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

Solomon’s Provisions

20 Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand by the sea;(A) they were eating, drinking, and rejoicing. 21 [a]Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines and as far as the border of Egypt.(B) They offered tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.(C)

22 Solomon’s provisions for one day were 150 bushels[b] of fine flour and 300 bushels[c] of meal, 23 10 fattened oxen, 20 range oxen, and 100 sheep, besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and pen-fed poultry,[d](D) 24 for he had dominion over everything west of the Euphrates from Tiphsah to Gaza and over all the kings west of the Euphrates. He had peace on all his surrounding borders. 25 Throughout Solomon’s reign, Judah and Israel lived in safety from Dan to Beer-sheba,(E) each man under his own vine and his own fig tree.(F) 26 Solomon had 40,000[e] stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen.(G) 27 Each of those deputies for a month in turn provided food for King Solomon and for everyone who came to King Solomon’s table. They neglected nothing. 28 Each man brought the barley and the straw for the chariot teams and the other horses(H) to the required place according to his assignment.[f]

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 4:21 1Kg 5:1 in Hb
  2. 1 Kings 4:22 Lit 30 cors
  3. 1 Kings 4:22 Lit 60 cors
  4. 1 Kings 4:23 Hb obscure
  5. 1 Kings 4:26 2Ch 9:25 reads 4,000 stalls
  6. 1 Kings 4:28 Lit judgment