1 Kings 4:1

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

Contextual Overview

¹So King Solomon ruled over Israel,²and these were his chief officials: Azariah son of Zadok was the priest; ³Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, were secretaries; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder; ⁴Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in charge of the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests; ⁵Azariah son of Nathan was in charge of the governors; Zabud son of Nathan was a priest and adviser to the king; ⁶Ahishar was in charge of the palace; and Adoniram son of Abda was in charge of the labor force. ⁷Solomon had twelve governors over all Israel to provide food for the king and his household. Each one would arrange provisions for one month of the year, ⁸and these were their names: Ben-hur in the hill country of Ephraim; ⁹Ben-deker in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth-shemesh, and Elon-beth-hanan; ¹⁰Ben-hesed in Arubboth (Socoh and all the land of Hepher belonged to him);

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

over all Israel: 1 Kings 11:13, 1 Kings 11:35, 1 Kings 11:36, 1 Kings 12:19, 1 Kings 12:20, 2 Samuel 5:5, 1 Chronicles 12:38, 2 Chronicles 9:30, Ecclesiastes 1:12

Reciprocal: Genesis 49:8 - thy hand 1 Kings 9:22 - but they were men 2 Chronicles 10:1 - all

Cross-References

Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."

Genesis 4:25
And Adam again had relations with his wife, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, "God has granted me another seed in place of Abel, since Cain killed him."

Genesis 5:29
And he named him Noah, saying, "May this one comfort us in the labor and toil of our hands caused by the ground that the LORD has cursed."

Numbers 31:17
So now, kill all the boys, and kill every woman who has had relations with a man,

1 John 3:12
Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

So King Solomon was king over all Israel. As David his father was not at first, only over Judah, and as Solomon's successors were not, after the division of the kingdom under his son Rehoboam; though this seems to have a particular respect to what is related in the preceding chapter concerning the wisdom of Solomon, for which he was so famous, that he reigned by the consent of all, and in the hearts of all the people of Israel.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Solomon, that is, was king over “all Israel” from the first; not like David, who for seven and a half years reigned over Judah only. This feature well introduces the glory of Solomon and the organisation of the court, of which the historian in this chapter intends to give us a general sketch. Solomon constitutes certain “princes” or officers of the first rank, deriving their station from him, and probably holding it during pleasure.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER IV

An account of Solomon's chief officers, 1-6.

Names of the twelve officers that were over twelve districts,

to provide victuals for the king's household monthly, 7-19.

Judah and Israel are very populous; and Solomon reigns over

many provinces, 20, 21.

The daily provision for his family, 22, 23.

The extent and peace of his dominions, 24, 25.

His horses, chariots, and dromedaries; with the provision made

for them, 26-28.

His wisdom and understanding, 29-31.

The number of his proverbs and songs; and his knowledge in

natural history, 32, 33.

People from all nations come to hear his wisdom, 34.

NOTES ON CHAP. IV