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 his day. Moreover years before the formal division took place northern and southern factions had already developed (cf. 1 Sam. 11:8; 15:4; 17:52; 1 Kings 1:35; et al.).
Solomon's kingdom was very populace (cf. Gen. 22:17) and peaceful (v. 25; cf. Micah 4:4; Zech. 3:10).
Usually when a great king died the nations subject to his leadership would withhold taxes and rebel against his successor. This forced the new king to attack those nations to establish his sovereignty over them. However, Solomon did not have to do this. God gave him a peaceful reign in which he could concentrate on building projects.58
"To live in safety, in reliance on God (LXX elpizo, hope'), echoes Deuteronomy 12:10. God alone can provide this (Ps. 4:8; Pr. 1:33; Dt. 33:12, 28)."59
Even though Solomon controlled the land area promised to Abraham's descendants in Genesis 15:18-20, his control did not fulfill these promises completely in his day. This territory did not lie within the geographic borders of Israel.60Israel's geographic extent was only about 150 miles long, from Dan to Beersheba (v. 25).
The figure of 4,000 stalls of horses (2 Chron. 9:25) appears to be the correct one rather than 40,000 (v. 26). Horses and chariots were military machines at this time. These were Solomon's weapons.
