1 Kings 4

Salomon chiefest Princes, and Officers, ver.1, &c. The largeness of his Kingdom, 20,24. His daily provision for his Court, 22. The stables for his horses, 26. His great wisdom, 29.

1. So King Salomon was King over all Israel. [i.e. Over the twelve Tribes: which is affirmed of Salomon, to distinguish him from the succeeding Kings: whereof some (namely those who after him descended from the house of David) reigned onely over two tribes, viz. Juda and Benjamin. Others over the ten other tribes.]

2. But these were the Princes [Meaning chief Officers, or Commanders] which he had: Azaria the son of Zadok was supream Officer. [Or, Duty, viz. of the King, in the whole government of the Kingdom. This Zadok is not held to be the High Priest mentioned in the foregoing Chapters, but another of that name, sprung from another tribe, and that he was chief President in the Government of all the Land next to the King, and therefore named first of all. For the Hebrew word signifieth not onely a Priest, but also a civil Governor. See Gen.41.on v.45.and below v.5. Others think that he was Zadoks Nephew, or the son of Ahimaaz, of whom mention is made, 2 Sam.15.27. and that son called Azariah was a particular Priest, to minister unto Salomon and his family in divine things.]

3. Elihoreph, and Achia, the son of Sisa, were Scribes: [Or, Secretaries. See likewise of such Officers, 2 Sam.8.17. Esth.3.12.] Josaphat, the son of Achilud, was Chancellour. [Or, Register, Master of the Rolls, or, Recorder: see of this office, 2 Sam.8.16.]

4. And Benaja the son of Jojada was over the hast and Zadok and Abjathar [Who kept the name of Priest while he was alive, without the deed or actual Ministery: see above chap.on v.26,27.] were Priests.

5. And Azaria, the son of Nathan, was over the Surveyors: [Heb. Appointers, or, appointed. Understand the twelve Officers hereafter named from the 7. verse to the 19. Who were appointed and ordained, every one in his moneth to furnish the King and his Household with a set quantity, or provision of meat and drink. The Hebrew word is elsewhere taken for a Kings Deputy, or, Lieutenant, who supplyeth the Kings place in the Government of the Land: below chap.22.48. Item, for any other Governour, or, commander, below chap 5.16. 2 Chron.8.10.] and Zabud, the son of Nathan, was principal Officer, [or, President, viz. in the Kings Privy Councel; for which cause he had daily access to the King, as his familiar and special friend. He is to be distinguished from the Supreme Officers, mentioned verse 2. Compare the annotate.] the Kings friend.

6. And Ahisar was a steward; [Heb. Was over the house i.e. over all the Kings Court-Household, as the word house was so used above chap.2.ver.4. See gen.34.on ver.29.] and Adoniram, the son of Abda, was over the tribute, [i.e. over the Kings Moneyes, Treasures, yearly revenues, Tolls, Customes, Taxes, Tributes, &c. So that this Officer might well be called the Kings Receiver General, Cash-keeper, Treasurer, or Master of the Kings Treasure. Others understand here, him that is set over the Leavie of the chosen men, which were given to the King as a tribute to minister unto him: so below, chap.5.13, 14.]

7. And Salomon had twelve Purveyors over all Israel, which provided [viz. Meat and drink] for the King [i.e. for him] and his household: each man had a month in a year (allotted to him) to make provision.

8. And these be their names the son of Hur [Oth. Ben-Hur; and so in these following verses] was in the mountain of Ephraim.

9. The son of Deker in Makaz, and in Sarabbim [These Cities, and those which follow, are mostly in, the tribe of Dan: see Jos.19.41, 42,43.] and Beth-Semes; [called Ir-Semes, Jos.19.41.] and Elon-Beth-Hanan.

10. The son of Hesed in Aruboth, [This was a part of the Land of Juda] he had (besides) Socho, [see of this City, Jos.15.35.] and all the land of Hepher, [see Jos.12.17.]

11. The son of Abinadab all the Region of Dor: [Which was in the tribe of Manasseh beyond Jordan, Jos.17.11. Judg.17.27.] this (man) had Taphath the Daughter of Salomon to wife.

12. Baana the son of Achilud had Taanach, and Megiddo, and all Beth-Sean, [These belonged to the tribe of Manasseh, Jos.17.11.] which is by Zartana [see of other Zartans, Jos.3.16.] beneath Jizreel; [a city in Jos.17.11. & Judg.1.27] to Abel-Mehola; [see was in the tribe of Zebulon, Jos.19.12.]

13. The son of Geber was at Ranoth, [See Deut.4.43. & 1 King.22.20.] in Gilead: [see Geb.31.on ver.21.] he had the villages of Jair [see of these Numb.32.41.] the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead; he had also the is in Basan, threescore great cities, with walls, and copper bars.

14. Abinadab the son of Iddo, was at Mahanaim. [See Gen.32.on v.2.]

15. Ahimaaz was in Naphtali: this man took also Basmath, the daughter of Salomon, to wise.

16. Baana the son of Husai, was in Asor, and in Aloth. [Some take this word not for a proper name, but interpret it upper parts, lying in or on the mountains, and belonging mostly to the tribe if Dan, and Aser.]

17. Josaphat the son of Paruah, in Issaschar.

18. Simei the son of Ela, in Benjamin.

19. Gober the son of Uri, was in the Land of Gilead [understand the remaining part of this Land, of that which was mentioned before v.13.] the Land of Sihon, King of the Amorites, and of Og King of Basan, and was the onely Purveyor which was in that Land.

