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Texts -- 1 Kings 4:20-34 (NET)

Context
Solomon’s Wealth and Fame
4:20 The people of Judah and Israel were as innumerable as the sand on the seashore ; they had plenty to eat and drink and were happy . 4:21 Solomon ruled all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines , as far as the border of Egypt . These kingdoms paid tribute as Solomon’s subjects throughout his lifetime . 4:22 Each day Solomon’s royal court consumed thirty cors of finely milled flour , sixty cors of cereal , 4:23 ten calves fattened in the stall, twenty calves from the pasture , and a hundred sheep , not to mention rams , gazelles , deer , and well-fed birds . 4:24 His royal court was so large because he ruled over all the kingdoms west of the Euphrates River from Tiphsah to Gaza ; he was at peace with all his neighbors . 4:25 All the people of Judah and Israel had security ; everyone from Dan to Beer Sheba enjoyed the produce of their vines and fig trees throughout Solomon’s lifetime . 4:26 Solomon had 4,000 stalls for his chariot horses and 12,000 horses . 4:27 The district governors acquired supplies for King Solomon and all who ate in his royal palace . Each was responsible for one month in the year; they made sure nothing was lacking . 4:28 Each one also brought to the assigned location his quota of barley and straw for the various horses . 4:29 God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment ; the breadth of his understanding was as infinite as the sand on the seashore . 4:30 Solomon was wiser than all the men of the east and all the sages of Egypt . 4:31 He was wiser than any man , including Ethan the Ezrahite or Heman , Calcol , and Darda , the sons of Mahol . He was famous in all the neighboring nations . 4:32 He composed 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs . 4:33 He produced manuals on botany, describing every kind of plant , from the cedars of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows on walls . He also produced manuals on biology, describing animals , birds , insects , and fish . 4:34 People from all nations came to hear Solomon’s display of wisdom ; they came from all the kings of the earth who heard about his wisdom .

Pericope

NET

Bible Dictionary

  • Solomon

    [ebd] peaceful, (Heb. Shelomoh), David's second son by Bathsheba, i.e., the first after their legal marriage (2 Sam. 12). He was probably born about B.C. 1035 (1 Chr. 22:5; 29:1). He succeeded his father on the throne in early man...
    [isbe] SOLOMON - sol'-o-mun (shelomoh; New Testament Solomon): I. EARLY LIFE 1. Name and Meaning 2. Sources 3. Birth and Upbringing 4. His Accession 5. Closing Days of David II. REIGN OF SOLOMON 1. His Vision 2. His Policy 3. Its R...
    [smith] (peaceful). I. Early life and occasion to the throne . --Solomon was the child of David?s old age, the last born of all his sons. (1 Chronicles 3:5) The yearnings of the "man of war" led him to give to the new-horn infant ...
    [nave] SOLOMON Son of David by Bathsheba, 2 Sam. 12:24; 1 Kin. 1:13, 17, 21. Named Jedidiah, by Nathan the prophet, 2 Sam. 12:24, 25. Ancestor of Joseph, Matt. 1:6. Succeeds David to the throne of Israel, 1 Kin. 1:11-48; 2:12; 1...

  • HORSE

    [ebd] always referred to in the Bible in connection with warlike operations, except Isa. 28:28. The war-horse is described Job 39:19-25. For a long period after their settlement in Canaan the Israelites made no use of horses, acco...
    [isbe] HORSE - hors: 1. Names: The common names are (1) cuc, and (2) hippos. (3) The word parash, "horseman," occurs often, and in several cases is translated "horse" or "warhorse" (Isa 28:28; Ezek 27:14; Joel 2:4 the Revised Versi...
    [smith] The most striking feature in the biblical notices of the horse is the exclusive application of it to warlike operations; in no instance is that useful animal employed for the purposes of ordinary locomotion or agriculture, if...

