1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 4:1 Solomon displayed great wisdom in the early years of his kingship, and as a result, “Judah and Israel... were happy” (v. 1 Kings 4:20). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 4:2 Among the HIGH OFFICIALS of Solomon’s kingdom is the chief PRIEST, who is surprisingly not Zadok (1 Kings 2:35) but AZARIAH THE SON OF ZADOK. For some unknown reason, Zadok himself is now in a lesser position, along with Abiathar, who apparently has been reinstated (1 Kin... [ Continue Reading ]
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 4:3 The SECRETARIES may have had general managerial responsibilities, or more specific tasks such as recording history or writing letters. It is unclear what the RECORDER did. He may have been a royal messenger or even the state prosecutor. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getEle... [ Continue Reading ]
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 4:5 AZARIAH was in charge of the 12 OFFICERS over all Israel mentioned in vv. 1 Kings 4:7. ZABUD held the office of KING’S FRIEND, that is, his personal adviser. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 4:7 The TWELVE OFFICERS may have been tax supervisors. Their job was to ensure that local governments paid their dues to the central government. The ONE GOVERNOR WHO WAS OVER THE LAND was most likely Azariah (v. 1 Kings 4:5), to whom the 12 district officers were accountable.... [ Continue Reading ]
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 4:21 Solomon had a strong influence OVER ALL THE KINGDOMS FROM THE EUPHRATES TO THE LAND OF THE PHILISTINES AND TO THE BORDER OF EGYPT. It is a large area, corresponding to the area promised to Abraham in Genesis 15:18. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img")... [ Continue Reading ]
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 4:25 AND JUDAH AND ISRAEL LIVED IN SAFETY... EVERY MAN UNDER HIS VINE AND UNDER HIS FIG TREE. The people lived under God’s blessing and had some economic independence. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 4:26 40,000 STALLS OF HORSES. Although most Hebrew manuscripts place this number at 40,000, a Greek Septuagint manuscript and one Hebrew manuscript say 4,000, which is also the number indicated in 2 Chronicles 9:25. So the number here could possibly be a copying error. Compar... [ Continue Reading ]
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 4:30 Solomon’s wisdom exceeded that of people from places well-known for their wisdom, including ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE EAST (see Matthew 2:1). His wisdom was greater than that of various individuals famous for their wisdom (ETHAN, HEMAN, etc.). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.ge... [ Continue Reading ]
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 4:33 HE SPOKE OF TREES... BEASTS... BIRDS... REPTILES, AND OF FISH. Careful observation of the natural world and how it works is one of the “normal” ways in which people gain wisdom. Solomon combined such wisdom with the special wisdom God gave him (ch. 1 Kings 3:1). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ v... [ Continue Reading ]