1 Kings 4

— and all the wisdom of Egypt.] It appears from Acts vii. 22, that Egypt was celebrated for wisdom in the time of Moses. This country has been called “the mother of the arts.” There have been great disputes respecting the claims of the Egyptians and Chaldeans to the earliest advances in learning. Bp. Patrick, Stackhouse.

Chap. V. ver. 1. — Hiram king of Tyre] This Hiram was probably the son of the other Hiram, who sent to David timber and artificers to build his palace, 2 Sam. v. 11: for, according to Josephus, the temple was built in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign, and the time when David took Jerusalem, and built his palace, was thirty-three years before the beginning of Solomon’s reign. Stackhouse.

Chap. VI. ver. 1. — in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign] It has been asked, why Solomon did not begin the work immediately, at the commencement of his reign, according to the command of his father David? It is probable that he began his preparations immediately; and that the four first years were spent in procuring the timber and stones, and in the necessary previous labours which were mentioned in the last chapter.

1 Kings 4:3

3. — could not build an house — for the wars] This was one reason, but not the chief; for God commanded him to desist when he had it in design, 2 Sam. vii. Bp. Patrick.

1 Kings 4:6

6. — that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon;] The whole, or a great part, of Lebanon, was within the dominions of Solomon; so that he does not ask the trees of Hiram, but only the assistance of his servants in hewing and preparing them for use, which they better understood than his own servants. In the time of Moses there had been excellent workmen among the Hebrews; but, as Scripture acquaints us, these derived their skill immediately from God, and it does not appear that they had any successors. After the Hebrews were settled in Canaan, they seem to have applied themselves not at all to the arts but entirely to agriculture and pasturage; so that, in Solomon’s time, there were no professed artists who could undertake the work of the temple. The people of Tyre and Sidon were always famous for

1 Kings 4:9

9. — I will convey them by sea in floats] They conveyed the pieces of timber from the high parts of the mountains to the river Adonis, or to the plain of Biblos; Solomon’s workmen and labourers. The building of his temple.

1 Kings 4:11

11. — which had Tiphath the daughter of Solomon] Solomon had no daughters marriageable when these officers were appointed: we must understand therefore, that this person in aftertimes had Solomon’s daughter to wife, probably in reward of good behaviour in his office. Bp. Patrick.

12. — twenty thousand measures of wheat &c.] It is stated at 2 Chron. ii. 10, that Solomon was to give “20,000 measures of beaten wheat, and 20,000 measures of barley, and 20,000 baths of wine, and 20,000 baths of oil.” It is possible that some of the numbers may have been mistaken by transcribers: the quantity seems very great to be exported at one time; and we may, at all events, understand by the expression, “Solomon gave year by year,” that he stipulated to send the whole sum, but sent it by portions, “year by year,” during each of the seven years when the temple was building. Pyle. Or perhaps at 2 Chron. ii. is mentioned the provision made by Solomon for the workmen, which is distinct from the remuneration paid to Hiram for the grant of their services. Script. illustr.

1 Kings 4:15

15. — fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains.] That is, hewers of stone; for Hiram’s servants hewed the timber. These were not Israelites, but strangers from other nations, as may be collected from ch. ix. 21, 22. It may seem strange to some, that so vast a num-

stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.

1 Kings 4:19

19. — he was the only officer—in the land.] The only officer in that part of the land, though it was much greater than the other parts. Dr. Wells.

1 Kings 4:20

20. — eating and drinking, &c.] Living in perfect plenty and security, and being highly satisfied with their situation, Bp. Patrick.

1 Kings 4:21

21. — from the river unto the land of the Philistines.] The boundaries of Solomon’s kingdom were, the Euphrates to the east, (that river being here, as in other places of Scripture, called the river by way of eminence, without any addition;) the country of the Philistines, which bordered on the Mediterranean sea, to the west; and Egypt, to the south: so that he had tributary to him the kingdoms of Syria, Damascus, Moab, and Ammon, which lay between the Euphrates and the Mediterranean sea. Stackhouse. See the note on Numb. xxxiv. 2.

1 Kings 4:22

22. — threescore measures of meal.] By meal is meant a coarser sort of flour for inferior servants: the measure here spoken of contained about ten ephahs, each

ephah being about equal to a bushel of our measure. It is computed that here was bread enough provided for 3000 persons. Bp. Patrick, Pyle.