20. (Now) Juda and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and being chearingful.

21. And Salomon reigned over all Kingdoms, from the River [viz.Euphrates: see Gen.2.on v.14. This River was the Israelites border North-Eastward] (unto) [this word is here inserted out of 2 Chron.9.26.] the Land of the Philistines. [which was their border West-ward] and unto the border of Egypt, [understand the River Sichor the South-border of their land Here we have the fulfilling of the promises heretofore frequently made; as Genes.15.18. Exod.23.31. Deut.11.24. Jos.1.4.] they brought Presents, and served Salomon all the days of his life.

22. Now Salomons meat [Heb.Bread] for one day was thirty Cor [Understand by this word the great measure of the Hebrews of dry Wares, containing ten Epha’s, one Epha 43 2.common egg-shells, and consequently one Cor 43 20.egg-shels. This measure is also called an Homer, Lev.27.16.] of meal-flower, and threescore Cor of meal.

23. Ten fat oxen, and twenty pasture-oxen, and an hundred sheep; besides the Harts, and roe-Bucks, and wild oxen, and fatted fowls.

24. For he had dominion over all that was on this side the river [viz.Euphrates. See above v.21. See the annotat.] from Tipsah [the name of a city lying on the north-east border of the Kingdom of Israel. See of this also, 2 King.15.16.] unto Gaza, [Heb. Hazza. a city lying on the South-west-border of the Land of Canaan, Gen.10.19. Deut.2.23.] over all the Kings on this side the river; and he had peace on all his sides [Heb. passages] round about.

25. And Juda and Israel dwelt safely, [See Lev.26.5.] every man under his vine, and under his fig-tree; [a phrase, signifying a time of great peace, plenty, and prosperity in all things, not onely in temporal, as here, but also in spirituals; as Mich.4.4. Zach.3.10.] from Dan to Ber-Seba, [i.e. from the North-border of the Land of Canaan, to the South-border. So Judg.20.1. Of Dan, see Gen.14.on v.14. Of Berseba, Gen.21.on v.31.] all the days of Salomon.

26. Salomon had also fourty thousand stalls of horses, [Understand this of places for horses, in each whereof one horse stood. Now Salomon had also four thousand stalls for horses, 2 Chron.9.25. whereof each had ten partitions for horses, making together the number of fourty thousand] for his charets, [the number of these was a thousand and four hundred, below chap.10.26.] and twelve thousand horsemen.

27. Now those Purveyors, [Which were named above, ver.7, &c.] every one in his month, made provision for King Salomon, and for all them that approached to King Salomons table; they let nothing be wanting.

28. Now they brought the barley and the straw for the horses, and for the swift camels, [Called Dromedaries. Others interpret the Hebrew word Post-horses, Swift-horses, or Mules, who were likewise very swift in running. See Esther 8:10, 14.] to the place where he was, [viz. King Salomon. Oth.unto the place where it was (appointed) or, where they were, or, where every man was, according to this charge] every man according to his charge.

29. And God gave Salomon wisdom, and understanding exceeding much, [See above chap.3.on ver.12.] and a large capacity of heart, [Heb. wideness, or, breadth of heart; which is sometime taken in a bed sense, signifying loftiness, or pride of heart, Prov.21.4. sometimes in a good sense, as here, and signifieth a great measure, or capacity, not onely of knowledge, discerning, and memory, but also of boldness, courage, and desire to effect and per. form every thing most bravely and nobly] as the sand which is on the sea shore. [Heb. lip of the sea. The meaning is, he had as much aforesaid things, as the sand, &c. an hyperbole, or excessive kind of speech, as above chap.1.ver.40.]

30. And the wisdom of Salomon was greater then the wisdom of all those of the east, [Heb. Children of the East. See Gen.29.on v.1. These as also the Egyptians, were renowned for their great wisdom and skill in all manner of Arts and Sciences, although afterward they declined to vain and superstitious arts, Isa.2.6.] and then all the wisdom of the Egyptians:

31. Yea, he was wiser then all men; then Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda the sons of Mahol: [See of these men, 1 Chron.2.6.] and his name was among all the Heathen round about.

32. And he spake three thousand sentences [Whereof a part are in the books of the Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Salomons song. The Hebrew word translated Proverb, signifieth a speech or sentence, which for its brevity, wise, and deep learning, exceedeth all the rest, Prov.1.1.] besides, his songs were a thousand and five.

33. He spake also of trees; [The Writing hereof are not now extant, and that without diminishing the holy Scripture, or hinderance of our salvation] from the Cedar-tree, [see Judg.9. onv.15.] which is on Libanon, [an excellent mountain, lying on the North border of Palestina.See Deut.3.25.& 11..24. Jos.9.1. Psal.92.13. Isa.35.2.] unto the hyssop that growth out of the wall: [the Hebrew word Ezob, the Greek Translators have translated it Hyssop, which word the Apostle retaineth, Heb.9.19. although some hold it to be wild marjoram, others, wild savoury; others, Rosemary, or, Parietaria, i.e. Pellitory of the wall: so that it is uncertain what kind of hearby it was among the Ancients: see Exod.12.22.] he spake also of cattle, and fowl, and of creeping (beasts), and of fishes.

34. And there came of all people, to hear the wisdom of Salomon; from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.