princes

1And king Solomon is king over all Israel, 2and these are the heads whom he hath: Azariah son of Zadok is the priest; 3Elihoreph and Ahiah sons of Shisha are scribes; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud is remembrancer; 4and Benaiah son of Jehoiada is over the host; and Zadok and Abiathar are priests; 5and Azariah son of Nathan is over the officers; and Zabud son of Nathan is minister, friend of the king; 6And Ahishar is over the household, and Adoniram son of Abda is over the tribute.

Solomon's Twelve Officers

7And Solomon hath twelve officers over all Israel, and they have sustained the king and his household -- a month in the year is on each one for sustenance; 8and these are their names: Ben-Hur in the hill-country of Ephraim; 9Ben-Dekar in Makaz, and Shaalbim, and Beth-Shemesh, and Elon-Beth-Hanan. 10Ben-Hesed is in Aruboth, hath Sochoh and all the land of Hepher; 11Ben-Abinadab hath all the elevation of Dor, Taphath daughter of Solomon became his wife. 12Baana Ben-Ahilud hath Taanach and Megiddo, and all Beth-Shean, which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel, from Beth-Shean unto Abel-Meholah, unto beyond Jokneam. 13Ben-Geber, in Ramoth-Gilead, hath the small towns of Jair son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead; he hath a portion of Argob that is in Bashan, sixty great cities with wall and brazen bar. 14Ahinadab son of Iddo hath Mahanaim. 15Ahimaaz is in Naphtali; he also hath taken Basemath daughter of Solomon for a wife. 16Baanah Ben-Hushai is in Asher, and in Aloth. 17Jehoshaphat Ben-Paruah is in Issachar. 18Shimei Ben-Elah is in Benjamin. 19Geber Ben-Uri is in the land of Gilead, the land of Sihon king of the Amorite, and of Og king of Bashan: and one officer who is in the land.

Solomon's Wealth

20Judah and Israel are many, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude, eating and drinking and rejoicing.

21And Solomon hath been ruling over all the kingdoms, from the River to the land of the Philistines and unto the border of Egypt: they are bringing nigh a present, and serving Solomon, all days of his life.

22And the provision of Solomon for one day is thirty cors of flour, and sixty cors of meal; 23ten fat oxen, and twenty feeding oxen, and a hundred sheep, apart from hart, and roe, and fallow-deer, and fatted beasts of the stalls, 24for he is ruling over all beyond the river, from Tiphsah and unto Gaza, over all the kings beyond the river, and he hath peace from all his servants round about. 25And Judah dwelleth -- and Israel -- in confidence, each under his vine, and under his fig-tree, from Dan even unto Beer-Sheba, all the days of Solomon. 26And Solomon hath forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. 27And these officers have sustained king Solomon and every one drawing near unto the table of king Solomon, each in his month; they let nothing be lacking. 28And the barley and the straw, for horses and for dromedaries, they bring in unto the place where they are, each according to his ordinance.

Solomon's Wisdom

29And God giveth wisdom to Solomon, and understanding, very much, and breadth of heart, as the sand that is on the edge of the sea; 30and the wisdom of Solomon is greater than the wisdom of any of the sons of the east, and than all the wisdom of Egypt; 31and he is wiser than all men, than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, sons of Mahol, and his name is in all the nations round about. 32And he speaketh three thousand similes, and his songs are five, and the chief one; 33and he speaketh concerning the trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon, even unto the hyssop that is coming out in the wall, and he speaketh concerning the cattle, and concerning the fowl, and concerning the creeping things, and concerning the fishes, 34and there come out of all the peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth who have heard of his wisdom.

The F.O.G Commentary:

1What is the meaning of 1 Kings 4?

1.1Introduction to 1 Kings 4

1.2Context of 1 Kings 4

1.3Ancient Key Word Study

1.4Compare & Contrast

1.51 Kings 4 Unique Insights

1.61 Kings 4 Connections to Yeshua

1.71 Kings 4 Scriptural Echoes

1.81 Kings 4 Devotional

1.9Did You Know

What is the meaning of 1 Kings 4?

