1 Kings 4

Vcr. 4. And Benaiah the son ofJehoiada ivas over the host; and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests.’) That is, the principal, or high-priests. Kimchi thinks this was not that Abiathar whom Solomon ejected, and placed Zadok in his room, (ii. 35.) but another of that name. But Ralbag takes him to bo the same that was thrust out of the priesthood; yet suffered to minister, when Zadok was not well, or could not attend: and Abarbinel approves of this opinion. Or, perhaps, Solomon permitted him, upon his petition, to come to Jerusalem, not to officiate as high-priest, but to live upon the altar, (according to the prediction,.1 Sam. ii. 3G.) and he retained the name and title of highpriest, though Zadok only enjoyed the office. L’Empercur thinks he is here joined with Zadok, because in the beginning of Solomon’s reign he did discharge the office of highpriest; and after he was deposed, he retained the title of that dignity as long as he lived, because of his precedent function., (Annot. upon Bertram dc Rep. Jud. p. 420.) that some of these officers had whole tribes assigned them for their province. there of their stalls or stables; there being ten in every stable, which make forty thousand, as Abarbinel observes. But this doth not satisfy Boehartus, who rather inclines to Jacobus Capellus’s opinion, that the Hebrew word arbaiin here signifies four not forty, (Hierozoicon, lib. ii. par. i. p. 155, &e.) But this is without example; therefore others think that in the Chronicles the author speaks of those stalls for horses which he had in Jerusalem for his constant guard, which were but four thousand: w r hereas here he speaks of those which w r ere dispersed throughout his whole kingdom. And twelve thousand horsemen.] Which were distributed, it is likely, in every tribe; to keep them in peace, and to be ready to oppose any enemy that might invade them: wherein Abarbinel thinks that Solomon did not offend against the law.in Deuteronomy, which commanded them uot to multiply horses, (xvii. 1G.) because he did it not out of pride and vanity; but to preserve peace, by keeping all his neighbours in awe. And he professes not to trust in them, Prov. xxi. 31.

1 Kings 4:1

j!S O king Solomon was king over all Israel. Reigned with the full consent of all the tribes of Israel., * jfjiND Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto king Solomon.] That is, he sent ambassadors to condolo with king Solomon on the death of his father (as the manner was), and to congratulate his accession to the throne. Eupolemus calls this king Suron (as he is called Huram,in the book of the Chronicles), and makes mention of those letters which were sent by these ambassadors. (See Euscbius in his Prsepar. Evang. lib. ix, cap. 33, 34.). (For he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father); for Hiram.tvas everalover of David.] And therefore was desirous to continue in friendship with his son. >

1 Kings 4:2

And these are the princes which he had. The principal officers employed under him. Azariah the son of Zadok the jmest.] He was the son of Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok; and therefore was Zadok s grandson, (1 Chron. vi. 8, 9.) But such are usually called sons in Scripture, as Rasi observes upon Gen. xx.’ 12. And Zadok, it is probable, in his old age, bred him up in his house as his child. It is not said here what office he had, unless we translate the word priest, as we do in the jnargin, chief officer, or prime minister of state. But this Abarbinel thinks is a mistake; and he takes himto have been one of the scribes, together with those two that follow in the next words, Elihoreph and Ahiah. For thus he thinks the words should be translated, Azariah the son of Zadok the priest, and Elihoreph, and Ahiah the son ofShisha, were scribes; there wanting a van before Elihoreph, as is frequent in Scripture, (Exod. i.-l, 2.) And these three secretaries had each their several employments. " One, he thinks, w r as in matters of judgment; the other in the revenue; and the third was concerned in writing annals, keeping the records, and was a public register. And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,] There were three embassies passed between them, as Abarbinel observes; for Hiram began, and Solomon returned it; and then Hiram sent to him again, ver. 8, But two. only are mentioned in 2 Chron. ii. 3. 11.’ For Ezra there (as he observes) minded only what concerned the building of the temple; and so omitted the first embassy, which was no more than a compliment. ►.. *

1 Kings 4:3

Elihoreph and Ahiah the sons of Shisha, scribes: Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder. Or master of requests. So Rasi understands the word hammaskir: one that heard all men’s causes, and brought them before the king. Thou knowest how that David my father could not build a house to tfie name of the Lord his God,fortlie wars wliitfi were about him on every side, until the Lord put them wider the soles of his feet.],This was one reason; but not the chief: for God commanded him to delist, when he had it in design,

