1 Kings 4

1 Kings 4:1

ALI Israel] All the twelve tribes, which no king after him did; no, nor David his father in the beginning of his reign, 2 Samuel 5. 5.

1 Kings 4:2

princes] By whose ministery he governed the kingdom, according to Jethro’s advice, Exodus 18:21.

Azariah the son] If Zadek the priest (Chap. 2. 35.) be here meant, Azariah was his grand-childe, 1 Chronicles 6:8-9. But the Hebrew word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifieth a secular prince, as wel as an ecclesiasticall priest. This title is given to Davids sons (2 Samuel 8:18.) who are said to be chief about the king, 1 Chronicles 18:17. It is also given to Ira, Davids chief officer, 2 Samuel 20:26. and to Nathan, Solomons principall officer, v. 5. and to Josephs father in law (Genesis 41:45.) and to Moses his father in law, Exodus 3:16. It is therefore most probable that another Zadek is here meant; and that this Azariah was a vice-roy under Solomon, as Daniel 6:2-3. or as Genesis 41:44.

the priest] Or, the chief officer.

1 Kings 4:3

srites] 2 Samuel 8:17. Est. 3. 12. such as our kings secretaries are. Three sorts of scribes are mentioned in Scriptures; 1. these. 2. publike notaries, Jeremiah 36:26. 3. teachers of the law of God, Er. 7. 6. Matthew 23:1. David (2 Samuel 20:25.) had but one scribe: Solomon (whose dominion was larger) had two.

recorder] 2 Samuel 8:16. 2 Kings 18:18. According to the derivation of the Hebrew word, it signifieth a rememberer, or remembrancer, as Genesis 14:9. Isaiah 62:6. and Isaiah 66:3. Such are Masters of request, whose office it is to put the king in minde of petitions and other like things. Others stile them chroniclers, such as Esther 2:22.

1 Kings 4:4

Abiathar] He was a chief priest when Solomon first came to the crown, and so is he here joyned with Zadk; for David joyned him with Zadok, 2 Samuel 20:25. because he was an occasion of the death of his fathers house (1 Sam. 6. 22, 23.) and because Abiathar still followed him, Chap. 2. 26. Besides, though Abiathar was removed from the superior place, yet he remained a priest. See the notes on Mar. 2. 26.

1 Kings 4:5

ever the officers] Mentioned v. 7. and 2 Chron. 8. 10.

principall officer] See v. 2.

friend] As 2 Samuel 15:37. his favourite, who had on all occasions a free accesse to the king: by this he is distinguished from Azariah, for the other title is common to them both.

1 Kings 4:6

ever the houshold] Treasurer of the kings house, or governour thereof, Chap. 16. v. 9. and 18. 3.

Adoniram] Chap. 5. 14.

over the tribute] Or, levie: Chief customer or receiver of the kings revenues, Chap. 5. v. 14. and 12. 18.

1 Kings 4:7

twelve] For the twelve moneths.

1 Kings 4:8

The son of Hur] Or, Ben-hur. So are the rest described by their fathers names, because their fathers were men of note and name, famous in Israel.

Ephraim] The divisions are not simply made according to the tribes, for so might some have been over-prest, in that some were neither so large, nor so fertile as others: the division is according to the commodities of the soil.

1 Kings 4:9

The son of Dekar] Or, Ben-dekar.

Maaz, &c.] Cities in the tribe of Dan, Joshua 19:40, &c.

1 Kings 4:10

The son of Hesed] Or, Ben-esed.

Sehh, &c.] Cities in Judah, Joshua 15:35, &c.

Hepher] Joshua 12:17. 1. Chron. 4. 6.

1 Kings 4:11

The son of Abinadab] Or, Ben-abinadab.

Dr] In Manasseh, Joshua 17:11. Judges 1:27.

Daughter of Solomon] This is here set down by anticipation, for mention being here made of Abiathar, occasion is thence taken to name the wife which he married many yeers after, to shew that he was a man of some worth, in that the king would bestow his daughter upon him. Solomon at this time could not have daughters marriagable.

1 Kings 4:12

Taanach and Megid] In Manasseh too, Joshua 17:11. Judg. 1. 27.

Zartanah] Joshua 3:16.

Jezeel] In Issachar, Joshua 19:18.

Beth-shean] Joshua 17:11.

Abel-hlah] Judges 7:22.

Joneam] In Zebulun, Joshua 19:11. and Joshua 21:34.

1 Kings 4:13

The son of Geber] Or, Ben-geler.

Ramoth-gilead] In Gd; it was in the countrey of Gilead, Deuteronomy 4:43. Joshua 20:8. 1 Kings 22:3. By Gilead added to it, it is distinguished from Ramoth in the tribe of Issachar, 1 Chronicles 6:73.

towns of Jair] In Manasseh, Numbers 32:41.

region of Argb] Deuteronomy 3:4; Deuteronomy 3:14.

1 Kings 4:14

Maanaim] Or, to Maanaim; Gen. 32. . In d, Joshua 13:26.

1 Kings 4:15

the daughter] Another daughter. See v. 11.

1 Kings 4:19

Gilead] Another part then that which is mentioned vers. 13.

of Sihon and of Og] Numbers 21:21, &c. Deuteronomy 3:8.

onely officer] Over so much of that land taken from Sihon and Og, as was not mentioned before, over all the residue.

