Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household. Each man had to make provision for a month in the year.
Parallel Translations
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Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household. Each man had to make provision for a month in the year.
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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.
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And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided victuals for the king and his household: each man had to make provision for a month in the year.
Cross-references (1)
Passages linked to 1 Kings 4:7 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- 1 Chronicles 27:1-15 Now the children of Israel after their number, the heads of fathers’ households and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who served the king, in any matter of the divisions which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year—of every division were twenty-four thousand. Over the first division for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel: and in his division were twenty-four thousand. He was of the children of Perez, the chief of all the captains of the army for the first month. Over the division of the second month was Dodai the Ahohite, and his division; and Mikloth the ruler: and in his division were twenty-four thousand. The third captain of the army for the third month was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the chief priest. In his division were twenty-four thousand. This is that Benaiah who was the mighty man of the thirty, and over the thirty: and of his division was Ammizabad his son. The fourth captain for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him: and in his division were twenty-four thousand. The fifth captain for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite: and in his division were twenty-four thousand. The sixth captain for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite: and in his division were twenty-four thousand. The seventh captain for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim. In his division were twenty-four thousand. The eighth captain for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zerahites. In his division were twenty-four thousand. The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite, of the Benjamites. In his division were twenty-four thousand. The tenth captain for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zerahites. In his division were twenty-four thousand. The eleventh captain for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim. In his division were twenty-four thousand. The twelfth captain for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel. In his division were twenty-four thousand.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (11 sources)
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John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 1Ki 4:7 And Solomon had twelve officers over all…
1Ki 4:7 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.
Ver. 7. And Solomon had twelve officers.] Purveyors, which were to cater for the court, and send in provision. God hath taken the best of his creatures, and commanded them to cater for his people. {Hos 2:21-22}
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain And these are their names,.... Or rather the names…
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 provisions for one month in the year.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 7. Twelve officers] The business of these twelve…
Verse 7. Twelve officers] The business of these twelve officers was to provide daily, each for a month, those provisions which were consumed in the king's household; see 1Kg 4:22-23. And the task for such a daily provision was not an easy one.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain The requirement of a portion of their produce from…
The requirement of a portion of their produce from subjects, in addition to money payments, is a common practice of Oriental monarchs. It obtained in ancient, and it still obtains in modern, Persia.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain Month. The lunar year was not then in use;…
Month. The lunar year was not then in use; (Calmet) or else, the first of these governors, was in office during the 13th, or intercalary month, every third year, and the rest in succession. (Tostat)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain HIS TWELVE OFFICERS. (Kg1 4:7-21)
HIS TWELVE OFFICERS. (Kg1 4:7-21)
Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel--The royal revenues were raised according to the ancient, and still, in many parts, existing usage of the East, not in money payments, but in the produce of the soil. There would be always a considerable difficulty in the collection and transmission of these tithes (Sa1 8:15). Therefore, to facilitate the work, Solomon appointed twelve officers, who had each the charge of a tribe or particular district of country, from which, in monthly rotation, the supplies for the maintenance of the king's household were drawn, having first been deposited in "the store cities" which were erected for their reception (Kg1 9:19; Ch2 8:4, Ch2 8:6).
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 7. twelve officers] The stations of these men were…
7. twelve officers] The stations of these men were in different parts of the country, and each for his month had to gather from the district assigned to him contributions in kind for the royal household.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (7) Provided victuals for the king and his household.—This…
(7) Provided victuals for the king and his household.—This denotes the collection of revenue—mostly, no doubt, in kind—for the maintenance of the Court and household and guards of the king; and perhaps may have included also the management of the royal domain lands, such as is described under David’s reign in 1Ch_26:25-31. It is curious that in five cases only the patronymic of the officer is given, probably from some defect in the archives from which this chapter is evidently drawn. The office must have been of high importance and dignity, for in two cases (1Ki_4:11; 1Ki_4:15) the holders of it were married into the royal house. The provinces over which they had authority—nine on the west and three on the east of Jordan—coincide only in a few cases with the lands assigned to the several tribes. It is not unlikely that by this time much of the tribal division of territory had become obsolete although we see from 1Ch_27:16-22, that for chieftainship over men, and for levy in war, it still remained in force.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain And Solomon had twelve officers lit., persons "placed or…
And Solomon had twelve officers lit., persons "placed or "set over" others, i.e., superintendents. The term is used of Doeg. (1Sa_22:9) They were twelve, not because of the twelve tribes, but the twelve months over all Israel, which provided victuals for Heb. nourished the king and his household: each man his month in a year made provision lit., a month in the year it was ( i.e., devolved) upon each to nourish. It has been thought by some that these superintendents were also governors of provinces (hJGenisisonev kai, Jos. Ant. 8:2, 3), as well as purveyors. But of this nothing is said in the text. Their principal function was to collect the royal dues or taxes which were evidently paid, as they still are in the East, in kind.
Vers. 7-19.
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The Twelve Prefects and the Twelve Apostles.
Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel." Considering how closely he foreshadows our blessed Lord, the twelve officers of Solomon can hardly fail to remind us of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb. It may be instructive to compare their dignities, functions, etc. Observe
I THEIR RESPECTIVE POSITIONS. The officers of Solomon were princes (ver. 2); the officers of Jesus were peasants and fishermen. Ability, energy, etc., dictated Solomon"s choice; humility, dependence, weakness, our Blessed Lord"s (Mat_18:3, 4 23:11; and cf. 11:11). "Not many mighty, not many noble are called," etc.. (1Co_1:26) "Unlearned and ignorant men". (Act_4:13)
II THEIR RESPECTIVE REPUTATIONS. The officers of Solomon were reverenced and feared; the apostles of our Lord,were despised and defamed. Each of the twelve prefects was, no doubt, a little potentate. The court of Abinadab in Mahanaim, or Shimei in Benjamin, would be a copy in miniature of that of the king in Jerusalem. And we know what the Eastern tax-gatherer is like, what despotic powers he wields, etc. Witness the Pashas and Valis of Turkey. How different were the twelve apostles. The contrast could not well be greater. "Hated of all men," esteemed "the filth and offscouring of all things; .... a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men". (1Co_4:9-13) What the life of an apostle was like we may learn from 2Co_11:24-29. "Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled and live delicately are in king"s courts" (Luk_7:25) "Behold, we have forsaken all and followed thee". (Mat_19:27)
III THEIR RESPECTIVE JURISDICTIONS. The twelve officers presided over tribes; the twelve apostles ministered to continents. The whole of Palestine is about the size of Wales, and this strip of territory was divided into twelve parts. Compare with this the apostolic commission, "GO ye into all the world, etc. "Ye shall be witnesses unto me...unto the uttermost part of the earth" Judaism was tribal religion; the faith of Christ is for humanity.
IV THEIR RESPECTIVE FUNCTIONS.
1. The twelve officers were receivers-general; the twelve apostles were general givers. The first took from the people to give to the king: the latter received from their King to bestow on the people. To the former, the subjects of Solomon brought taxes or tribute; the latter have obtained blessings and gifts from their Lord for men. (Cf. Act_1:8 Act_2:18 Act_8:18; 1Ti_4:14; 2Ti_1:6, etc.) "It is more blessed to give," etc.
2. The officers nourished the king (ver. 27, Heb.) and his armies: the apostles fed the Church. (Cf. Act_20:28) The 14, 000 dependants of the court, the 4000 charioteers, the 12, 000 horsemen, all were maintained by the twelve purveyors. Through the apostles, the Lord fed, now 4000, now 7000, and through them, their doctrine and their successors, He still feeds, with word and sacrament, the millions of the Church. So far the comparison is largely in favour of the prefects. As regards this world"s gifts and dignities, they bear away the palm. In their lifetime they received their good things and the apostles evil things. But an old authority it is the dictum of Solon to Croesus (Heb 1:30-38) warns us to pronounce on no man"s fortune or happiness until we have seen the end. And the real end is not in this world. Let us therefore consider
1. What is the verdict of posterity? and
2. What will be the issue of futurity as to these two classes? Here we observe
I THE NAMES OF SOME OF THE PREFECTS ARE FORGOTTEN; THE NAMES OF THE APOSTLES ARE IN EVERLASTING REMEMBRANCE. The fame of Solomon"s twelve was shortlived. Several of them are now known to us only by their patronymics. Those much dreaded satraps, before whom subjects trembled, their very names are in some cases lost in oblivion. But the apostolic college, every member is still famed, reverenced, loved throughout the whole round world. Their names are heard, Sunday by Sunday, in the Holy Gospel (cf. Mat_26:18) Better still, their "names are written in heaven" (Luk_10:20; cf. Php_4:3) As to
II THE TWELVE APOSTLES WILL JUDGE THE TWELVE PREFECTS. In their time, the latter sate on twelve thrones, each in his capital city, ruling the twelve tribes of Israel. But their glory, like that of the Roman general"s pageant, "lacked continuance. In the midst of their brief authority
Comes the blind Fury with the abhorred shears And slits the thin-spun life.
The dominion of the apostles is in the future. It belongs to the "regeneration." "When the Son of Man the true Son of David sit on the throne of his glory," then shall they "sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes," etc.. (Mat_19:28) The despised fishermen shall judge the high and mighty officers yes, and magnificent Solomon himself. Even now, it may be, their glory is in part begun.
Lo, the twelve, majestic princes In the court of Jesus sit, Calmly watching all the conflict Raging still beneath their feet.
Shall we follow the officers of Solomon, or the twelve apostles of the Lamb? Shall we, that is, desire earthly advancement, high position, contemporary fame, or shall we count all as dross that we may "win Christ and be found in Him". (Php_3:8-11) "What shall it profit a man, if he gain," etc. We cannot all be hJGenisisonev kaigoi, still less can we all wed kings" daughters. But we may all sit with Christ upon His throne; (Rev_3:21) may all receive the crown of life; (Rom_2:10) may all be "called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb". (Rev_19:7-9)
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 General Information:
General Information:
Continuation of Solomon's List of Officials:
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Ben-Hur ... Ben-Deker ... Ben-Hesed
These are the names of men. Note that "Ben" before a name means "son of" so "Ben-Hur" means "the son of Hur." (See: How to Translate Names)
in the hill country ... in Makaz ... in Arubboth
"who was the official in charge of the hill country ... who was the official in charge of Makaz ... who was the official in charge of Arubboth"
Ephraim ... Makaz ... Shaalbim ... Beth Shemesh ... Elon Beth Hanan ... Arubboth ... Sokoh ... Hepher
These are names of places. (See: How to Translate Names)
translationWords
Israel
household
name
Ephraim
Beth Shemesh
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 4:7-19 The twelve district governors probably handled lesser administrative…
4:7-19 The twelve district governors probably handled lesser administrative duties, such as securing revenue and providing food for the king’s household. Solomon’s twelve districts did not exactly coincide with the old tribal allotments.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.