1 Kings 4:4

And now the Jj>rd my God hath given me rest on, every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil recurrent •. Nothing to make him fear any disturbance. 3F Microsoft® A COMMENTARY UPON [chap. v. Vcr. 5. And, behold, J purpose to build a house unto the name of the Lord my God.] For his worship and service. As the Lord spake unto David my father, saying, TJiy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build a house unto my name.] This he spake by the prophet Nathan, 2 Sam. vii. 13.

1 Kings 4:5

And Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers. That is, the twelve officers mentioned below, (ver. 7, 8, &c.) who gave accounts unto him, who was their overseer. AndZabud the son of Nathan was principal officer, and the king’s friend.] The word cohen signifies here, as it doth 2 Sam. viii. 18. minister of state, among wh’om’Zabud was the chief: one whom the king entrusted with the management of all affairs, and with his most secret counsels, he being always with him, as Abarbinel observes. Dr. Ham- - mond notes upon St. Matt. ix. Annot. 2. that the king’s friend was an officer of nearness to the king: as Mr. Selden observed before him, in his Uxor. Hebr. lib. ii. cap. 16. p. 201, 202. For Nathan having bred up Solomon, (see 2 Sam. xii. 25.) it was easy for him to get his sons preferred by him to the highest dignities under him, when he came to be king; especially since he was very instrumental in placing him upon the throne.

1 Kings 4:6

And Ahishar was over the household. Lord highchamberlain (as we speak in our language), who took in, and displaced officers in the family.. And Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute.] “Which was imposed on the people for the support of the government. Such contributions were raised several ways in several kingdoms: but good and wise princes took care not to lay burdens on such things as were necessary for the livelihood of the poor; and that they were not too heavy upon any thing: as Solomon’s were, if the people’s complaints were just, after his death: but perhaps this word tribute, which we translate levy in the margin, may refer not to the levying of money, but of men. Concerning which we read in the next chapter, ver. 13, 14. where Adoniram is said to be over the levy: and so ho might be over both, of men and money. Now therefore command them.] That is, his servants who were skilled in such work. To hew me cedar-trees.] AVhieh were the most firm and durable, as well as most fragrant of all other. Out of Lebanon.] Which was, if not all, yet a great part Of it within the dominion of Solomon. Who therefore doth not ask trees of him which were his own; but only that his servants should hew and prepare them for his use, which they understood better than the Israelites. And my sewants shall be tvith thy servants.] To assist them, as they should be directed by them; and to-receivo the timber from them, and convey it to Solomon, when it was prepared. And unto thee will I give hire for thy servants, according to all that thoushalt appoint.] Pay them what wages they pleased to demand for their work. For thou knowest there is not among us any that can skill to hew timber like the Sidonians.] Both Tyre and Sidon were now under one and the same king, and both of them very ingenious in mechanics; especially the Sidonians: whom Homer calls woXvdaidaXovc, excellent artists in divers things. For he ascribes to them all the neater sort of wdrk, both in his Iliads and his Odyssey, as Bochartus observes, in his Fhaleg. lib. iv. cap. 35. By which arts they grew very rich, in a time of long peace, which they enjoyed, as we learn from Judg. xviii.7. where the Sidonians are made the example of those that lived very securely. But as for the Israelites, they did not mind manufactures, but applied themselves wholly to agriculture and feeding of cattle. There had been most admirable workmen among them, who knew how to cut and. engrave precious stones, to cast and work up metals, &c. but this was before they came into the land of Canaan, in the time of Moses, when Bezaleel and Aholiab excelled in many different arts, which were necessary for the work of the tabernacle. But the Scripture acquaints us, that they had their skill by inspiration from God; and it doth not appear that they had any successors; so that in the time of Solomon there were no professed artificers who could undertake the work of the temple.

