Solomon's Officials

King Solomon was king over all Israel, and these were his high officials: Azariah the son of Zadok was (A)the priest; Elihoreph and Ahijah the sons of Shisha were secretaries; (B)Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; (C)Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was in command of the army; (D)Zadok and Abiathar were priests; Azariah the son of Nathan was over (E)the officers; Zabud the son of Nathan was priest and (F)king's friend; Ahishar was in charge of the palace; and (G)Adoniram the son of Abda was in charge of (H)the forced labor.

Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household. Each man had to make provision for one month in the year. These were their names: Ben-hur, in (I)the hill country of Ephraim; Ben-deker, in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth-shemesh, and Elonbeth-hanan; 10 Ben-hesed, in Arubboth (to him belonged Socoh and all the land of Hepher); 11 Ben-abinadab, in all (J)Naphath-dor (he had Taphath the daughter of Solomon as his wife); 12 Baana the son of Ahilud, in (K)Taanach, Megiddo, and all (L)Beth-shean that is beside Zarethan below Jezreel, and from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah, as far as the other side of Jokmeam; 13 Ben-geber, (M)in Ramoth-gilead (he had (N)the villages of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead, and he had (O)the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, sixty great cities with walls and bronze bars); 14 Ahinadab the son of Iddo, in Mahanaim; 15 Ahimaaz, in Naphtali (he had taken Basemath the daughter of Solomon as his wife); 16 Baana the son of Hushai, in Asher and Bealoth; 17 Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar; 18 (P)Shimei the son of Ela, in Benjamin; 19 Geber the son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, (Q)the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan. And there was one governor who was over the land.

Solomon's Wealth and Wisdom

20 Judah and Israel were as many (R)as the sand by the sea. They ate and drank and were happy. 21 [a] (S)Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the (T)Euphrates[b] to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt. (U)They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.

22 Solomon's provision for one day was thirty cors[c] of fine flour and sixty cors of meal, 23 ten fat oxen, and twenty pasture-fed cattle, a hundred sheep, besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened fowl. 24 For he had dominion over all the region west of the Euphrates[d] from Tiphsah to (V)Gaza, over all the kings west of the Euphrates. (W)And he had peace on all sides around him. 25 And Judah and Israel (X)lived in safety, (Y)from Dan even to Beersheba, (Z)every man under his vine and under his fig tree, all the days of Solomon. 26 (AA)Solomon also had 40,000[e] stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen. 27 And those officers supplied provisions for King Solomon, and for all who came to King Solomon's table, each one in his month. They let nothing be lacking. 28 Barley also and straw for the horses and (AB)swift steeds they brought to the place where it was required, each according to his duty.

29 (AC)And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind (AD)like the sand on the seashore, 30 so that Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all (AE)the people of the east (AF)and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 For he was (AG)wiser than all other men, wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol, and his fame was in all the surrounding nations. 32 (AH)He also spoke 3,000 proverbs, (AI)and his songs were 1,005. 33 He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the wall. He spoke also of beasts, and of birds, and of reptiles, and of fish. 34 And people of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from (AJ)all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 4:21 Ch 5:1 in Hebrew
  2. 1 Kings 4:21 Hebrew the River
  3. 1 Kings 4:22 A cor was about 6 bushels or 220 liters
  4. 1 Kings 4:24 Hebrew the River; twice in this verse
  5. 1 Kings 4:26 Hebrew; one Hebrew manuscript (see 2 Chronicles 9:25 and Septuagint of 1 Kings 10:26) 4,000

FUÉ pues el rey Salomón rey sobre todo Israel.

Y estos fueron los príncipes que tuvo: Azarías hijo de Sadoc, sacerdote;

Elioreph y Ahía, hijos de Sisa, escribas; Josaphat hijo de Ahilud, canciller;

Benaía hijo de Joiada era sobre el ejército; y Sadoc y Abiathar eran los sacerdotes;

Azaría hijo de Nathán era sobre los gobernadores; Zabud hijo de Nathán era principal oficial, amigo del rey;

Y Ahisar era mayordomo; y Adoniram hijo de Abda era sobre el tributo.

Y tenía Salomón doce gobernadores sobre todo Israel, los cuales mantenían al rey y á su casa. Cada uno de ellos estaba obligado á abastecer por un mes en el año.

