Solomon, that is, was king over “all Israel” from the first; not like David, who for seven and a half years reigned over Judah only. This feature well introduces the glory of Solomon and the organisation of the court, of which the historian in this chapter intends to give us a general sketch. Solomo... [ Continue Reading ]
AZARIAH, THE SON OF ZADOK, THE PRIEST - “The priest” here belongs to Azariah, not to Zadok. The term used כהן _kôhên_ means sometimes a priest, sometimes a civil officer, with perhaps a semi-priestly character. (See 2 Samuel 8:18 note.) In this place it has the definite article prefixed, and can o... [ Continue Reading ]
Shisha, or Shavsha 1 Chronicles 18:16, seems also to have been called Sheva 2 Samuel 20:25, and Seraiah 2 Samuel 8:17. The “scribes” were probably royal “secretaries” (margin), who drew up the king’s edicts, wrote his letters, and perhaps managed his finances 1 Kings 12:10. They were among his most... [ Continue Reading ]
It is curious to find Abiathar in this list of princes, after what has been said of his disgrace 1Ki 2:27, 1 Kings 2:35. Some have supposed that after a while Solomon pardoned him. Perhaps the true explanation is that the historian here enumerates all those who were accounted “princes” in any part o... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SON OF NATHAN - It is uncertain whether the Nathan of this verse is the prophet or the son of David 2 Samuel 5:14. While on the one hand the position of “king’s friend” is more likely to have been held by a contemporary, which the prophet’s son would have been, than by one so much younger as the... [ Continue Reading ]
OVER THE HOUSEHOLD - Comptroller of the household, like the “Steward” of the Persian court. On the importance of this office, see 2 Kings 18:18, and compare Isaiah 22:15. THE TRIBUTE - The marginal reading, “levy,” is preferable. The reference is to the forced laborers whom Solomon employed in his... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
In this arrangement of the territory into twelve portions, the divisions of the tribes seem to have been adopted as far as could be managed without unfairness. The prefecture of Ben-Hur corresponded nearly to the territory of Ephraim; that of Ben-Dekar to Dan; that of Ben-Hesed to Judah; those of Be... [ Continue Reading ]
For some of the names, see Joshua 19:41.... [ Continue Reading ]
SOCHOH - See Joshua 15:35.... [ Continue Reading ]
DOR - See Joshua 11:2 note. It has always been a practice among Oriental potentates to attach to themselves the more important of their officers by giving them for wives princesses of the royal house. Hence, the union here between Ben-Abinadab (probably Solomon’s first cousin, compare 1 Samuel 16:8)... [ Continue Reading ]
On these cities see Joshua 12:21; Joshua 3:16; Judges 7:22; Joshua 21:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
It will be observed that five out of the twelve prefects are designated solely by their father’s names, Ben-Hur, etc., while one (Ahimaaz, 1 Kings 4:15) has no such designation. Probably the document, which the author of the Book of Kings consulted, had contained originally the proper name and fathe... [ Continue Reading ]
See the margin. Ahinadab had the territory from the places last mentioned as far as Mahanaim Genesis 32:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
The meaning of the last clause is somewhat doubtful. On the whole, our King James Version may well stand as nearly correct. The writer has assigned to Geber a wide stretch of territory; and, anticipating surprise, assures his readers ” (there was but) one officer who (purveyed) in this land.”... [ Continue Reading ]
There is some doubt about the proper arrangement of the remainder of this chapter. The best alteration, if we alter the Hebrew order at all, would be to place 1 Kings 4:20 after 1 Kings 4:25. MANY ... - See 1 Kings 3:8 note; and compare Psalms 127:1, which is traditionally ascribed to Solomon, and... [ Continue Reading ]
Solomon’s empire, like all the great empires of Asia down to the time of the Persians, consisted of a congeries of small kingdoms, all ruled by their own kings 1 Kings 4:24, who admitted the suzerainty of the Jewish monarch, and paid him “presents,” i. e., an annual tribute (see 1 Kings 10:25). UNT... [ Continue Reading ]
THIRTY MEASURES - (margin, cors) The cor, which was the same measure as the homer, is computed, on the authority of Josephus, at 86 English gallons, on the authority of the rabbinical writers at 44. Thirty cors, even at the lower estimate, would equal 1,320 gallons, or 33 of our “sacks;” and the 90... [ Continue Reading ]
HARTS ... - The exact sorts of wild land animals here intended are very uncertain. Perhaps it would be best to translate “wild-goats, gazelles, and wild oxen,” which abounded in the wilder parts of Syria, from where Solomon would be supplied. (See 1 Kings 4:24.) (Yahmur, or the “roebuck,” gives its... [ Continue Reading ]
ON THIS SIDE THE RIVER - i. e., the region west of the Euphrates. Tiphsah, or Tiphsach, the place on the Euphrates called Thapsacus. The word means “ford,” or “passage,” being formed from פסח _pâsach_, “to pass over” (compare “paschal”). It is the modern Suriyeh, forty-five miles below Balls, at t... [ Continue Reading ]
UNDER HIS VINE ... - This phrase seems to have been common among the Jews, and even among neighboring nations 2 Kings 18:31, to express a time of quiet and security. It is used by the prophets in descriptions of the Messianic kingdom (marginal references).... [ Continue Reading ]
In 2 Chronicles 9:25, the number of stalls for Solomon’s chariot horses is stated at 4,000, instead of 40,000. The number in the present passage is probably a corruption. Solomon’s chariots were but 1,400 1Ki 10:26; 2 Chronicles 1:14, for which 40,000 horses could not possibly be required. The Assyr... [ Continue Reading ]
Barley is to this day in the East the common food of horses. DROMEDARIES - Coursers. The animal intended is neither a camel nor a mule, but a swift horse. THE PLACE WHERE THE OFFICERS WERE - Rather, “places where the horses and coursers were,” i. e., to the different cities where they were lodged.... [ Continue Reading ]
LARGENESS OF HEART - What we call “great capacity.” The expression which follows is common in reference to numerical multitude 1 Kings 4:20, but its use here to express mere amplitude or greatness is unique.... [ Continue Reading ]
CHILDREN OF THE EAST COUNTRY - Rather, “of the East” - the Beni Kedem - a distinct tribe, who occupied both sides of the Euphrates along its middle course (marginal reference). They were mostly nomads, who dwelt in tents Jeremiah 49:28. Job belonged to them Job 1:3, as did probably his three friends... [ Continue Reading ]
It is most probable that the persons with whom Solomon is compared were contemporaries, men noted for “wisdom,” though there is no other mention of them. HIS FAME WAS IN ALL NATIONS - See below, 1 Kings 10.... [ Continue Reading ]
PROVERBS - In the collection which forms the “Book of Proverbs,” only a small portion has been preserved, less certainly than one thousand out of the three. Ecclesiastes, if it is Solomon’s, would add between one hundred and two hundred more proverbs. But the great bulk of Solomon’s proverbs has per... [ Continue Reading ]
TREES ... - A keen appreciation of the beauties of nature, and a habit of minute observation, are apparent in the writings of Solomon that remain to us. The writer here means to say that Solomon composed special works on these subjects. The Lebanon cedars were the most magnificent of all the trees k... [ Continue Reading ]