1 Kings 4 Solomon’s chief princes, 1 Kings 4:1–6; and officers for provision, 1 Kings 4:7–19. The peace and largeness of his kingdom, 1 Kings 4:20–21. His daily provision for his court, 1 Kings 4:22–25. The stables for his horses, 1 Kings 4:26–28. His wisdom, 1 Kings 4:29–34.

This is spoken with respect to his successors, who were kings only over a part, and that the smallest part of it. Or in reference to the times of division and rebellion under David; when part went after David, and part after Ish-bosheth; or part after Absalom, or Sheba, or Adonijah.

The princes which he had, i.e. the chief rulers or officers belonging to him. The son, or, the grandson, by comparing this with 1 Chron. 6:8–9. Of Zadok; either Zadok the priest, 1 Chron. 6:8–9, or some other of that name.

Scribes, i.e. secretaries of state. He chose two, whereas David had but one; either because he observed some inconveniences in trusting all those matters in one hand; or because he had now much more employment than David had, this being a time of great peace and prosperity, and his empire enlarged,…

i.e. The high priests, to wit, successively, first Abiathar, and then Zadok. Quest. Why is Abiathar named when he was deposed? Answ. First, Because it is ordinary for persons to retain the names and titles of those places which in reality they have lost.

Over the officers, or overseers, or surveyors, to wit, over those twelve officers named 1 Kings 4:7;c., where this Hebrew word is used, who were all subject, and to give up their accounts to him; though the word signifies any governors or commanders of the higher sort, as 1 Kings 5:16, 2 Chron.

Over the household; steward of the king’s household. Over the tribute, to wit, the personal tribute, or the levy of men, as appears by comparing this with 1 Kings 5:13–14, it being very fit that there should be some one person to whom the chief conduct or inspection of that great business was…

This and others of them are denominated from their fathers, because they were known and famous in their generation.

Or, Elon, the house or dwelling-place of Hanan; and Hanan may be a man’s name and this place may be so differenced from other Elons. Or, the plain (for so the Hebrew word signifies) of Beth-hanan.

There were two Sochohs, but both near together. See Josh. 15:35, Josh. 15:48. The land of Hepher, in Judah. See 1 Chron. 4:6.

The region of Dor, in Manasseh within Jordan, where also were Taanach, Megiddo, and Beth-shean, 1 Kings 4:12.

Zartanah beneath Jezreel, which was in Issachar. And this seems added to distinguish it from that Zartanah, Josh. 3:16.

In Ramoth-gilead; Ramoth in the land of Gilead, Deut. 4:43, Josh. 20:8, 1 Kings 22:3; so called to difference it from Ramoth in Issachar, 1 Chron. 6:73. Jair; in Manasseh beyond Jordan. See Num. 32:41, Deut. 3:14.

The city and territory of Mahanaim; of which see Gen. 32:2, Josh. 13:26. But this seems too narrow a compass for one of these great officers, and unequal to the rest; although these portions seem not to be distributed into equal portions of land, but into larger or lesser parts, according to their…

The son of Elah; which he adds to distinguish him from that cursed and cursing Shimei, 2 Sam. 16:5.

In the country of Gilead, i.e. in the remaining part of that land of Gilead, which was mentioned above, 1 Kings 4:13. In the land, or rather, in that land; for the Hebrew points intimate that the emphatical article is there understood, to wit, in all Gilead, excepting the parcels mentioned before,…

From the river Euphrates; for so far David, having conquered the Syrians, extended his empire, which Solomon also maintained in that extent. And so God’s promise concerning the giving of the whole land, as far as Euphrates, to the Israelites, was fulfilled.

Thirty measures, Heb. cors; each of which contained ten ephahs, Ex. 16:36. So this provision was sufficient for near three thousand persons. Meal, of a coarser sort, for common use, and for the inferior sort.

Ten fat oxen, fitted in stalls. Out of the pastures; well fleshed, tender, and good, though not so fat as the former.

Tiphsah; either that Tiphsah, 2 Kings 15:16, which was in the kingdom of Israel within Jordan; or rather, another place of that name upon the river now mentioned, to wit, Euphrates, even that eminent city which is mentioned by Ptolemy, and Strabo, and Pliny, called Thapsarum.

Under his vine and under his fig tree; enjoying the fruit of his own labours with safety and comfort. Under these two trees, which were most used and cultivated by the Israelites, he understands all other fruit-bearing trees, and all other comforts, by a synecdoche.

Forty thousand stalls of horses. In 2 Chron. 9:25, it is but four thousand. Answ. First, Some acknowledge an error of the transcriber, writing arbahim, forty, for arbah, four, which was an easy mistake.

Those officers; named above, 1 Kings 4:7;c. They lacked nothing; or rather, they suffered nothing to be lacking to any man that came thither, but plentifully provided all things necessary.

Dromedaries, or mules, by comparing this with 2 Chron. 9:24; or post horses, which are particularly mentioned and distinguished from the other horses, because they took a more exact and particular care about them. Howsoever, it is agreed that these were swift beasts, which is evident from Est.

Largeness of heart, i.e. either, first, Magnanimity, or generosity, and greatness of spirit, whereby he was disposed and emboldened to undertake great things. But this seems not so well to suit with the following resemblance.

The children of the east country; the Chaldeans, Persians, and Arabians, who all lay eastward from Canaan, and who were famous in ancient times for their wisdom and learning, as appears both from sacred and profane writers. The wisdom of Egypt, i.e.

Wiser than all men; either of his nation, or of his time, or of all times and nations, whether of the east or any other country, excepting only the first and Second Adam. Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman; Israelites of eminent wisdom, probably the same mentioned 1 Chron. 2:6, 1 Chron. 15:19, 1 Chron.

Proverbs, i.e. short, and deep, and useful sentences, whereof a great and the best part are contained in the Books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. Of his songs the chief and most divine are in the Canticles.

Of trees, i.e. of all plants, of their nature and qualities; all which discourses are lost, without any impeachment of the perfection of the Holy Scriptures; which were not inspired and written to teach men philosophy or physic, but only to make men wise to salvation. See John 20:31, 2 Tim.

From all kings of the earth, to wit, from all the neighbouring kings; universal particles being frequently understood in a restrained sense; and such restriction is grounded upon the following words, where this is limited to such as heard of Solomon’s wisdom.