# 1 Kings 04 đź“–: Solomon's Officials and Wisdom
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#đź’¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đź“‚ Internal Notes]]
## đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
## Solomon’s Royal Court and Administrators
[[#Verse 01.]]Â King Solomon ruled over all Israel.Â
[[#Verse 02.]]Â These were his officials: Azariah son of Zadok was the priest.
[[#Verse 03.]]Â Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, wrote down what happened. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was in charge of the records.
[[#Verse 04.]] Benaiah son of Jehoiada was commander of the army. Zadok and Abiathar were priests.
[[#Verse 05.]] Azariah son of Nathan was supervisor of the district governors. Zabud son of Nathan was a priest and adviser to the king.
[[#Verse 06.]] Ahishar was supervisor of the palace. Adoniram son of Abda was supervisor of the work crews.
[[#Verse 07.]]Â Solomon had twelve district governors appointed throughout Israel who acquired supplies for the king and his palace. Each was responsible for one month in the year.Â
[[#Verse 08.]]Â These were their names: Ben Hur was in charge of the hill country of Ephraim.
[[#Verse 09.]]Â Ben Deker was in charge of Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh, and Elon Beth Hanan.
[[#Verse 10.]]Â Ben Hesed was in charge of Arubboth; he controlled Socoh and all the territory of Hepher.
[[#Verse 11.]] Ben Abinadab was in charge of Naphath Dor. (He was married to Solomon’s daughter Taphath.)
[[#Verse 12.]]Â Baana 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.
[[#Verse 13.]]Â Ben 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 sixty large walled cities with bronze bars locking their gates.
[[#Verse 14.]]Â Ahinadab son of Iddo was in charge of Mahanaim.
[[#Verse 15.]] Ahimaaz was in charge of Naphtali. (He married Solomon’s daughter Basemath.)
[[#Verse 16.]]Â Baana son of Hushai was in charge of Asher and Aloth.
[[#Verse 17.]]Â Jehoshaphat son of Paruah was in charge of Issachar.
[[#Verse 18.]]Â Shimei son of Ela was in charge of Benjamin.
[[#Verse 19.]]Â Geber 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.
### Solomon’s Wealth and Fame
[[#Verse 20.]]Â The people of Judah and Israel were as innumerable as the sand on the seashore; they had plenty to eat and drink and were happy.Â
[[#Verse 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.Â
[[#Verse 22.]] Each day Solomon’s royal court consumed thirty cors of finely milled flour, sixty cors of cereal,Â
[[#Verse 23.]] ten calves fattened in the stall, 20 calves from the pasture, and 100 sheep, not to mention rams, gazelles, deer, and well-fed birds.Â
[[#Verse 24.]] His 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.Â
[[#Verse 25.]] All 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.Â
[[#Verse 26.]] Solomon had 4,000 stalls for his chariot horses and 12,000 horses.Â
[[#Verse 27.]] The 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.Â
[[#Verse 28.]]Â Each one also brought to the assigned location his quota of barley and straw for the various horses.
[[#Verse 29.]] God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment; the breadth of his understanding was as infinite as the sand on the seashore.Â
[[#Verse 30.]]Â Solomon was wiser than all the men of the east and all the sages of Egypt.Â
[[#Verse 31.]]Â He 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.Â
[[#Verse 32.]] He composed 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs.Â
[[#Verse 33.]] He 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.Â
[[#Verse 34.]] People 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.
## đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
###### Verse 23.
###### Verse 24.
###### Verse 25.
###### Verse 26.
###### Verse 27.
###### Verse 28.
###### Verse 29.
###### Verse 30.
###### Verse 31.
###### Verse 32.
###### Verse 33.
###### Verse 34.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Solomon appointed twelve district governors, and each one provided food for the royal household for one month a year (4:7).
2. Solomon's districts did not follow tribal boundaries exactly, which helped centralize royal government.
3. Two of the district governors were Solomon's sons-in-law (4:11, 4:15).
4. Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor (4:6). He appears later as Adoram, who was stoned by Israel (12:18).
5. The daily provisions for Solomon's court included ten fattened cattle, twenty pasture-fed cattle, and a hundred sheep (4:23).
6. Solomon's rule reached from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines and the border of Egypt (4:21), echoing God's promise in Genesis 15:18.
7. The image of people as numerous as the sand by the sea (4:20) echoes God's promise to Abraham (Genesis 22:17).
8. "Each under his own vine and fig tree" (4:25) later became a prophetic picture of God's coming peace (Micah 4:4).
9. Solomon composed 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs (4:32).
10. Heman and Ethan, the wise men Solomon surpassed (4:31), are linked to the titles of Psalms 88 and 89.
## 🧠Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the King whose reign brings true peace and security. Under Solomon each family lived safely under its own vine and fig tree (4:25), but Jesus is the greater Son of David who Himself is our peace (Ephesians 2:14).
## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź’¬ Discussion Questions
1. Solomon organized capable leaders to carry the load of the kingdom (4:1-19). What does this chapter teach about leadership and delegation?
2. The people were numerous, eating, drinking, and celebrating (4:20). How does this picture show God keeping His promises to Abraham?
3. Solomon's wisdom drew people from every nation (4:34). How can God's wisdom in your life point others to Him?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- đź“– verse 20: Judah and Israel are as numerous as the sand by the sea, eating, drinking, and celebrating.
- đź“– verse 25: Everyone lives in safety under his own vine and fig tree.
- đź“– verse 29: God gives Solomon wisdom and insight as vast as the sand on the seashore.
## đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đź”— [[Genesis 22#Verse 17.|Genesis 22:17]] - Descendants as numerous as the sand.
- đź”— [[Micah 04#Verse 04.|Micah 4:4]] - Everyone will sit under his own vine and fig tree.
- đź”— [[Proverbs 01#Verse 01.|Proverbs 1:1-7]] - The proverbs of Solomon and the fear of the Lord.
- đź”— [[Matthew 12#Verse 42.|Matthew 12:42]] - Something greater than Solomon is here.
- đź”— [[Ephesians 02#Verse 14.|Ephesians 2:14]] - Christ Himself is our peace.
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
đź“ť SOAP: [[1 Kings 04 - SOAP|The Blessing of Contentment]]
## đź“‚ Internal Notes