Introduction to 1 Kings 4

1 Kings 4 presents a masterful portrait of Solomon’s kingdom at its zenith, showcasing the fulfillment of God’s promises to both David and Abraham. This chapter serves as a testament to divine faithfulness and provides a glimpse into what godly leadership and prosperity look like when aligned with heavenly wisdom. The detailed administrative structure, the extent of Solomon’s wisdom, and the prosperity of his kingdom paint a picture of shalom (peace) that prefigures the coming Messianic age.

Context of 1 Kings 4

Within the immediate context of 1 Kings, this chapter follows Solomon’s legendary request for wisdom (1 Kings 3) and demonstrates the practical outworking of that divine gift. It serves as a bridge between Solomon’s ascension to the throne and the construction of the Temple, showing how God blessed him with the administrative and intellectual capacity to govern effectively.

In the broader biblical narrative, this chapter fulfills God’s promises to Abraham about his descendants becoming a great nation (Genesis 15:5) and to David about establishing his throne (2 Samuel 7:12-16). It also provides a historical template for understanding prophetic passages about the Messianic kingdom, where peace and prosperity will extend “from sea to sea” (Zechariah 9:10).

Ancient Key Word Study

נִצָּב (nitsav) – “appointed officers” (v. 5,7): This term derives from a root meaning “to stand” or “to station.” In administrative contexts, it carries the connotation of being firmly established in authority with divine backing, similar to how Joseph was “stationed” over Egypt.
כִּלְכֵּל (kilkel) – “provided” (v. 7): This verb goes beyond simple provision, suggesting sustained, comprehensive care. It shares the same root as כָּל (kol, meaning “all”), implying complete provision that leaves no need unmet.
חָכְמָה (chokhmah) – “wisdom” (v. 29): Solomon’s wisdom wasn’t merely intellectual but practical and spiritual. The word encompasses skill, expertise, and divine insight, similar to the wisdom given to the craftsmen of the Tabernacle.
רֹחַב לֵב (rochav lev) – “breadth of heart” (v. 29): Literally “wide heart,” this phrase describes emotional and intellectual capacity. The heart (לֵב) in Hebrew thought was the seat of understanding and decision-making.
מָשָׁל (mashal) – “proverbs” (v. 32): More than just wise sayings, these were authoritative declarations that carried governing power, reflecting Solomon’s role as both sage and king.
לָבֶטַח (labetach) – “safely” (v. 25): This term implies security based on trust, specifically trust in divine protection. It’s the same word used in messianic prophecies about the future age of peace.
גֶּפֶן (gefen) – “vine” (v. 25): Beyond its literal meaning, the vine symbolized prosperity and peace in ancient Near Eastern culture, particularly when paired with the fig tree.
תְּאֵנָה (te’enah) – “fig tree” (v. 25): Together with the vine, this formed an idiom for perfect peace and prosperity, later used by prophets to describe the messianic age.

Compare & Contrast

Verse 7’s use of נִצָּב (nitsav) instead of שָׂר (sar) for officers emphasizes divine appointment rather than mere human authority, echoing Joseph’s position in Egypt.
The phrase “from Dan to Beersheba” in verse 25 deliberately mirrors language from the period of the judges to show fulfillment of national unity.
Solomon’s “breadth of heart like the sand” uses חוֹל (chol) for sand rather than עָפָר (afar, dust) to emphasize vastness rather than humility.
The description of peace using vine and fig tree imagery was chosen over military terminology to emphasize the spiritual nature of true security.
The number of proverbs (3,000) and songs (1,005) uses specific numbers rather than general terms to authenticate Solomon’s supernatural wisdom.
The phrase “all the kingdoms” emphasizes universal recognition rather than just neighboring nations, prefiguring Messianic rule.
The monthly provision system description uses technical administrative terminology to show divine order in governance.

1 Kings 4 Unique Insights

The chapter presents a fascinating parallel between Solomon’s kingdom and the Garden of Eden. Just as Adam was given wisdom to name and categorize creation, Solomon’s wisdom extended to understanding plants, animals, and the natural order. The Midrash Rabbah notes that Solomon’s ability to speak of trees “from the cedar to the hyssop” reflects restoration of Adam’s pre-fall knowledge of creation.

Can a Bible Come to Life over a Coffee?

This biblical entry has a unique origin story. Find out how it came to be—and why your visit today is about so much more than words. Get your coffee ready—God’s about to visit. But will you open the door for Him?

