1 Kings 4:21

4:21 (5:1) 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.

Psalms 72:8

72:8 May he rule from sea to sea,

and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth!

Psalms 72:11

72:11 All kings will bow down to him;

all nations will serve him.


sn Beginning with 4:21, the verse numbers through 5:18 in the English Bible differ from the verse numbers in the Hebrew text (BHS), with 4:21 ET = 5:1 HT, 4:22 ET = 5:2 HT, etc., through 5:18 ET = 5:32 HT. Beginning with 6:1 the numbering of verses in the English Bible and the Hebrew text is again the same.

tn Heb “the River” (also in v. 24). This is the standard designation for the Euphrates River in biblical Hebrew.

tn Heb “[They] were bringing tribute and were serving Solomon all the days of his life.”

tn The prefixed verbal form is a (shortened) jussive form, indicating this is a prayer of blessing.

sn From sea to sea. This may mean from the Mediterranean Sea in the west to the Dead Sea in the east. See Amos 8:12. The language of this and the following line also appears in Zech 9:10.

tn Heb “the river,” a reference to the Euphrates.