As in the preceding chapter we have a proof of the wisdom and understanding which the Lord gave to Solomon, as promised, so in this an account is given of the riches and honour he was possessed of; of him, as king over all Israel, and of his princes, 1 Kings 4:1–6; of the providers of food for his…

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…

And these were the princes which he had That were in office about him, in the highest posts of honour and trust: Azariah the son of Zadok the priest: or rather his grandson, since Ahimaaz was the son of Zadok, and Azariah the son of Ahimaaz, (1 Chron. 6:8, 1 Chron.

Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha, scribes Their father Shisha, the same with Sheva, was scribe only in David’s time; and he being dead very probably, both his sons were continued in the office as secretaries of state, Solomon having more business for such an office, see ; Jehoshaphat the son…

And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host General of the army in the room of Joab, ; and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests; so they were when Solomon came to the throne; but Abiathar was deposed by him after some time, though he might retain the name afterwards, and be employed, as Ben…

And Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers The twelve officers who provided food for Solomon’s household after mentioned: and Zabud the son of Nathan; another of the sons of Nathan the prophet: for he being a principal instrument of settling Solomon on the throne, had interest enough to…

And Abiathar was over the household Steward of the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute, over those that collected the tribute, as the Targum, whether from the people of Israel or other nations, or both; this man was in the same post in David’s time, .

And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel Not with respect to the twelve tribes of Israel, for it does not appear that they had each of them a tribe under them, but some particular places in a tribe; but with respect to the twelve months of the year, in which each took his turn: which…

And these are their names Or rather the names of their fathers; for of many of them not their own names but their fathers’ names are given, as being well known: the son of Hur, in Mount Ephraim; a fruitful country in the tribe of Ephraim, from whence this officer was to furnish the king with…

The son of Dekar in Makaz A place in the tribe of Dan, on the borders of it: and in Shaalbim, and Bethshemesh, and Elonbethhanan; all in the same tribe, see .

The son of Hesed in Aruboth Which seems to have been in the tribe of Judah by the places that follow: to him pertained Sochoh; there were two places of this name in that tribe, (Josh. 15:35, Josh.

The son of Abinadab in all the region of Dor The same with Dor and her towns, belonged to the half tribe of Manasseh, on this side Jordan, ; which had Taphath the daughter of Solomon to wife; not when he was first put into this office, when, in all probability, Solomon had not a daughter…

Baana the son of Ahilud, to him pertained Taanach and Megiddo, and all Bethshean All which were places in the tribe of Manasseh, ; which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel; so described, to distinguish it, as is thought, from Zaretan in ; and the country this officer presided over reached also from…

The son of Geber in Ramothgilead A city in the tribe of Gad, and was a city of refuge, ; to him pertained the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead; of which see ; to him also pertained the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, threescore great cities with walls, and brasen bars;…

Ahinadab the son of Iddo had Mahanaim. ] Another city on the other side Jordan, where both Ishbosheth and David sometimes dwelt, ; this and the places adjacent must be very fruitful, since this officer was to furnish the king with provisions for a month once a year from hence,

Ahimaaz was in Naphtali Out of that tribe he made a monthly provision annually: he also took Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wife; another daughter of Solomon’s, in course of time; (See Gill on 1 Kings 4:11).

Baanah the son of Hushai was in Asher In the tribe of Asher; a very plentiful tribe, particularly for oil; this officer was perhaps the son of Hushai, the Archite, David’s friend, and, it may be, promoted for his sake: and in Aloth; which signifies ascensions, mountains went upon by steps; near to…

Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah in Issachar. ] In the tribe of Issachar; he had the whole tribe at his command to make a monthly provision out of for the king once a year, as had the preceding officer and the following one.

Shimei the son of Elah in Benjamin. ] So described, to distinguish him from that Shimei that cursed David, who was of the same tribe; (See Gill on 2 Sam. 16:5).

Geber the son of Uri was in the country of Gilead Which was beyond Jordan, and inhabited by the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh; this must be understood of all the country, excepting what was under the jurisdiction of the son of Geber, ; and which had been the country of…

Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude Being blessed with great fruitfulness in their families, and having no pestilential disease among them, nor wars to lessen their number, and so the promise to Abraham was fulfilled, ; and which was an emblem of Christ’s…

And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms Not only over Judah and Israel, but all people round about him, they standing in fear of him; or who brought him presents, or paid tribute to him, which was an acknowledgment of superiority over them, and doing homage to him: from the river unto the land of the…

And Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour The measure here used was the “corus”, or “cor”, the same with the homer, which was equal to ten ephahs, and, according to Bishop Cumberland [[21]], held seventy five wine gallons and five pints, and somewhat more; by which may…

Ten fat oxen Such as were kept up in the stall and fatted: and twenty oxen out of the pastures; which were killed as they were taken from thence, and not put up to be fed: and an hundred sheep; out of the folds: beside harts, and roebucks, and fallow deer; which were clean creatures, according to…

For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river Or beyond the river Euphrates, in the sense before given, ; which accounts for the plenty of provisions he had, and the revenue with which he supported such a table he kept: from Tiphsah even to Azzah; or Gaza, one of the five…

And Judah and Israel dwelt safely Without fear of any injury done to their persons or properties by any enemy; which is, and will be, more abundantly fulfilled in Christ, the antitype of Solomon, ; every man under his vine, and under his fig tree; which were principal trees in the land of Judea,…

And Solomon had forty thousand stalls for horses In ; it is only four thousand; and therefore some think that here is a mistake of the copier, of “arbaim”, forty, for “arbah”, four; which it is thought might be through divine permission, in such lesser matters, without any prejudice to the…

And these officers provided victuals for King Solomon The twelve before mentioned; and this is repeated here, after the account of his horses, to observe, that they provided for them also, as well as for the sake of what follows; that the large provision made by them was not only for Solomon’s…

Barley also, and straw for the horses and dromedaries Or rather mules, by comparing the passage with ; the particular kind of creatures meant is not agreed on; though all take them to be a swifter sort of creatures than horses; or the swifter of horses, as race horses or posts horses: barley was…

And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, &c.] In things natural, moral, divine, and spiritual, and that not slight and superficial, but exceeding deep, and large beyond expression; and this he had not from the acuteness of his genius merely, nor from his industry and diligence;…

And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east The Arabians, and Persians, famous for wisdom, and who lay to the east of the land of Judea; whose wisdom lay in the knowledge of the stars, in divination by birds, and soothsaying [[11]]: and all the wisdom of Egypt; which it…

For he was wiser than all men Not only that lived in his time, but in ages past since the fall of Adam, and in times to come, especially in natural wisdom and knowledge, in all the branches of it; for though some men excel in some part of knowledge, yet not in all, as Solomon did: than Ethan the…

And he spake three thousand proverbs Wise sayings, short and pithy sentences, instructive in morality and civil life; these were not written as the book of Proverbs, but spoken only, and were taken from his lips, and spread by those that heard them for the use of others, but in process of time were…

And he spake of trees Of all trees, herbs, and plants, of the nature, virtues, and use them: from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon: a mountain on the northern border of Judea, famous for cedars, the tallest and largest of trees: even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall; which grew about…

And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth Who sent their ambassadors to his court to know the truth of what was reported, and bring them some proofs and specimens, by which they might judge of the truth of the relations that had been told them; which…