American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
1 Kings 4
1
So king Solomon was king over all Israel.
3
Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder.
Reference
People
Parallel theme
2 Samuel 8:16
4
And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Kings 2:35
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:
Reference
People
6
And Ahishar was over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute.
Reference
People
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:
Reference
Parallel theme
Joshua 24:33
9
The son of Dekar, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Bethshemesh, and Elonbethhanan:
📍 Locations
10
The son of Hesed, in Aruboth; to him pertained Sochoh, and all the land of Hepher:
Reference
📍 Arubboth
11
The son of Abinadab, in all the region of Dor; which had Taphath the daughter of Solomon to wife:
Reference
People
Parallel theme
Joshua 11:2
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 to the place that is beyond Jokneam:
Reference
📍 Jokmeam 1
People
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, three score great cities with walls and brazen bars:
Reference
📍 Ramoth-gilead
15
Ahimaaz was in Naphtali; he also took Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wife:
18
Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin:
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Kings 1:8
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.
People
20
Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry.
Reference
21
And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.
Reference
Kingdom
Psalm 68:29
1 Kings 4:24
Parallel theme
Joshua 1:4
Exodus 23:31
References Egypt
Genesis 15:18
22
And Solomon's provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and three score measures of meal,
23
Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallow deer, 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.
Reference
📍 Tiphsah 1
25
And Judah and Israel dwelled safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.
Reference
26
And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.
Reference
27
And those officers provided victual for king Solomon, and for all that came to king Solomon's table, every man in his month: they lacked nothing.
28
Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries brought they to the place where the officers were, every man according to his charge.
Reference
29
And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Kings 3:12
James 3:17
1 Kings 4:20
Proverbs 2:6
James 1:17
Isaiah 60:5
Psalm 119:34
References God
James 1:5
Ecclesiastes 2:26
1 Kings 3:28
30
And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.
Reference
Parallel theme
Genesis 25:6
Daniel 1:20
Job 1:3
Matthew 2:16
Matthew 2:1
Daniel 4:7
References Egypt
Acts 7:22
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.
Reference
People
33
And he spoke of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall: he spoke also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.
Reference
Summary of 1 Kings 4
This chapter presents Solomon as a wise administrator, a prosperous king, and an internationally respected leader.
The chapter begins by describing Solomon's officials and government structure. His kingdom was carefully organized with administrators responsible for different areas of national life. The twelve district governors provided resources for the royal household and helped manage the growing nation.
The result of this organization was peace and prosperity. Judah and Israel grew in population, agriculture flourished, and the people lived securely. Neighboring nations recognized Solomon's influence and brought tribute.
The chapter then returns to Solomon's greatest gift: wisdom. God had given him understanding beyond ordinary human ability. His knowledge extended beyond politics and law into literature, science, and the natural world.
Solomon's wisdom became famous internationally, fulfilling God's promise that his reign would be marked by blessing and honor.
However, the chapter also quietly introduces a future challenge. Maintaining such a magnificent kingdom required enormous resources. The same systems that created prosperity would later place burdens upon the people, contributing to tensions after Solomon's death.
The chapter begins by describing Solomon's officials and government structure. His kingdom was carefully organized with administrators responsible for different areas of national life. The twelve district governors provided resources for the royal household and helped manage the growing nation.
The result of this organization was peace and prosperity. Judah and Israel grew in population, agriculture flourished, and the people lived securely. Neighboring nations recognized Solomon's influence and brought tribute.
The chapter then returns to Solomon's greatest gift: wisdom. God had given him understanding beyond ordinary human ability. His knowledge extended beyond politics and law into literature, science, and the natural world.
Solomon's wisdom became famous internationally, fulfilling God's promise that his reign would be marked by blessing and honor.
However, the chapter also quietly introduces a future challenge. Maintaining such a magnificent kingdom required enormous resources. The same systems that created prosperity would later place burdens upon the people, contributing to tensions after Solomon's death.