1 Kings 4:7

And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, which provided victuals for the king and his household: each man in his month made provision. The country beingdivided into twelve parts, there were so many persons (called Nitzavium, because there they were placed) constituted to buy provisions for the king and his family, at the best hand, and every thing in its proper season; to be sent to the place where the king resided, by every one in his month. * By which means there was great plenty for all that belonged to the court; both for his house, and his stables of horses; for domestics, and for all foreigners, that came thither about business, or to hear his wisdom: who were there entertained without any grievance to his people. Vcr. 8. And these are their names: ThesonofHur.] He tells only the name of the father, who it. seems was more illustrious than the son: unless we translate these words, Ben-IIur. In Mount Ephraim.] And the territory belonging to it: which must be understood of the rest of the places mentioned in the following verses. Vcr. 9. Tlie son ofBekar.] Or Bm-Bekar, as those that follow may be translated: though it is probable, as I said before, that the fathers are named,- not the sons, because they were very illustrious persons, and better known: who managed, perhaps, this affair by their sons. InMakaz, and in Shaalbimt and Beth-shemesh, and Elonbeth’-hanan.] It is not material in what country these places were; and therefore I shall not inquire after them. And it came to pass, that when Hiram heard the words of’Solomon, he rejoiced greatly.] Which demonstrates a more than ordinary friendship which he had for king David and the people of Israel. And said, Blessed be the Lord this day, which hath given tinto David a wise son over this great people.] If he was not become a proselyte to the Jews’ religion (which one would have expected should have been recorded if he had), yet he had a great veneration for the God of Israel, who was properly called the Lord: and, it is likely, he worshipped him together with his own God.

1 Kings 4:8

And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered the things which thou sentest to me for: and I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir. The word which we translate fir, others think signifies pine or cypress. For fir seems not so fit for this work, being a light wood, and not durable, and apt to take fire. Their conjecture is most reasc lable, who think it was a kind of cedar: and therefore comprehended under that name, ver. G. where Solomon desires of him only, that his servants might hew him cedar-trees. i -.

1 Kings 4:9

My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea. The Mediterranean Sea; in which his city stood. And I will convey them by sea in floats.] Some think they were. tied together, and drawn in the water by vessels; as the manner now frequently is: but they wanted not vessels wherein to convey them; for Diodorus Sieulus saith, (lib. vi.) that Sidon had in his time, rpinpueical 7T£vn’/p«e irXdovgrwv Ifcariv, more than a hundred three-oar and five-oar vessels belonging to it: and that city was but two thousand furlongs from Tyre, as Strabo saith. Unto the place that thou shall appoint me.] Which was Joppa: a famous sea-port in the country of Israel, (2 Chron. ii. 16.) And will cause them to be discharged there, and thou shall receive them.] When they were landed in that place. And thou shalt accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household^] For, living in barren islands, they wanted corn; though they had plenty of money; being great merchants. And in aftertimes, it appears, they w r ere supported by provisions from Judea, (Acts xii. 20.)

1 Kings 4:10

The son ofllesed, in Aruboth; to him pertained Sochoh, and all the land of Hepher. There were more Sochos than one, as we find Josh. xv. 35. 48. It is uncertain which is here m&ant. The land of Hepher possibly may be the portion given to the daughters of Hepher, (Josh, xvii * 3, &c.) And Hiram gave Solomon cedar-trees, andffttrees, according to all his desire.] That is, he agreed to give him all that he desired; but the trees were not yet cut down and prepared.

1 Kings 4:11

The son of Abinabab, in all the region of Dor; which had Tapliath the daughter of Solomon to wife.\ Solomon had no daughters marriageable when these offieers were made: but in process of time this man, and Ahimaaz mentioned ver. 15. had behaved themselves so well in their office, that Solomon did them the honour to give them two of his daughters to be their wives. ** -•- * And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil.] In 2 Chron. ii. 10. it is said twenty thousand baths of oil. How corim and bathivt differ I shall not examine; but that place in the Chronicles plainly speaks of what was given to the workmen, who had other tilings besides (there mentioned) to support them in their labours: but here the prophet speaks ofwhatw r as given for the use of Hiram’s family, as Kimchi and Ralbag solve this seeming contradiction. Abarbinel hath another solution. (See Buxtorfs Vindicae Hebr. Veritatis, par. ii. cap. 2. p. 424.) Thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.] During their lives.