  • Deer

    [isbe] DEER - der ('ayyal, feminine 'ayyalah, and 'ayyeleth (compare Arabic, 'ayyal and 'iyal, "deer" and 'ayil, "ram," and Latin caper and capra, "goat," caprea, capreolus, "wild goat," "chamois," or "roe deer"); yachmur (compare ...
    [nave] DEER, called also, Fallow Deer, Hart, Hind, Roebuck. Designated among the clean animals, to be eaten, Deut. 12:15; 14:5. Provided for Solomon's household, 1 Kin. 4:23. Fleetness of, 2 Sam. 2:18; 1 Chr. 12:8; Prov. 6:5; Song...

  • RAMOTH-GILEAD

    [isbe] RAMOTH-GILEAD - ra'-moth-gil'-e-ad (ramoth gil'adh; Codex Vaticanus Rhemmath Galadd; Codex Alexandrinus Rhammoth, and other forms): A great and strong city East of the Jordan in the territory of Gad, which played an importan...

  • GENEALOGY, 1-7

    [isbe] GENEALOGY, 1-7 - je-na-al'-o-ji, jen-a-al'-o-ji: 1. Definition 2. Biblical References 3. Importance of Genealogies 4. Their Historical Value 5. Principles of Interpretation 6. Principles of Compilation 7. Sources 8. Principa...

  • Micah, Book of

    [ebd] the sixth in order of the so-called minor prophets. The superscription to this book states that the prophet exercised his office in the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. If we reckon from the beginning of Jotham's reign ...

  • Wisdom

    [isbe] WISDOM - wiz'-dum: 1. Linguistic 2. History 3. Religious Basis 4. Ideals 5. Teaching of Christ 6. Remainder of the New Testament (1) James (2) Paul 7. Hypostasis LITERATURE 1. Linguistic: In the Revised Version (British and ...
    [nave] WISDOM Of Joseph, Gen. 41:16, 25-39; Acts 7:10. Of Moses, Acts 7:22. Of Bezaleel, Ex. 31:3-5; 35:31-35; 36:1. Of Aholiab, Ex. 31:6; 35:34, 35; 36:1; of other skilled artisans, Ex. 36:2; of women, Ex. 35:26. Of Hiram, 1 K...

  • Tax

    [nave] TAX Poll, Ex. 30:11-16; 38:26; Neh. 10:32; Luke 2:1. Jesus pays, Matt. 17:24-27. Land, Gen. 41:34, 48; 2 Kin. 23:35. Land mortgaged for, Neh. 5:3, 4. Priests exempted from, Gen. 47:26; Ezra 7:24. Paid in grain, Amos 5:1...

  • Wise Men

    [nave] WISE MEN Of Egypt, Gen. 41:8, 24; Ex. 7:11. Solomon, 1 Kin. 4:29-34. Of Babylon, Dan. 4:18; 5:8. Of the East, Matt. 2:1-12. See: Wisdom.

  • PROVERB

    [isbe] PROVERB - prov'-erb (mashal, chidhah; parabole (Lk 4:23), paroimia (Jn 16:25,29)): I. FOLK MEANING AND USE 1. The Primitive Sense 2. The Communal Origin 3. Animus of Proverbs II. LITERARY DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROVERB 1. Discov...

  • PROVERBS, THE BOOK OF

    [isbe] PROVERBS, THE BOOK OF - prov'-erbz: I. THE BOOK'S ACCOUNT OF ITSELF 1. Title and Headings 2. Authorship or Literary Species? II. THE SUCCESSIVE COMPILATIONS 1. The Introductory Section 2. The Classic Nucleus 3. A Body of Sol...

  • Mahol

    [ebd] dance, the father of four sons (1 Kings 4:31) who were inferior in wisdom only to Solomon.
    [isbe] MAHOL - ma'-hol (machol, "dance"; compare bene-machol, "sons of dance"): The father of the 4 sages reputed next in wisdom to Solomon (1 Ki 4:31). Their names were Ethan, Heman, Chalcol, Darda.
    [smith] (dancing), the father of the four men most famous for wisdom next to Solomon himself. (1 Kings 4:31; 1 Chronicles 2:6)
    [nave] MAHOL, father of Heman, Chalcol, and Darda, 1 Kin. 4:31.

  • PHILOSOPHY

    [smith] It is the object of the following article to give some account (I.) of that development of thought among the Jews which answered to the philosophy of the West; (II.) of the systematic progress of Greek philosophy as forming a...

  • Barley

    [ebd] a grain much cultivated in Egypt (Ex. 9:31) and in Palestine (Lev. 27:16; Deut. 8:8). It was usually the food of horses (1 Kings 4:28). Barley bread was used by the poorer people (Judg. 7:13; 2 Kings 4:42). Barley of the fir...
    [isbe] BARLEY - bar'-li (se`orah): (1) In the Bible, as in modern times, barley was a characteristic product of Palestine--"a land of wheat and barley, and vines and fig-trees," etc. (Dt 8:8), the failure of whose crop was a nation...
    [smith] is one of the most important of the cereal grains, and the most hardy of them all. It was grown by the Hebrews, (Leviticus 27:16; 8:8; Ruth 2:17) etc., who used it for baking into bread chiefly among the poor, (Judges 7:13; 2...
    [nave] BARLEY A product of Egypt, Ex. 9:31; Palestine, Deut. 8:8; 1 Chr. 11:13; Jer. 41:8. Fed to horses, 1 Kin. 4:28. Used in offerings, Num. 5:15; Ezek. 45:15. Traffic in, 2 Chr. 2:10; Hos. 3:2. Tribute in, 2 Chr. 27:5. Prie...

  • Hyssop

    [ebd] (Heb. 'ezob; LXX. hyssopos), first mentioned in Ex. 12:22 in connection with the institution of the Passover. We find it afterwards mentioned in Lev. 14:4, 6, 52; Num. 19:6, 18; Heb. 9:19. It is spoken of as a plant "springi...
    [isbe] HYSSOP - his'-up ('ezobh; hussspos, Ex 12:22; Lev 14:4,6,4:9 ff; Nu 19:6,18; 1 Ki 4:33; Ps 51:7; Jn 19:29; Heb 9:19): A plant used for ritual cleansing purposes; a humble plant springing out of the wall (1 Ki 4:33), the extr...
    [smith] (Heb. ezob.) The ezob was used for sprinkling in some of the sacrifices and purifications of the Jews. In consequence of its detergent qualities, or from its being associated with the purificatory Services, the psalmist makes...
    [nave] HYSSOP An indigenous plant to western Asia and northern Africa, 1 Kin. 4:33. The Israelites used, in sprinkling the blood of the paschal lamb upon the lintels of their doors, Ex. 12:22; in sprinkling blood in purifications,...

  • HAMATH

    [smith] (fortress), the principal city of upper Syria, was situated in the valley of the Orontes, which it commanded from the low screen of hills which forms the water-shed between the source of the Orontes and Antioch. The Hamathite...

  • Tiphsah

    [ebd] passing over; ford, one of the boundaries of Solomon's dominions (1 Kings 4:24), probably "Thapsacus, a great and wealthy town on the western bank of the Euphrates," about 100 miles north-east of Tadmor. All the land traffic...
    [isbe] TIPHSAH - tif'-sa (tiphcach, "ford"; Thapsa): (1) This marks the northern extremity of the dominions ruled by Solomon, Gaza being the limit on the South (1 Ki 4:24). It can hardly be other than Thapsacus, on the right bank o...
    [smith] (ford) is mentioned in (1 Kings 4:24) as the limit of Solomon?s empire toward the Euphrates and in (2 Kings 15:16) it is said to have been attacked by Menahemi. It was known to the Greeks and Romans under the name of Th...
    [nave] TIPHSAH 1. A city on the Euphrates, 1 Kin. 4:24. 2. A city of unknown location, 2 Kin. 15:16.