I’m ready

Rabbi Saadia Gaon (882-942 CE) observed that the twelve administrative districts of Solomon’s kingdom corresponded to the twelve tribes of Israel, but were deliberately arranged differently to break down tribal barriers and promote national unity. This administrative wisdom prefigures the Messiah’s future role in unifying all believers, both Jew and Gentile, into one kingdom.

The Targum Jonathan adds an interesting insight regarding Solomon’s wisdom exceeding that of the “sons of the East,” suggesting that his understanding incorporated but transcended the wisdom traditions of surrounding nations, pointing to the universal scope of Messianic wisdom that would later be revealed in Yeshua.

The perfect peace described in verse 25, where every man sat under his vine and fig tree, was seen by early Jewish commentators as a preview of the Messianic age. The Pesikta Rabbati connects this to Micah 4:4, seeing Solomon’s reign as a partial fulfillment of the ultimate peace that would come through the Messiah.

1 Kings 4 Connections to Yeshua

The administrative perfection and peace of Solomon’s kingdom provides a shadow of Messiah Yeshua’s coming millennial reign. Just as Solomon appointed twelve officers over Israel, Yeshua promised His twelve disciples they would judge the twelve tribes (Matthew 19:28).

Solomon’s supernatural wisdom, which drew people from all nations, prefigures how all nations will stream to Jerusalem to learn from the Messiah (Isaiah 2:2-3). Yeshua declared Himself “greater than Solomon” (Matthew 12:42), indicating that the wisdom and peace of Solomon’s kingdom was merely a preview of the perfect shalom that His reign would bring.

1 Kings 4 Scriptural Echoes

This chapter resonates with numerous biblical passages. The peace and prosperity described echo the Abrahamic covenant’s promises (Genesis 15:18-21). The administrative structure recalls Moses’ appointment of leaders (Exodus 18:21-26).

The phrase “like the sand by the sea” connects to God’s promises to Abraham (Genesis 22:17) and Jacob (Genesis 32:12). The image of everyone under their vine and fig tree is picked up by later prophets (Micah 4:4, Zechariah 3:10) as a picture of messianic peace.

1 Kings 4 Devotional

This chapter challenges us to recognize God’s hand in establishing order and prosperity in our lives. Solomon’s wisdom came through humble request, reminding us that true wisdom begins with acknowledging our need for divine guidance. His administrative excellence shows that spiritual maturity should manifest in practical competence.

The peace and prosperity described here weren’t ends in themselves but were meant to glorify God and bless others. Similarly, we should view our resources and abilities as tools for kingdom purposes. The chapter encourages us to seek both spiritual and practical wisdom, knowing that God delights in giving good gifts to His children who ask (James 1:5).

Did You Know

The amount of food prepared daily for Solomon’s table would have fed approximately 15,000-20,000 people, demonstrating extraordinary hospitality.
The phrase “under their vine and fig tree” became a proverbial expression for peace and prosperity throughout the ancient Near East.
Solomon’s 3,000 proverbs exceed the 31 chapters preserved in the biblical book of Proverbs, suggesting many were meant for specific administrative purposes.
The twelve administrative districts didn’t exactly match tribal boundaries, showing Solomon’s wisdom in promoting national unity over tribal identity.
The reference to “sand on the seashore” uses the same Hebrew phrase used to describe Abraham’s descendants, connecting Solomon’s wisdom to covenant fulfillment.
The celebration of Solomon’s botanical knowledge reflects an ancient Near Eastern royal tradition of maintaining exotic gardens as displays of wisdom and power.
The mention of “all the kingdoms from the River” uses diplomatic language that would have been recognized throughout the ancient Near East as claiming legitimate sovereignty.
The description of peace extending “from Dan to Beersheba” covers approximately 150 miles, the entire length of Israel.

Have you been blessed?

This website has over 46,000 Biblical resources, made possible through the generosity of the 0.03% of supporters like you. If you’ve been blessed today, please consider sending a gift.

send a gift

Bible Themes

Jean Paul Joseph

After a dramatic early morning encounter with King Jesus, I just couldn’t put my Bible down. The F.O.G took a hold of me and this website was born. What is the F.O.G?

Articles: 46924

0 Comments

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments