Prosperity and Wisdom of Solomon’s Reign

20 Judah and Israel were as numerous (A)as the sand by the sea in multitude, (B)eating and drinking and rejoicing. 21 So (C)Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from (D)the[a] River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. (E)They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.

22 (F)Now Solomon’s [b]provision for one day was thirty [c]kors of fine flour, sixty kors of meal, 23 ten fatted oxen, twenty oxen from the pastures, and one hundred sheep, besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fatted fowl.

24 For he had dominion over all the region on this side of [d]the River from Tiphsah even to Gaza, namely over (G)all the kings on this side of the River; and (H)he had peace on every side all around him. 25 And Judah and Israel (I)dwelt[e] safely, (J)each man under his vine and his fig tree, (K)from Dan as far as Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.

26 (L)Solomon had [f]forty thousand stalls of (M)horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. 27 And (N)these governors, each man in his month, provided food for King Solomon and for all who came to King Solomon’s table. There was no lack in their supply. 28 They also brought barley and straw to the proper place, for the horses and steeds, each man according to his charge.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 4:21 The Euphrates
  2. 1 Kings 4:22 Lit. bread
  3. 1 Kings 4:22 Each about 5 bushels
  4. 1 Kings 4:24 The Euphrates
  5. 1 Kings 4:25 lived in safety
  6. 1 Kings 4:26 So with MT, most other authorities; some LXX mss. four thousand; cf. 2 Chr. 9:25

Solomon’s Daily Provisions

20 The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand(A) on the seashore; they ate, they drank and they were happy.(B) 21 And Solomon ruled(C) over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River(D) to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt.(E) These countries brought tribute(F) and were Solomon’s subjects all his life.

22 Solomon’s daily provisions(G) were thirty cors[a] of the finest flour and sixty cors[b] of meal, 23 ten head of stall-fed cattle, twenty of pasture-fed cattle and a hundred sheep and goats, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks and choice fowl.(H) 24 For he ruled over all the kingdoms west of the Euphrates River, from Tiphsah(I) to Gaza, and had peace(J) on all sides. 25 During Solomon’s lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba,(K) lived in safety,(L) everyone under their own vine and under their own fig tree.(M)

26 Solomon had four[c] thousand stalls for chariot horses,(N) and twelve thousand horses.[d]

27 The district governors,(O) each in his month, supplied provisions for King Solomon and all who came to the king’s table. They saw to it that nothing was lacking. 28 They also brought to the proper place their quotas of barley and straw for the chariot horses and the other horses.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 4:22 That is, probably about 5 1/2 tons or about 5 metric tons
  2. 1 Kings 4:22 That is, probably about 11 tons or about 10 metric tons
  3. 1 Kings 4:26 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 2 Chron. 9:25); Hebrew forty
  4. 1 Kings 4:26 Or charioteers