  • Ethan

    [ebd] firm. (1.) "The Ezrahite," distinguished for his wisdom (1 Kings 4:31). He is named as the author of the 89th Psalm. He was of the tribe of Levi. (2.) A Levite of the family of Merari, one of the leaders of the temple music ...
    [isbe] ETHAN - e'-than ('ethan, "firm," "enduring"; Gaithan): (1) A wise man with whom Solomon is compared (1 Ki 4:31). Called there "Ethan the Ezrahite," to whom the title of Ps 89 ascribes the authorship of that poem. (2) A "son ...
    [smith] (enduring). Ethan the Ezrahite, one of the four sons of Mahol, whose wisdom was excelled by Solomon. (1 Kings 4:31; 1 Chronicles 2:6) His name is in the title of (Psalms 89:1) Son of Kishi or Kushaiah; a Merarite Levit...
    [nave] ETHAN 1. A renowned sage, 1 Kin. 4:31. See title, Psa. 89. 2. Son of Zerah, 1 Chr. 2:6, 8. 3. Two Levites, 1 Chr. 6:42, 44; 15:17, 19.

  • Heman

    [ebd] faithful. (1.) 1 Kings 4:31; 1 Chr. 2:6, a son of Zerah, noted for his wisdom. (2.) Grandson of Samuel (1 Chr. 6:33; 15:17), to whom the 88th Psalm probably was inscribed. He was one of the "seers" named in 2 Chr. 29:14, 30,...
    [isbe] HEMAN - he'-man (heman, "faithful"): The name of two men in the Old Testament. (1) A musician and seer, a Levite, son of Joel and grandson of the prophet Samuel; of the family of the Kohathites (1 Ch 6:33), appointed by Davi...
    [smith] (faithful) Son of Zerah. (1 Chronicles 2:6; 1 Kings 4:31) Son of Joel and grandson of Samuel the prophet, a Kohathite. He is called "the singer," rather the musician, (1 Chronicles 6:33) and was the first of the thr...
    [nave] HEMAN 1. A man noted for wisdom, to whom Solomon is compared, 1 Kin. 4:31; 1 Chr. 2:6. 2. "The singer,'' a chief Levite, and musician, 1 Chr. 6:33; 15:17, 19; 16:41. The king's seer, 1 Chr. 25:5. His sons and daughters te...

  • Rulers

    [nave] RULERS Appointed and removed by God. See: Government, God in. Chastised, Dan. 4. See: Nation. Monarchical, See: Kings. Patriarchal, Gen. 27:29, 37. Instances of Nimrod, Gen. 10:8-10. Abraham, Gen. 14:13-24; 17:6; 21:2...
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Arts

Hymns

(Note: In "active" or "on" condition, the hymns music will be played automatically when mouse hover on a hymns title)
  • [1Ki 4:29] Dear God, Our Father
  • [1Ki 4:33] Cedar Of Lebanon, The

