1 So king Solomon was king over all Israel.

2 And these were the princes which he had; Azariah the son of Zadok the priest,

3 Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder.

4 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:

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:

6 And Ahishar was over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute.

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.

8 And these are their names: The son of Hur, in mount Ephraim:

9 The son of Dekar, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Bethshemesh, and Elonbethhanan:

10 The son of Hesed, in Aruboth; to him pertained Sochoh, and all the land of Hepher:

11 The son of Abinadab, in all the region of Dor; which had Taphath the daughter of Solomon to wife:

12 Baana 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:

13 The 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:

14 Ahinadab the son of Iddo had Mahanaim:

15 Ahimaaz was in Naphtali; he also took Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wife:

16 Baanah the son of Hushai was in Asher and in Aloth:

17 Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar:

18 Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin:

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.

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

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.

22 And Solomon's provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal,

23 Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallowdeer, and fatted fowl.

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.

25 And 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.

26 And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.

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.

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.

29 And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.

30 And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.

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.

32 And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.

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.

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

1 So King Solomon was king ouer all Israel.

2 And these were the Princes which he had, Azariah the sonne of Zadok, the Priest,

3 Elihoreph, and Ahiah the sonnes of Shisha, Scribes: Iehoshaphat the sonne of Ahilud the Recorder;

4 And Benaiah the sonne of Iehoiada was ouer the host: And Zadok and Abiathar were the Priests:

5 And Azariah the sonne of Nathan was ouer the officers: and Zabud the sonne of Nathan was principall officer, and the kings friend.

6 And Ahishar was ouer the houshold: and Adoniram the sonne of Abda was ouer the tribute.

7 And Solomon had twelue officers ouer all Israel, which prouided victuals for the king and his houshold: each man his moneth in a yeere made prouision.

8 And these are their names: the sonne of Hur in mount Ephraim,

9 The sonne of Dekar in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Bethshemesh, and Elon-Bethhanan.

10 The sonne of Heseb in Aruboth, to him pertained Sochoh, and all the land of Hepher;

11 The sonne of Abinadab in all the region of Dor, which had Taphath the daughter of Solomon to wife:

12 Baana the sonne of Ahilud, to him pertained Taanach and Megiddo, and all Beth-shean, which is by Zartanah beneath Iezreel, from Beth-shean to Abel-Meholah, euen vnto the place that is beyond Iokneam:

13 The sonne of Geber in Ramoth Gilead, to him pertained the townes of Iair the sonne of Manasseh, which are in Gilead: to him also pertained the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, threescore great cities, with walles, and brasen barres.

14 Ahinadab the sonne of Iddo had Mahanaim.

15 Ahimaaz was in Naphtali; he also tooke Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wife.

16 Baanah the sonne of Hushai was in Asher and in Aloth:

17 Iehoshaphat the sonne of Paruah in Issachar:

18 Shimei the sonne of Elah in Beniamin:

19 Geber the sonne of Uri was in the countrey of Gilead, in the countrey of Sihon king of the Amorites, and of Og king of Bashan; and hee was the onely officer which was in the land.

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

21 And Solomon reigned ouer all kingdoms from the riuer vnto the land of the Philistines, and vnto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and serued Solomon all the dayes of his life.

22 And Solomons prouision for one day, was thirtie measures of fine floure, and threescore measures of meale,

23 Ten fat oxen, and twentie oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheepe, beside Harts, and Roe-buckes, and fallow Deere, and fatted foule.

24 For he had dominion ouer all the region on this side the Riuer, from Tiphsah euen to Azzah ouer all the kings on this side the Riuer: and he had peace on all sides round about him.

25 And Iudah and Israel dwelt safely, euery man vnder his Uine, and vnder his Figtree, from Dan euen to Beer-sheba, all the dayes of Solomon.

26 And Solomon had fourtie thousand stalles of horses for his charets, and twelue thousand horsemen.

27 And those officers prouided victuall for king Solomon, and for all that came vnto king Solomons table, euery man in his moneth: they lacked nothing.

28 Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries, brought they vnto the place where the officers were, euery man according to his charge.

29 And God gaue Solomon wisdome, and vnderstanding, exceeding much, and largenesse of heart, euen as the sand that is on the sea shoare.

30 And Solomons wisedome excelled the wisedome of all the children of the East countrey, and all the wisedome of Egypt.

31 For hee was wiser then all men; then Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda the sonnes of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.

32 And he spake three thousand prouerbes: and his songs were a thousand and fiue.

33 And hee spake of trees, from the Cedar tree that is in Lebanon, euen vnto the Hyssope that springeth out of the wall: hee spake also of beasts, and of foule, and of creeping things, and of fishes.

