Solomon's Wealth and Wisdom

20 Judah and Israel were as many (A)as the sand by the sea. They ate and drank and were happy. 21 [a] (B)Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the (C)Euphrates[b] to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt. (D)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 (E)Gaza, over all the kings west of the Euphrates. (F)And he had peace on all sides around him. 25 And Judah and Israel (G)lived in safety, (H)from Dan even to Beersheba, (I)every man under his vine and under his fig tree, all the days of Solomon. 26 (J)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 (K)swift steeds they brought to the place where it was required, each according to his duty.

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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

Solomon’s Magnificence

20 Judah and Israel became as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They enjoyed abundance, and ate, drank, and rejoiced regularly. 21 [a]Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River[b] to the territory of the Philistines and south[c] to the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon throughout his lifetime. 22 Solomon’s daily provisions were 30 kors of fine flour, 60 kors of meal, 23 ten fattened oxen, 20 pasture-fed cattle, 100 sheep, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks, and domestic poultry. 24 He ruled over everything west of the Euphrates[d] River from Tiphsah to Gaza, over all of the kings west of the Euphrates[e] River, and he enjoyed peace on all sides around him.

25 Judah and Israel lived safely, and everyone enjoyed their own vine and fig tree from Dan to Beer-sheba through all of Solomon’s life. 26 Solomon owned 40,000 stalls for the horses that drove his chariots, and he employed 12,000 men to drive them.[f] 27 His officers supplied provisions for King Solomon and for everyone who visited King Solomon’s palace,[g] each in their respective month of service responsibility.[h] Nothing ever ran out. 28 They also provided barley and straw for the horses and camels to their respective locations, each consistent with their responsibilities.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 4:21 This v. is 5:1 in MT, 4:22 is 5:2, and so on through 4:34
  2. 1 Kings 4:21 The Heb. lacks River
  3. 1 Kings 4:21 The Heb. lacks south
  4. 1 Kings 4:24 The Heb. lacks Euphrates
  5. 1 Kings 4:24 The Heb. lacks Euphrates
  6. 1 Kings 4:26 The Heb. lacks to drive them
  7. 1 Kings 4:27 Lit. table
  8. 1 Kings 4:27 The Heb. lacks of service responsibility