1 Kings Chapter 4

At a Glance

  • This chapter expands the administrative order of Solomon’s prosperous reign.
  • Historically & Literary Context.
  • 1 Kings 4 belongs to the early portion of Solomon’s reign and functions as a descriptive prologue to the broader narrative of his wisdom and administrative acumen.
  • - Administrative order and provision: A well-ordered bureaucracy sustains the realm.
  • - Prosperity as a fruit of wise governance: Economic flourishing mirrors prudent rule.

Chapter Overview

This chapter expands the administrative order of Solomon’s prosperous reign. Solomon’s governance is described through a detailed census of his officers—twelve regional prefects, each responsible for provisioning the king and household. The text lists the names and locales of these administrators, highlighting the geographic breadth of Solomon’s rule, from Ephraim to Dan, and from Dor to Bashan. The narrative emphasizes abundance: Israel’s vastness, the multiplicity of nations, the wealth of the land, and the order of the administrative system. It also underscores the consequences of wise governance—peace, prosperity, and a nation that thrives under thoughtful leadership. The chapter sets the stage for the rest of 1 Kings 4, which unfolds the details of Solomon’s wisdom in governance and the daily provision of the realm, illustrating a well-ordered kingdom in which the king’s prosperity aligns with the well-being of the people.

Historically & Literary Context

1 Kings 4 belongs to the early portion of Solomon’s reign and functions as a descriptive prologue to the broader narrative of his wisdom and administrative acumen. The chapter presents a structural, almost catalog-like portrait of governance, reflecting the historical conventions of royal annals that celebrate administrative organization, logistics, and the distribution of resources. It serves to illustrate the practical flourishing that accompanies wise leadership, while foreshadowing future challenges that such centralized control can bring. The genre is royal chronicle with didactic overtones—an invitation to readers to observe how governance and justice are intertwined with the divine blessing that attends faithful leadership.

Key Themes

- Administrative order and provision: A well-ordered bureaucracy sustains the realm.

- Prosperity as a fruit of wise governance: Economic flourishing mirrors prudent rule.

- Geographic reach and unity: The expansion of the kingdom’s reach is mirrored in the centralized administration.

- The interplay of leadership, resources, and worship: The material abundance supports religious and civic life.

Modern Application

For readers today, 1 Kings 4 resonates with the importance of organizational structure in leadership. A thriving community or organization depends on competent administrators who can ensure fair distribution of resources, clear communication, and reliable logistics. The chapter invites contemporary leaders to invest in governance systems that reflect justice, efficiency, and accountability. It also points to the link between administrative health and communal well-being: effective leadership under God’s guidance can produce peace, stability, and the capacity to serve others. Finally, the chapter calls for humility about power—recognizing that stewardship is a divine calling rather than a personal entitlement.

Cross-References

- Deuteronomy 16:18-20 (landmark governance and justice)

- 1 Kings 5-7 (Solomon’s building projects and temple plans)

- 2 Chronicles 9 (Solomon’s wealth and wisdom)

- Proverbs on wise administration (Proverbs 28:2; 29:4)

Recommended Personas

- Solomon: The wise administrator whose governance shapes the kingdom.

- Advisors and scribes: The voice of bureaucratic order and civic life.

- A modern administrator or policy-maker: Translating ancient governance into present-day organizational leadership.

- A priestly figure connected to temple worship: Balancing governance with spiritual life.

- Jesus (as the Wisdom of God): Offers deeper insight into how wisdom guides leadership, justice, and compassion.

Chapter Text

1

So king Solomon was king over all Israel.

2

And these were the princes which he had; Azariah the son of Zadok the priest,

3

Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder.

4

And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:

5

And Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers: and Zabud the son of Nathan was principal officer, and the king’s friend:

6

And Ahishar was over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute.

7

And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, which provided victuals for the king and his household: each man his month in a year made provision.

8

And these are their names: The son of Hur, in mount Ephraim:

9

The son of Dekar, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Bethshemesh, and Elonbethhanan:

10

The son of Hesed, in Aruboth; to him pertained Sochoh, and all the land of Hepher:

11

The son of Abinadab, in all the region of Dor; which had Taphath the daughter of Solomon to wife:

12

Baana the son of Ahilud; to him pertained Taanach and Megiddo, and all Bethshean, which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel, from Bethshean to Abelmeholah, even unto the place that is beyond Jokneam:

13

The son of Geber, in Ramothgilead; to him pertained the towns of Jair 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 brasen bars:

14

Ahinadab the son of Iddo had Mahanaim:

15

Ahimaaz was in Naphtali; he also took Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wife:

16

Baanah the son of Hushai was in Asher and in Aloth:

17

Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar:

18

Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin:

19

Geber the son of Uri was in the country of Gilead, in the country of Sihon king of the Amorites, and of Og king of Bashan; and he was the only officer which was in the land.

20

Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry.

21

And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.

22

And Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal,

23

Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallowdeer, and fatted fowl.

24

For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him.

25

And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.

26

And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.

27

And those officers provided victual for king Solomon, and for all that came unto king Solomon’s table, every man in his month: they lacked nothing.

28

Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries brought they unto the place where the officers were, every man according to his charge.

29

And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.

30

And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.

31

For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.

32

And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.

33

And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon 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.

34

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

Discuss This Chapter with Biblical Personas

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