1 Kings 4:12

Baana the son ofAhilud; to him pertained Taanach and Megiddo, and all Beth-shean, which is by Zarta-?iah, beneath Jezreel, from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah, even unto the place that is beyond Jockneam.] These places have been named in the foregoing books: where I have noted as much as I can find about them. Here the author names the person himself that was employed (as he doth. in some of the following verses) and not merely the father. The reason of which I cannot give, unless it were that he was a very noted person. And the Lord gave Solomon wisdom as he promised.] His wisdom appeared more and more in all his transactions. And there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together.] It was lawful in ancient times, before the law of Moses was given, to make leagues with strangers to their religion for their mutual benefit: as appears by the story of Jacob and Laban, Isaac and Abimelech (though some doubt whether he was an idolater), and the law of Moses made no alteration, as Grotius observes, lib. ii. de Jure Belli et Pacis, cap. 16. sect. 9. If Hiram therefore worshipped other gods, Solomon might notwithstanding make a league witli him, (insomuch that Hiram -calls him brother, ix. 13.) he being none of the seven nations of Canaan.

1 Kings 4:13

The son of Geber, in Ramoth-Gitcad: to him per tamed the towms ofJair 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 brazen bars.] These countries beyond Jordan are also well known, being often mentioned in the foregoing books. And king Solomoti raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy tvas thirty thousand men.] To cut down the trees which Hiram’s servants were to hew.

1 Kings 4:14

Abinadab the son of Iddo had Mahanaim.*. And the territory belonging to it, which was very fertile: but this seems to some not to bear proportion to the rest, being not a twelfth part of the whole country. Therefore they follow the marginal translation, to Mahanaim: that is, all the territory from the places beforcnamed unto this place.

1 Kings 4:15

Ahimaaz was in Naphtali; he also took.Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wife. As Abinadab had married another of his daughters, (sec ver. 11.)

1 Kings 4:16

Baanah the son ofllushai was in Asher and in Alotli. This” man, perhaps, was the son of Ilushai, the friend of David; and therefore preferred by Solomon. Vcr. 17. Jehoshaphat the son ofParnah in Issachar.] It appears by this, and the foregoing and following verses,

1 Kings 4:18

Sliimei the son of Elali in Benjamin. Concerning this person, see chap. i. ver. 8.

1 Kings 4:19

Giber the son of Uri teas in the country of (Ulead, in the country of Sihon king of the Amorites, and ofOg king of Bashan. That is, in the rest of the country of Gilead beforementioned, ver. 13. And lie was Vie only officer which was in the land J] There is nothing in the Hebrew answering to those words, he toas: therefore this doth not relate to the officer beforementioned; but the meaning is, as Abarbinel expounds it, that besides all those officers beforenamed, there was. an-, other who took care of strangers, who were going to court, or coming from it: as the other twelve took care of. his family, and all belonging to it. This officer made provision in that country where the king then dwelt; and therefore is not named,* because he was not fixed and settled in bis office, as the others were; but chosen by the citizens of that city, where the king resided.. - Ver- 20. And Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude.] The same Abarbinel thinks this and the next verses explain the reason why this, officer was appointed: first, because Israel and Judah were so great a people; and secondly, because strangers came from several regions, to bring presents, or about other business. And therefore it was necessary thisofficer should set a reasonable price upon all tilings sold in the, market,’that they might not exact upon any body, when they, saw a multitude of buyers, which might tempt them to sell their commodities too dear. Eating and drinking, and making merry.’] In perfect security; and being well-pleased and highly satisfied.

1 Kings 4:21

And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms y from the river to the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt. The bounds of his kingdom were Euphrates on the east, the country of the Philistines on the west, and Egypt on the south. For so God promised that their dominio’n should be extended, from the river of Egypt to the great river,- the river Euphrates, (Gen. xv. 18.) And accordingly David conquered so far, and Solomon, maintained his conquests. They brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.] This explains what went before: which is not to be understood as if all those countries had no other king than Solomon; but that their kings were tributaries to him, and made him presents in token of their subjection. •

1 Kings 4:22

And Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, aud sixty measures of meal. Hymeal is meant a coarser sort of. flour for inferior servants: and the measure here spoken of contained ten. ephahs. So here was bread enough provided for near three thousand persons, as some compute it.