34 And there came of all people to heare the wisedome of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisedome.

 

 

 

III == 2nd Sam 8:16 ; 20:24

 

IV == 1st Kings 2:27 , 35

 

 

V == 2nd Sam 8:18 ; 15:37 ; 16:16 ; 20:26 ; 1st Kings 4:7 ; 1st chr 27:33

VI == 1st Kings 5:14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XIII == Num 32:41 ; Deut 3:4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XIX == Deut 3:8

 

 

 

XX == Gen 22:17 ; 1st Kings 3:8 ; Ps 72:3 , 7 ; Prov 14:28 ; Mic 4:4

XXI == Gen 15:18 ; Josh 1:4 ; 2nd Chr 9:26 ; Ps 68:29 ; 72:8 , 10-11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXIV == 1st Chr 22:9 ; Ps 72:11

 

 

 

XXV == Judg 20:1 ; er 23:6 ; Mic 4:4 ; Aech 3:10

XXVI == Deut 17:16 ; 1st Kings 10:26 ; 2nd Chr 1:14 ; 9:25

XXVII == 1st Kings 4:4

 

 

XXVIII == Esth 8:14 ; Mich 1:13

 

 

XXIX == 1st Kings 3:12

 

 

XXX == Gen 25:6 ; Acts 7:22

 

 

XXXI == 1st Kings 3:12 ; 1st Chr 2:6 ; 6:33 ; 15:19

 

XXXII == Prov 1:1 ; Eccl 12:9 ; Song 1:1

 

 

 

 

XXXIV == 1st Kings 10:1 ; 2nd Chr 9:1 , 23

 

So King Solomon ruled over all Israel. 2 And these were his chief officials:

Azariah son of Zadok—the priest;

3 Elihoreph and Ahijah, sons of Shisha—secretaries;

Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud—recorder;

4 Benaiah son of Jehoiada—commander in chief; Zadok and Abiathar—priests;

5 Azariah son of Nathan—in charge of the district governors;

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

6 Ahishar—palace administrator;

Adoniram son of Abda—in charge of forced labor.

7 Solomon had twelve district governors over all Israel, who supplied provisions for the king and the royal household. Each one had to provide supplies for one month in the year.

8 These are their names: Ben-Hur—in the hill country of Ephraim;

9 Ben-Deker—in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh and Elon Bethhanan;

10 Ben-Hesed—in Arubboth (Sokoh and all the land of Hepher were his);

11 Ben-Abinadab—in Naphoth Dor (he was married to Taphath daughter of Solomon);

12 Baana son of Ahilud—in Taanach and Megiddo, and in all of Beth Shan next to Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth Shan to Abel Meholah across to Jokmeam;

13 Ben-Geber—in Ramoth Gilead (the settlements of Jair son of Manasseh in Gilead were his, as well as the region of Argob in Bashan and its sixty large walled cities with bronze gate bars);

14 Ahinadab son of Iddo—in Mahanaim;

15 Ahimaaz—in Naphtali (he had married Basemath 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 Gilead (the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and the country of Og king of Bashan). He was the only governor over the district. Solomon’s Daily Provisions

20 The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore; they ate, they drank and they were happy.

21 And Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These countries brought tribute and were Solomon’s subjects all his life.

22 Solomon’s daily provisions were thirty cors[a] of the finest flour and sixty cors[b] of meal,

23 ten head of stall-fed cattle, twenty of pasture-fed cattle and a hundred sheep and goats, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks and choice fowl.

24 For he ruled over all the kingdoms west of the Euphrates River, from Tiphsah to Gaza, and had peace on all sides.

25 During Solomon’s lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, lived in safety, everyone under their own vine and under their own fig tree.

26 Solomon had four[c] thousand stalls for chariot horses, and twelve thousand horses.[d]

27 The district governors, each in his month, supplied provisions for King Solomon and all who came to the king’s table. They saw to it that nothing was lacking.

28 They also brought to the proper place their quotas of barley and straw for the chariot horses and the other horses.

29 God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore.

30 Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.

31 He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations.

32 He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five.

33 He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish.

34 From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.[e]

 

 

v 1-6. Solomon’s eleven princes and their particular responsibilities are listed here. Scribes were important secretaries who prepared all documents for business transactions. The recorder maintained the daily records. Benaiah’s position was that of commander in chief of the army. Abiathar was listed as priest along with Zadok. He had been deposed for his defection with Adonijah and could no longer serve, but he retained his title. Azariah, different than verse 2, was over the twelve district officers in v 8-19, while Zabud of the priestly line was over all, and Solomon’s chief advisor. As son of Nathan, he had probably grown up along with Solomon. Ahishar oversaw the servants. Forced laborers were non Israelite conscripted workers working for the king.

v 7-19. Each of these twelve officers was responsible for supplying food supplies for the king’s household and his thousands of horses, v 28, one month of the year. In v 11 and 15 we find two of these men married daughters of Solomon, which would have been a noble relationship. Geber, v 9, was over the other two, v 13 , 14, east of Jordan, so is spoken of as being the only officer in that land. No officer is mentioned as being over Judah, so it was perhaps exempt from the levy.

v 20,21. Israel and Judah were prosperous and prolific during this period of time. Critics question Solomon being able to reign over this much land, but thorough studies show that Egypt and Assyria were both in decline at this point in history.

The amount of food needed to run the government for one day is hard to imagine. Solomon had dominion over this whole vast area, but part of it was simply tributary to Israel. The part they actually possessed was from Dan to Beer-sheba.

By now Solomon had ignored the command of the Lord for the kings not to multiply to themselves horses, Deut. 17:16. Verse 26 says he had four thousand horse and 2 Chronicles says he had four thousand stalls for horse. There is no contradiction. He had ten horses to a stall. Such a stall of large stones was at one time in Jerusalem.
He continued to violate the next verse and multiplied to himself wives,11:1-4.
Solomon ’ s wisdom exceeded that of the most knowledgeable in the world. He not only spoke 3000 proverbs, but 1005 songs. He had wisdom in every subject, and representatives from all over the known world came to hear him.

1 Kings 4:22 That is, probably about 5 1/2 tons or about 5 metric tons
1 Kings 4:22 That is, probably about 11 tons or about 10 metric tons