Y estos son los nombres de ellos: el hijo de Hur en el monte de Ephraim;

El hijo de Decar, en Maccas, y en Saalbim, y en Beth-semes, y en Elón, y en Beth-hanan;

10 El hijo de Hesed, en Aruboth; éste tenía también á Sochô y toda la tierra de Ephet.

11 El hijo de Abinadab, en todos los términos de Dor: éste tenía por mujer á Thaphat hija de Salomón;

12 Baana hijo de Ahilud, en Taanach y Megiddo, y en toda Beth-san, que es cerca de Zaretán, por bajo de Jezreel, desde Beth-san hasta Abel-mehola, y hasta la otra parte de Jocmeam;

13 El hijo de Geber, en Ramoth de Galaad; éste tenía también las ciudades de Jair hijo de Manasés, las cuales estaban en Galaad; tenía también la provincia de Argob, que era en Basán, sesenta grandes ciudades con muro y cerraduras de bronce;

14 Ahinadab hijo de Iddo, en Mahanaim;

15 Ahimaas en Nephtalí; éste tomó también por mujer á Basemath hija de Salomón.

16 Baana hijo de Husai, en Aser y en Aloth;

17 Josaphat hijo de Pharua, en Issachâr;

18 Semei hijo de Ela, en Benjamín;

19 Geber hijo de Uri, en la tierra de Galaad, la tierra de Sehón rey de los Amorrheos, y de Og rey de Basán; éste era el único gobernador en aquella tierra.

20 Judá é Israel eran muchos, como la arena que está junto á la mar en multitud, comiendo y bebiendo y alegrándose.

21 Y Salomón señoreaba sobre todos los reinos, desde el río de la tierra de los Filisteos hasta el término de Egipto: y traían presentes, y sirvieron á Salomón todos los días que vivió.

22 Y la despensa de Salomón era cada día treinta coros de flor de harina, y sesenta coros de harina.

23 Diez bueyes engordados, y veinte bueyes de pasto, y cien ovejas; sin los ciervos, cabras, búfalos, y aves engordadas.

24 Porque él señoreaba en toda la región que estaba de la otra parte del río, desde Tiphsa hasta Gaza, sobre todos los reyes de la otra parte del río; y tuvo paz por todos lados en derredor suyo.

25 Y Judá é Israel vivían seguros, cada uno debajo de su parra y debajo de su higuera, desde Dan hasta Beer-seba, todos los días de Salomón.

26 Tenía además de esto Salomón cuarenta mil caballos en sus caballerizas para sus carros, y doce mil jinetes.

27 Y estos gobernadores mantenían al rey Salomón, y á todos los que á la mesa del rey Salomón venían, cada uno un mes; y hacían que nada faltase.

28 Hacían también traer cebada y paja para los caballos y para las bestias de carga, al lugar donde él estaba, cada uno conforme al cargo que tenía.

29 Y dió Dios á Salomón sabiduría, y prudencia muy grande, y anchura de corazón como la arena que está á la orilla del mar.

30 Que fué mayor la sabiduría de Salomón que la de todos los orientales, y que toda la sabiduría de los Egipcios.

31 Y aun fué más sabio que todos los hombres; más que Ethán Ezrahita, y que Emán y Calchôl y Darda, hijos de Mahol: y fué nombrado entre todas las naciones de alrededor.

32 Y propuso tres mil parábolas; y sus versos fueron mil y cinco.

33 También disertó de los árboles, desde el cedro del Líbano hasta el hisopo que nace en la pared. Asimismo disertó de los animales, de las aves, de los reptiles, y de los peces.

34 Y venían de todos los pueblos á oir la sabiduría de Salomón, y de todos los reyes de la tierra, donde había llegado la fama de su sabiduría.

So king Solomon was king over all Israel.

And these were the princes which he had; Azariah the son of Zadok the priest,

Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder.

And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:

And Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers: and Zabud the son of Nathan was principal officer, and the king's friend:

And Ahishar was over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute.

And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, which provided victuals for the king and his household: each man his month in a year made provision.