1 Kings 4:23

Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and a hundred sheep. This and the foregoing verse Abarbinel thinks arc added, to satisfy some questions that arise about the constitution of so many officers: for why might he not be supplied out of the neighbouring cities and towns? which he shews. here could not be; because of the vast quantity of provision which was necessary for one day. And it is observable, that oxen are here mentioned in the first place (both those fatted at home, and those fatted in the pastures), being anciently esteemed the most noble meat: as appears by. Homer’s heroes. Who,, as Dioscorides notes, never had any thing in their feasts, no, not at marriages, but fat oxen. See Bochartus, in his. Hierozoicon, par. i. lib. ii.cap. 32. where he mentions the great entertainments made by Agamemnon, * Menelaus, Nestor, Alcinous. Nor did they that courted Penelope, though the most voluptuous of all men, eat any.other meat. Besides harts, and roe-bucks, and fallow-deer.]. Which, were meats highly esteemed among the Jews, and men*, tioned next to the foregoing, Deut. xiv.“4, 5. And fatted fowl.] Many restrain the word Barburim to birds,, or fowl, as we do: and some think they were capons: Kimchi and others say, fatted fowl out of Barbary; from whence they had the name of Barburim. But the name of Barbary was not known in Solomon’s time”: and therefore, Bochart thinks the word should be translated, the choicest of all fatted things, (Hieroz. par. ii. lib.i. cap. 19.) and so Gousset, in his late Commentaries of the Hebrew Tongue.

1 Kings 4:24

And he had dominion over all the regions on this side the river. It might be objected to what was said before, that all the country of Israel could not afford such a constant supply of provisions: which he prevents by this observation, that his dominion extended to a great many other, regions, from whence they might be furnished with" more than his own country afforded. FromTiphsah even unto Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river.] This is an explication of what is said ver. 21. that he reigned from the river, that is Euphrates, to th<* land of the Philistines: for Tiphsah is the same with the city Tapsaeus; where there was a bridge, and a ferry over Euphrates, as Strabo testifies in many places: (see lib. xvi. p. 747.) and the very name implies as much, for J7D3 is transire, to pass over, in the Hebrew language. And he had peace on all sides round about him.] None ofhis neighbours gave him any disturbance: so that the Israelites had nothing to divert them (as Abarbinel observes) from improving their lands, and increasing their rents; whereby there was a greater plenty of all things. Machiavcl magnifies those who by force of arms achieved mighty things, and raised themselves to a great height of glory: but Hermannus Conringius well corrects him with this observation, that Solomon among the Jews, and Numa Pompilius among the Romans, got a more lasting name in all future ages by the art of peace. For which he refers to Cicero, lib. ii. de.Officiis.

1 Kings 4:25

And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig-tree, from Dan even to Beer-sheba. This he saith (the same author thinks) to shew the great plenty of corn, and wine, and oil, a3 well as of cattle and all other things: vines and fig-trees arc particularly mentioned, because they were planted in Judeamore than any other trees; for the sweetness of their fruit, aud the benefits of their shade.. All the days of Solomon.] That is, till the end of his life. When some adversaries were stirred up against him: but for so short a time, in his old age, that he had peace the far greater part of his reign, (1 Chro’n; xxii. 9.) Ver. 2G. And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots.] In 2 Chron. ix. 25. it is said he had but four thousand. But there is no disagreement between these two places; for he speaks “.here of his horses, and

1 Kings 4:27

These officers provided victuals for king Solo- 7iion, and for all that came to king SolomoiCs table, every man hi his month: they lacked nothing. This is repeated, to shew their diligenee,exactness, and care, which were re-, markable: especially since they took care of his stables, as well as of his household, as it follows in the next verse.

1 Kings 4:28

Barley also and straw. Barley was anciently borse-corn, as appears. by many places in Homer; which Boehartus hath observed in his Hierozoieon, par. i. lib. ji. cap. 9.\ For the horses and dromedaries.] The Hebrew word rechesh signifies swift horses, as Abarbinel thinks. (See Esther viii. 14.) But others take them for mules, as w r e translate it in the margin. Boehartus thinks it certain, that this word imports a kind of horse, Micah i. 13. (See Hierozoieon, par. i. lib. ii. cap. G. 21.) Brought they unto the place where the officers were.] Or rather, where the beasts were. For there is no word for officers in the Hebrew. Eve)*y man according to his charge.] Which lasted for a month, every year..