1 Kings 4:20

as the sand] A proverbiall phrase and hyperbolicall, therefore not too strictly to be taken. It implies an innumerable number (Jeremiah 33:22. Genesis 15:5.) and hath respect to the promise, Genesis 22:17. and 32. 12. note Proverbs 14:28. See on vers. 29.

eating, &c.] A description of plenty, peace and joy.

1 Kings 4:21

Solomon reigned, &c.] Ecclus 47. 13. 2 Chron. 9. 26.

all] Round about him.

river] Euphrates, as it was promised, Genesis 15:18. Exodus 23:31. Deuteronomy 11:24. Joshua 1:4. This river was their coast north-east.

Philistines] On the west.

Egypt] On the south, Numbers 34:3-5. See Chap. 8. v. 65.

presents] In testimony of fealty. See on 2 Kings 17:3. 2 Chron. 17. 5, 11. and 32. 23.

1 Kings 4:22

Solomons provision] Heb. bread; Of bread for himself and his court: The like is not read of in any other kings time: much was that which was provided for Nehemiah, Nehemiah 5:18. but not comparable to this.

measures] Heb. cors: One cor contained an ephah; for a cor and homer are the same measure; and an ephah and bath are also the same: But an ephah or bath is the tenth part of an homer, Ezekiel 45:11; Ezekiel 45:14. An homer of barley was valued at fifty shekels of silver, Leviticus 27:16. whence it may be gathered, That an homer or cor was a very great measure, the greatest that is mentioned in Scripture: some take it to be an asses load, as we count, a seam of wheat (which holds eight bushells) an horse-load. An ephah was about the measure of our bushell; by which account, one cor was about ten bushels: so as he had every day three hundred bushels of flour, and six hundred of meal. See the Notes on Exodus 16:16. and Isaiah 5:10.

1 Kings 4:23

Ten fat, &c.] Fatted in stalls. His provision of flesh was answerable to that of bread, v. 22.

1 Kings 4:24

over all] Such a description of Solomons dominion, as v. 21.

Tiphsah] 2 Kings 15:16.

Azzah] Genesis 10:19.

1 Kings 4:25

safely] Heb. confidently.

under his vine] 1Ma 14:8. in his own possession, Zechariah 3:10.

from Dan, &c.] From north to south, from one end to the other, Judges 20:1. See on 2 Samuel 3:10.

1 Kings 4:26

Solomon had fourty thousand stalls] 2 Chron. 9. 25. Divisions in stables; whereof there being ten in every of the stables, this division of fourty thousand may stand with that of four thousand, 2 Chron. 9. 25. Solomon is the first, among the kings and Judges of Israel, that furnished himself with warrehorses and chariots; and that as an evidence of Gods promise, Chap. 3. v. 13. and also of his wisedom in securing his kingdom in time of peace.

1 Kings 4:27

these] mentioned v. 7, &c.

table] Many came out of the countreys (v. 34. and Chap. 10. 24.) to Solomons table; and sufficient provision was made for them all.

1 Kings 4:28

Dromedaies] Or, mules: post-horses, Est. 8. 10, 14. swift beasts, or beasts of price, Mic. 1. 13.

1 Kings 4:29

God gave Solomon wisedom] Ecclus 47. 14, 15, 16.

largenesse of heart] An heart or minde capable of whatsoever might be known by man.

as the sand] See v. 20. The comparison may be applied either to the large capacity of his understanding, as the sea-shore is very large; or else to the innumerable matters which he understood, as the sands of the sea are innumerable.

1 Kings 4:30

east-countrey] Men of the east were commonly reputed the wisest in the world, Matthew 2:1. Such were the Caldeans (Daniel 2:2.) and other philosophers and astronomers.

Egypt] Egyptians were also famous for wisedom and knowledge in all sciences, Acts 7:22. Under these two instances he compriseth all forreign people.

1 Kings 4:31

all men] In Israel, as the following instances shew.

Ethan, and Heman] These two names are mentioned, 1 Chronicles 2:6. and said to be the sons of Zerah, and so may be Ezrahites. These were of the tribe of Judah. These might be pen-men of some of the Psalms, as of the 88, and 89 Psalms. There be also two mentioned, Psalms 88:1. and Psalms 89:1. Both these are expressely stiled Ezrahites, and of the tribe of Levi, 1 Chronicles 15:19. Of Heman a singular commendation is given, 1 Chronicles 25:5.

Chalol, and Darda] Two like names are mentioned 1 Chronicles 2:6. and set down as brothers of Ethan and Heman: but another name is here given to the father of Chalcol and Darda, so as they seem to be severall persons, yea, and to live in severall ages.

1 Kings 4:32

he spake] So as others might hear them out of his mouth, and register them.

three thousand] Whereof some may be in the books of Solomon, now extant: others, by continuance of time, lost.

songs] Divine sentences, accurately penned, as poems, and fitted to a melodious tune, as the Psalms and Canticles.

1 Kings 4:33

of trees] Of all manner of plants that grow out of the earth.

from the cedar, &c.] A proverbiall speech, which compriseth all kinde of plants under it, like to v. 25. and Exodus 11:5. and Isaiah 1:6. The cedar is the tallest of trees; the herb intended under this word hysop, is the least and lowest of plants; it may be an herb not known to us.

Lebanon] See Chap. 5. 6.

out of the wall] Or, out of rockie or stony places.

of beasts, &c.] The particulars here specified shew that he was a great philosopher: his parables manifested his divine learning, these, his humane.

1 Kings 4:34

all people] See v. 21. Report of Solomons wisedom filled all the world.