1 Kings 4:24

24. — from Tiphsah even to Azzah.] It is very probably thought that Tiphsah is the same with Thapseus, a considerable city lying on the Euphrates, and frequently mentioned by heathen writers: Azza is the same as Gaza, the Philistine city often mentioned, lying in the southwest corner of the land of Israel. Dr. Wells.

1 Kings 4:25

25. — under his vine and under his fig tree.] These expressions are used, to shew the great plenty of corn, and wine, and oil, as well as of cattle and other things. Vines and fig trees are particularly mentioned, because they were planted in Judea more than any other trees, for the sweetness of their fruit and the benefit of their shade. Bp. Patrick.

1 Kings 4:26

26. — forty thousand stalls of horses] In 2 Chron. ix. 25, the number is stated at four thousand: which is supposed to relate to the stalls or stables only, while the number here relates to the horses contained in them. However, it is thought by some that the Hebrew word here used will admit of being translated flour, as well as forty. In excuse for Solomon’s having so great a number of war horses, (contrary to the law in Deut. xvii. 16,) it is alleged, that he kept them, not out of pride or

The wisdom of Solomon. Before CHRIST 1014. d Eccles, 47. 14, 15, 16.

1 Kings 4:28

28. — straw for the horses] Probably not straw, with which to litter them; for in these countries it is not now used for that purpose; but to be chopt and eaten together with the barley. They litter at present with dung dried in the sun. Harmer.

— and dromedaries] There are doubts about the meaning of the Hebrew word translated “dromedaries.” Some take them for mules, as our margin gives the translation. Bochart thinks it certain that this word imports a kind of horse. Bp. Patrick. The Hebrew word seems to mean in general “working cattle,” cattle which earn their living by their labour. Parkhurst.

1 Kings 4:29

29. — largeness of heart, even as the sand &c.] Meaning, that the instances of his wisdom were as numerous as the sand on the seashore. Stackhouse. Otherwise, as one cannot count the number of the sands, so neither could one comprehend the depth and extent of his wisdom. Calmet. Yet all these riches and this wisdom became a snare and ruin to Solomon, as soon as he forgot God: so dangerous are riches and other favours when abused; and all men ought to receive them with fear. Bp. Wilson.

1 Kings 4:30

30. — all the children of the east country.] There were three nations east of Canaan, which were very famous for their wisdom and erudition; the Chaldeans beyond the Euphrates, the Persians beyond the Tigris, and the Arabians on the nearer side of the Euphrates, a little towards the south. Which of these nations was most celebrated for learning in Solomon’s time is much doubted by commentators: the book of Job, however, sufficiently shews that the Arabians were famous for their learning in ancient times. Bp. Patrick. The original station allotted to man by his Creator was in the mild and fertile regions of the East. There the human race began its career of improvement; and from the remains

1 Kings 4:31

31. — he was wiser — than Ethan] He was wiser than all his contemporaries; than Ethan, author of the 89th Psalm, than Heman, author of the 88th, and their brothers, Chalcol and Darda, sons of Mahol, or “the choir.” Dr. Hales.

1 Kings 4:32

32. — he spake three thousand proverbs.] Of these all that are remaining are preserved in the books of Proverbs and of Ecclesiastes. Stackhouse. He spake 3000 wise sentences, out of which are collected those which in the book of his proverbs are reserved to the use of posterity, as the sacred monuments of his divine wisdom. Bp. Hall.

— his songs were a thousand and five.] In ancient times wise men were wont to convey their instructions in songs, to the end that they might be more easily remembered. None of these compositions of Solomon were thought to be divinely inspired but the Song of Songs, which has therefore been joined to the sacred books. Bp. Patrick.

1 Kings 4:33

33. — from the cedar tree — unto the hyssop] That is, all sorts of plants, from the greatest to the smallest. Instead of the hyssop, some think the herb must to be understood; which suits better to be opposed to the cedar, as the hyssop is a plant with a stalk, and sometimes of great strength. Bp. Patrick. It seems clear that the hyssop cannot be meant, for this plant does not spring out of the wall, as is here described. Script. illust.

We see here that God raised Solomon to a very great pitch of glory, granting him riches and power, which distinguished him from the greatest princes, and withal such wisdom, and prudence, and knowledge, which made him very superior to the wisest men that were then in the world. Thus God fulfilled the promises He made to David, to give him a son whose kingdom should be very glorious: and thus He rewarded the piety of Solomon, and the zeal he then shewed for His service. However, it must be remembered, that this great wisdom, and the riches and the graces Solomon had received, were profitable to him only whilst he used them as he

Before CHRIST 1014. Hiram sendeth to congratulate him. Before CHRIST 1014. 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.