Solomon’s Kingdom^(A)

²⁰ There were as many people in Judah and Israel as grains of sand on the seashore [Gen. 22:17; 32:12]. The people ate, drank, and were ·happy [content; rejoicing]. ²¹ Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These countries brought Solomon ·the payments he demanded [tribute], and they ·were under his control [served him] all his life.

²² ·Solomon needed much food each day to feed himself and all the people who ate at his table: Solomon’s daily provisions were one hundred ninety-five bushels [^Lthirty cors] of fine flour, three hundred ninety bushels [^Lsixty cors] of ·grain [meal], ²³ ten ·cows that were fed on good grain [fat oxen], twenty ·cows [oxen] that were raised in the fields, one hundred sheep, deer, gazelles, and roe deer, and ·fattened birds [choice poultry].

²⁴ Solomon ·controlled [ruled; had dominion over] all the countries west of the ·Euphrates River [^LRiver]—the land from Tiphsah to Gaza. And he had peace on all ·sides of his kingdom [his borders/frontiers]. ²⁵ During Solomon’s life Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba [^Cthe extreme north to the extreme south], also lived in ·peace [safety]; all of his people were able to sit under their own fig trees and grapevines.

²⁶ Solomon had four^[a] thousand stalls for his chariot horses and twelve thousand ·horses [or horsemen; cavalry]. ²⁷ Each month one of the ·district governors [deputies; administrators] ·gave King Solomon all the food he needed [provided for King Solomon]—enough for every person who ate at the king’s table. The ·governors [deputies; administrators] made sure ·he had everything he needed [that nothing was lacking]. ²⁸ They also brought enough barley and straw for Solomon’s ·chariot [^Lswift steeds] and work horses; each person ·brought this grain to the right place [according to his duty/charge].