1 Kings 4

1. So king Solomon, etc. This chapter describes the state of the kingdom, not at any particular time, but during the whole period of Solomon’s greatest prosperity.

2 the princes. i.e., the most eminent men or highest officers of his court.

Azariah. Azariah, “the priest,” the grandson of Zadok, stands first, as having been high priest at the dedication of the Temple, and through much of Solomon’s reign. (The father of Azariah was Ahimaaz.)

3 scribes. “Secretaries,” who drew up the royal edicts.

the recorder. The annalist or registrar of the proceedings of the government.

4. Zadok and Abiathar were the priests. Omit the (R.V.). Abiathar, although deposed, retained his title. Two “chief priests” were required by the two tabernacles, until the building of the Temple.

6 the tribute. That is, the tributary service, for which levies were raised among the people. This became very unpopular in the course of the great works which Solomon executed: see xii. 4, 18.

8. The son of Hur. Many persons are known in the East as much by their fathers’ name as by their own. In such cases as this it is perhaps better to adopt the patronymic reading, as in the margin, “Ben-hur,” “Ben-dekar,” etc. (so R.V.).

10. Sochoh. “Sueoh” in the mountains south of Hebron: see Josh. xv. 35, 48.

11 the daughter of Solomon. See note on ver. 1.

12. Taanach. Now called Tannuk, on the north-east declivity of Mount Carmel: see Judges v. 19. This district comprised the rich plain and valley of Jezreel.

Megiddo. Now El-lejjûn, a little to the east of the preceding.

20 making merry. Enjoying security, prosperity, abundance. In the Hebrew Bible, ch. iv. ends with this verse: ch. v. beginning with verse 21 and ending where ch. v. ends in the English version.

21. Solomon reigned over all kingdoms. They were his tributaries. Thus was fulfilled the promise made to Abraham (Gen. xv. 18) respecting the extent of territory which his descendants should possess; but the sins of the king and the people soon narrowed its limits.

the river. The Euphrates.

22 provision for one day. This was the supply for the whole court, comprising the numerous attendants, body-guards, etc., and all who, according to Oriental custom, received their maintenance from the royal establishment.

thirty measures (cors), etc. About 330 bushels of fine, and 660 of coarser flour. The “cor” was the same as the homer.

24 from Tiphsah, etc. Tiphsah, or Thapsacus, on the western bank of the Euphrates, and Azzah, or Gaza, were the frontier towns on the north-east and south-west of Solomon’s tributary dominions, which thus extended, in their greatest length, about 400 miles. The word “Tiphsah” (more properly Tiphsach) means passage, or crossing. It was at this place that the Euphrates was crossed by the younger Cyrus and by Alexander the Great in their expeditions.

on this side. That is, west of the Euphrates.

25 under his vine, etc. Expressive of security and peace.

26 forty thousand stalls. Or, more probably four thousand (see 2 Chron. ix. 25). The word rendered “stalls” may perhaps rather mean “spans” or pairs.

horsemen. Rather, perhaps, “riding horses.”

28. Barley. Barley, which grows abundantly in Palestine, is still used as food for cattle in the East, where oats are not cultivated.

dromedaries. Should be “swift horses.”

where [the officers] were. Or, as R.V. marg., “where he (the king) was.” “Officers” is not in the original.

29 largeness of heart. i.e., great powers of mind; the word “heart” being often used by the Hebrews for mental capacities generally. “As the sand on the sea shore” indicates extraordinary abundance.

31 wiser than all men. i.e., than all the men of his time, the most distinguished of whom are mentioned by name.

32 three thousand proverbs. In the Book of Proverbs, not more than one-third of these have been preserved.

songs. The 72nd, the 127th and the 132nd Psalms have been attributed to Solomon. These, with the “Song of Songs,” or “Canticles,” are all of his songs that we possess.

33 the hyssop. Dr. G. E. Post, of Beirut, Syria, thinks this was a species of marjoram, probably Origanum muru (see article “Hyssop,” Hastings’ Dict. of the Bible).

34. And there came of all people. See particularly the visit of the Queen of Sheba, related in ch. x.