CHAPTER FOUR SOLOMON'S GOVERNMENT 1 Kings 3:4 to 1 Kings 4:34 At the outset of his reign, Solomon received a special endowment from God that enabled him to wisely govern the vast empire which he had inherited from his father. The author of Kings focuses attention on the administrative structure of... [ Continue Reading ]
II. THE MANAGEMENT OF THIS KINGDOM 4:1-20 In this section of Kings in which the author has been discussing the commencement of Solomon's reign, it is natural to find a description of his court and some intimation as to how he organized the government of the realm. The list of officials in 1 Kings 4:... [ Continue Reading ]
B. THE FINANCIAL OFFICERS 4:7-20 TRANSLATION (7) And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, and they supplied provisions for the king and his household; a month in the year it fell upon one to make provision. (8) And these are their names: The son of Hur in Mt. Ephraim; (9) the son of Dekar,... [ Continue Reading ]
II. THE WONDERMENT OF THIS REIGN 4:21-34 With 1 Kings 4:21 (1 Kings 5:1 in the Hebrew) the author takes up the thought introduced in 1 Kings 4:20, viz., that Solomon ruled over a vast and happy people. The disconnected details recorded in this section serve to underscore the fact that the age of So... [ Continue Reading ]
C. SOLOMON'S PROFOUND WISDOM AND FAME 4:29-34 TRANSLATION (29) And God gave wisdom to Solomon and understanding exceedingly much and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is upon the seashore. (30) The wisdom of Solomon was greater than the wisdom of all the sons of the east and greater than t... [ Continue Reading ]