And these are their names: The son of Hur, in mount Ephraim:

The son of Dekar, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Bethshemesh, and Elonbethhanan:

10 The son of Hesed, in Aruboth; to him pertained Sochoh, and all the land of Hepher:

11 The son of Abinadab, in all the region of Dor; which had Taphath the daughter of Solomon to wife:

12 Baana the son of Ahilud; to him pertained Taanach and Megiddo, and all Bethshean, which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel, from Bethshean to Abelmeholah, even unto the place that is beyond Jokneam:

13 The son of Geber, in Ramothgilead; to him pertained the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead; to him also pertained the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, threescore great cities with walls and brasen bars:

14 Ahinadab the son of Iddo had Mahanaim:

15 Ahimaaz was in Naphtali; he also took Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wife:

16 Baanah the son of Hushai was in Asher and in Aloth:

17 Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar:

18 Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin:

19 Geber the son of Uri was in the country of Gilead, in the country of Sihon king of the Amorites, and of Og king of Bashan; and he was the only officer which was in the land.

20 Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry.

21 And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.

22 And Solomon's provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal,

23 Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallowdeer, and fatted fowl.

24 For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him.

25 And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.

26 And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.

27 And those officers provided victual for king Solomon, and for all that came unto king Solomon's table, every man in his month: they lacked nothing.

28 Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries brought they unto the place where the officers were, every man according to his charge.

29 And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.

30 And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.

31 For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.

32 And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.

33 And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.

34 And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.

Solomon’s Officials and Governors

So King Solomon ruled over all Israel. And these were his chief officials:(A)

Azariah(B) son of Zadok—the priest;

Elihoreph and Ahijah, sons of Shisha—secretaries;(C)

Jehoshaphat(D) son of Ahilud—recorder;

Benaiah(E) son of Jehoiada—commander in chief;

Zadok(F) and Abiathar—priests;

Azariah son of Nathan—in charge of the district governors;

Zabud son of Nathan—a priest and adviser to the king;

Ahishar—palace administrator;(G)

Adoniram(H) son of Abda—in charge of forced labor.(I)

Solomon had twelve district governors(J) over all Israel, who supplied provisions for the king and the royal household. Each one had to provide supplies for one month in the year. These are their names:

Ben-Hur—in the hill country(K) of Ephraim;

Ben-Deker—in Makaz, Shaalbim,(L) Beth Shemesh(M) and Elon Bethhanan;

10 Ben-Hesed—in Arubboth (Sokoh(N) and all the land of Hepher(O) were his);

11 Ben-Abinadab—in Naphoth Dor(P) (he was married to Taphath daughter of Solomon);

12 Baana son of Ahilud—in Taanach and Megiddo, and in all of Beth Shan(Q) next to Zarethan(R) below Jezreel, from Beth Shan to Abel Meholah(S) across to Jokmeam;(T)

13 Ben-Geber—in Ramoth Gilead (the settlements of Jair(U) son of Manasseh in Gilead(V) were his, as well as the region of Argob in Bashan and its sixty large walled cities(W) with bronze gate bars);

14 Ahinadab son of Iddo—in Mahanaim;(X)

15 Ahimaaz(Y)—in Naphtali (he had married Basemath daughter of Solomon);

16 Baana son of Hushai(Z)—in Asher and in Aloth;

17 Jehoshaphat son of Paruah—in Issachar;

18 Shimei(AA) son of Ela—in Benjamin;

19 Geber son of Uri—in Gilead (the country of Sihon(AB) king of the Amorites and the country of Og(AC) king of Bashan). He was the only governor over the district.

Solomon’s Daily Provisions

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

22 Solomon’s daily provisions(AJ) 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.(AK) 24 For he ruled over all the kingdoms west of the Euphrates River, from Tiphsah(AL) to Gaza, and had peace(AM) on all sides. 25 During Solomon’s lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba,(AN) lived in safety,(AO) everyone under their own vine and under their own fig tree.(AP)

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

27 The district governors,(AR) 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.

Solomon’s Wisdom

29 God gave Solomon wisdom(AS) and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand(AT) on the seashore. 30 Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East,(AU) and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.(AV) 31 He was wiser(AW) than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. 32 He spoke three thousand proverbs(AX) and his songs(AY) numbered a thousand and five. 33 He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop(AZ) that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. 34 From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings(BA) of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.[e]

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
  5. 1 Kings 4:34 In Hebrew texts 4:21-34 is numbered 5:1-14.