1 Kings 4
NET
Commentaries

Show in the text

Up to 5 commentaries at a time. Each excerpt opens in full.

New English Translation

1 Kings 4:7-28

7Solomon 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.

8These were their names: Ben-Hur was in charge of the hill country of Ephraim.

9Ben-Deker was in charge of Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh, and Elon Beth Hanan.

10Ben-Hesed was in charge of Arubboth; he controlled Socoh and all the territory of Hepher.

11Ben-Abinadab was in charge of Naphath Dor. (He was married to Solomon’s daughter Taphath.)

12Baana son of Ahilud was in charge of Taanach and Megiddo, as well as all of Beth Shan next to Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth Shan to Abel Meholah and on past Jokmeam.

13Ben-Geber was in charge of Ramoth Gilead; he controlled the tent 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.

14Ahinadab son of Iddo was in charge of Mahanaim.

15Ahimaaz was in charge of Naphtali. (He married Solomon’s daughter Basemath.)

16Baana son of Hushai was in charge of Asher and Aloth.

17Jehoshaphat son of Paruah was in charge of Issachar.

18Shimei son of Ela was in charge of Benjamin.

19Geber 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.

20The people of Judah and Israel were as innumerable as the sand on the seashore; they had plenty to eat and drink and were happy.

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.

22Each day Solomon’s royal court consumed thirty cors of finely milled flour, sixty cors of cereal,

23ten calves fattened in the stall, twenty calves from the pasture, and a hundred sheep, not to mention rams, gazelles, deer, and well-fed birds.

24His 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.

25All 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.

26Solomon had 4,000 stalls for his chariot horses and 12,000 horses.

27The 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.

28Each one also brought to the assigned location his quota of barley and straw for the various horses.

Read all of 1 Kings 4

Commentaries on 1 Kings 4

New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.