1 Kings 4:29

And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much. Knowledgo of all manner of things; and prudence in the administration of the government.. L. ~.-. And largeness of heart.] A mind very comprehensive/ of all sort of knowledge; and a heart to do a vast deal of g° od - * Even as the sand that is on vie sea-shore.] As the sand there encloses a vast body of waters; so his mind contained an ocean of knowledge, as the lord Bacon somewhere observes. *

1 Kings 4:30

And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country. Some, by these eastern stages, understand the Chaldeans: who were rather a northern people, as Jeremiah describes them, (i. 14.) and were not famous for learning in Solomon’s time; nor began to be so till the reign of Nabonassar: nor are the Tyrians here meant, as Pineda imagines; for they were a western people: but the Oriental Arabians; who were, famous. for wisdom in ancient times, as appears by the book of Job. And in after-ages Porphyry reports (as St. Cyril tells us, lib. x. contra Julianum), that Pythagoras travelled into this country, to improve himself in learning: where were many of those wise men called magi, as well as among the Persians. Thus Conringius in his Supplementum 5. ad L. dc Antiq. Acadeinicis. But after all, Abarbinel takes the word kedem not to signify east, but ancient time. And so the children of kedem are those who were born in the days of old: when men lived somchundreds of years; and so improved themselves in knowledge (especially in astronomical learning), far more than it was possible for men to do, after their lives became very short.” This makes our wisdom defective, as was observed by Hippocrates in his Aphorisms, " Art is long, and life is short." But Solomon, by a special gift of God, was more knowing than they who lived above ten times as long as he did.- But this is a forced sense, as appears by the next words, concerning Egypt. And all the wisdom of Egypt.] Which country was celebrated for wisdom in Moses’s time, as appears from Acts vii. 22. and in.aftertimes Macrobius calls Egypt, matrem artium, the mother of arts. But it was famous, especially, for the knowledge of the motions of the heavenly bodies: for* he saith, (lib. i. Saturnal. cap. 15.) " Primos omnium coelos scrutari et metiri ausos fuisse;" that they were the first who attempted to search and measure the heavens: for which the great serenity of their air gave them opportunity. As for their civil prudence, it is sufficiently indicated in the words of Isaiah, xix. II."

1 Kings 4:31

And he was wiser than all men. Of that age wherein he lived! But some extend this to all men that were before him, or should come after him. For in Midrasch Kohelc’th (upon Eecl. vii. 24.) they thus gloss, " Wiser than col Adam, all men (this is the first Adam), and than Ethan (this is Abraham), and than Heman (this is Moses).?’ But Maimonides discreetly confines the words to the men of that age, whom he mentions, Ethan, Heman, &c. and will by no means allow him to have been wiser than Moses. (See More Nevoehim, par. iii. cap. 4.) Than Ethan tlie Ezrahite, than Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda.) If these were the sons of Zerah the son of Judah, mentioned 1 Chron. ii. 6. then it is not true that Solomon is compared only with the wise men of his age; for these lived long before him.. And the two former are thought to have been endued with the spirit of prophecy, being the authors, as some think, of two psalms. For Psalm lxxxviii. is said to be an instructive Psalm of Heman the Ezrahite, and the next (lxxxix.) of Ethan the Ezrahite. Of this opinion is Dr. Lightfoot. But it is more probable that other men are here meant; for we read of Heman, the grandchild of Samuel, 1 Chron. vi. 33. who was also a prophet, 1 Chron. xxv. 5. and in the same time there was one Ethan, a Levite of the posterity of Merari, 1 Chron. vi. 46. who is joined with Heman and Asaph as principal singers, 1 Chron. xv. 17. Now the forementioned psalms may more reasonably be ascribed to them; there being express mention of David and his kingdom in one of them": and then Solomon is compared only with the wise men of his own time, and not with’ those that lived before Moses. They.that think otherwise of these men’, were misled by the Jews, w r ho would have* some psalms to have been composed before David. This they began to suppose (as a most learned friend of mine, Dr. Alix, hath observed to Digitized py Microsoft ® CHAP. IV.] THE FIRST BOOK OF THE KINGS, me) after the times of the apostles, as -Justin Martyr affirms in his Apology, p. 76. The sons of Mahol.] This confutes those that make them the sons of Zerah: unless we suppose him to have had two names, as it must be confessed was common among the Jews. And this last name might be given him, because he was a skilful musician: for Mahol signifies a pipe. And his fame was in all nations round about.]. Attihe neighbouring countries heard the fame of his wisdom,