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • The Book of Samuel covers the period of Israel's history bracketed by Samuel's conception and the end of David's reign. David turned the kingdom over to Solomon in 971 B.C.3David reigned for 40 and one-half years (2 Sam. 2:11...
  • These verses summarize Samuel's continuing ministry as a prophet in Israel. Samuel qualified for this privilege by his faithful obedience to God's will as he knew it. God sovereignly chose Samuel for this ministry, but his di...
  • I. The reign of Solomon chs. 1-11A. Solomon's succession to David's throne 1:1-2:121. David's declining health 1:1-42. Adonijah's attempt to seize the throne 1:5-533. David's charge to Solomon 2:1-94. David's death 2:10-12B. ...
  • The Holy Spirit led the writer of Kings to give an interpretation of history, not just a chronologically sequential record of events. This is true of all the writers of the Old Testament historical books. Some of the events i...
  • The flowing narrative of chapters 1-2 now gives way to reports and lists that catalogue facts about Solomon's reign.The writer constructed the Solomon narrative (chs. 3-11), like so many others in the Old Testament, to draw a...
  • These men were responsible for providing for the needs of Solomon's large household, including his courtiers, and for his thousands of horses (v. 28). Two were Solomon's sons-in-law (vv. 11, 15). The district arrangement seem...
  • We can explain the writer's unusual reference to Judah and Israel at this time, before the division of the kingdom. When he wrote Kings the nation had split, so probably the writer was using the designation that was common in...
  • Here is more evidence that God gave Solomon wisdom (Heb. hokmah) as He had promised (3:12). He was one of the outstanding sages of the ancient world.61What Solomon received was the ability to make correct decisions. Even thou...
  • The writer seems to have included this event here to support his claim that Solomon's reign was so glorious that rulers came from all over the world to meet him (4:34; cf. 3:16-18). It also shows that some of Solomon's wealth...
  • The writer of Kings referred to other ancient records (v. 41; cf. 14:19, 29). The Acts of Solomon was the first of these.120It is no longer extant.Solomon's long reign of 40 years (971-931 B.C.) ended with the king in decline...
  • Aharoni, Yohanan. "The Building Activities of David and Solomon."Israel Exploration Journal24:1(1974):13-16.Aharoni, Yohanan, and Michael Avi-Yonahl. The Macmillan Bible Atlas. Revised ed., New York: Macmillan Publishing Co.,...
  • Numbers in Chronicles That Disagree With Their Old Testament Parallels89HigherSameLowerParallel PassageEvaluation of ChroniclesA.1 Chron. 11:11300 slain by Jashobeam, not 8002 Sam. 23:8Scribal errorB.1 Chron. 18:4Hadadezer's ...
  • The Chronicler's main interest in David's reign, as we have seen, focused on the Davidic Covenant with its promises to David and his descendants. In recounting the events of Solomon's reign he proceeded to emphasize the templ...
  • This is one of the saddest of the psalms. It relates the prayer of a person who suffered intensely over a long time yet continued to trust in the Lord. Heman was a wise man who was a singer in David's service and a contempora...
  • The writer of this royal psalm was Ethan, another wise Levitical musician in David's service (1 Kings 4:31; 1 Chron. 15:17-18).The occasion of writing is unclear. Judging from the content of the psalm it appears to have been ...
  • Chapters 1-9, as we have seen, contain discourses that Solomon evidently wrote urging his sons to choose the way of wisdom for their lives.92At 10:1 we begin the part of the book that sets forth what the wise way is in a vari...
  • 25:1 A group of scholars who served during King Hezekiah's reign (715-686 B.C.) added more of Solomon's 3,000 proverbs (1 Kings 4:32) to the former collection (1:1-22:16). These men lived about 250 years after Solomon. Solomo...
  • Solomon had unique resources for investigating life. He was the king of Israel (v. 12), and he possessed superlative wisdom (v. 13; cf. v. 16; 1 Kings 4:26-34). He says he made a comprehensive study of all kinds of human acti...
  • Many references to Solomon throughout the book confirm the claim of 1:1 that Solomon wrote this book (cf. 1:4-5, 12; 3:7, 9, 11; 6:12; 7:5; 8:11-12; 1 Kings 4:33). He reigned between 971 and 931 B.C.How could Solomon, who had...
  • The writer of this book was Solomon. He wrote 1,005 songs (1 Kings 4:32), and this book is one of them (cf. Pss. 72; 127)."Song of songs"means that this is a superlative song (cf. the terms "holy of holies,""vanity of vanitie...
  • "Obadiah's discussion nicely interweaves the themes of divine intervention and human instrumentality."21v. 8 The repetition of "declares the Lord"(cf. v. 4) reemphasizes Yahweh's initiative in this judgment. "That day"points ...
  • 4:1 Reference to "the last days"often points to the eschatological future in the Prophets, and it does here (e.g., Deut. 4:30; Ezek. 38:16; Dan. 2:28; 10:14; Hos. 3:5). This phrase usually refers to the Tribulation and or the...
  • 3:6-7 Then the angel of the Lord admonished Joshua. He promised, in the name of sovereign Yahweh, that if Joshua obeyed the Lord and served Him, Joshua would govern the temple, have charge of the temple courts, and enjoy free...
  • The disciples of John were not the only men who began following Jesus. Andrew continued to bring other friends to Jesus. This incident preceded Jesus' formal appointment of the Twelve, but it shows Him preparing those who wou...

Expositions Of Holy Scripture (Maclaren)

  • The remainder of the vision is the address of the Angel of the Lord to Joshua, developing the blessings now made sure to him and his people by this renewed consecration and cleansing. First (Zechariah 3:7) is the promise of c...
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