1 Kings 4:32

And lie spake three thousand proverbs. Being an excellent moral philosopher, as well as a natural. St. Jerome thinks these are those we read in the book of the Proverbs, which doth not contain so many: but is more probable than what Joscphus affirms, that he wrote three thousand books of Proverbs:-which is an extravagant conceit; for the Scripture mentions only three thousand proverbs, many of which we must confess to have been lost, as other composures of his are. And his songs were a thousand and five.] He was a great poet also: for anciently wise men were wont to give good instructions in songs; which made them to be more easily remembered. But none of these compositions were thought to be divinely inspired, but only the song of songs’: which was therefore joined to the sacred books. The rest were not adapted to stir up a sense of piety; as the Psalms of David were: who is therefore called the sweet singer of Israel, 2 Sam. xxiii. 1. Ver; 33. And he spake of trees, from the cedarrtree that is in Lebanon, even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall] That is, of all sorts of plants, from the greatest to the smallest For ezub (which wo commonly translate hyssop) seems to be the same with the Ethiopian word azub, “which signifies mint; and is more agreeable to this placc/being more directly opposed to the cedar than hyssop: which hath a stalk, and sometimes of great strength, as De Dicu and Job Ludolphus have observed.’ And for this reason Hottinger (in his Smegma Oriental. -p.’ 680.) takes it for the wall-flower, which is less than hyssop. But Bochartus maintains hyssop to be here meant; of which the Jews reckoned four sorts: and one of them may well be thought to grow upon walls. Though there is no necessity, he thinks, to put that interpretation. upon the word bekir, w^ich we translate on the wall: which may signify, as the particle beth doth in many places, near or hard by the wall. Of Jerusalem, that is, which was encompassed with mountains: and the Arabians observe that hyssop grew in the mountains, especially about Jerusalem. (See Hicrozoicon, par. i. lib. ii. cap. 50.) From Solomon’s great skill in the properties and virtues of all plants, Nachmanides makes bold to conclude that he wrote a book of medicine..,.., And he spake also of beasts, and fowl, and creeping things, and fishes.] This shews the vastness of his learning; which comprehended the whole history of animals, as well as of plants; whose nature and qualities he understood. Some Jews fancy that Aristotle saw these books, and published them in his own name, in his Historia Animalhim. It is a rule given by those who write books of civil prudence, that they who apply themselves to the management, of. public affairs, should not follow other studies; which by their delight may draw their minds too much from business: but Solomon had so vast a genius, that he pursued all manner of knowledge, while he governed his kingdom with great. prudence. For he composed a great number of songs, and discoursed of all sorts of creatures, both in the sea and in the land: which belonged to contemplative, not to practical studies. So that in his days, the wish “of Plato was fulfilled, that " either philosophers might be kings, or kings be philosophers.”. v’ Ver. 34; And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, whichhad heard of his wisdom.] It is a conceit of Kimehi, that kings came from all parts of the. countries round about to hear his wisdom; and jheir people, when.they returned, came to their;kings to learn what Solomon had said. But this is not the literal sense of the words; nor is it probable thatany but the queen of Sheba.came in person to hear his wisdom. For they would have been mentioned, as she is. Therefore the plain meaning is, that people came from all the neighbouring nations, being sent by their kings, who heard of his fame. Nay, their own natural desires might carry them to him. For, as Dion Prusaeus observes, (Orat; de Regno, p. 6.) there is no spectacle so, grateful as a wise and good king. All men flock to see him, and partake, ttjc KoArjc SiavoiaQ kcu ayaSf/c, of his good and pious mind. Especially if he be mild and gentle, there is no spectacle so sweet and lovely; insomuch, that they who see him are loath to leave him (as he speaks a little beforehand they that hear him,lTr&vfjiov<jiv IS&v, &c. are desirous to see him, more than children arc to find their unknown father. > CHAP, Y.