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

Magnificence of Solomon’s Rule

[[20 Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand by the sea; they ate and drank and were happy.(A) 21 [a]Solomon was sovereign over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, even to the border of Egypt; they brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.[b](B)]]

22 Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty cors of choice flour and sixty cors of meal, 23 ten fat oxen and twenty pasture-fed cattle, one hundred sheep, besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fatted fowl. 24 For he had dominion over all the region west of the Euphrates,[c] and he had peace on all sides.(C) 25 During Solomon’s lifetime Judah and Israel lived in safety, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, all of them under their vines and fig trees.(D) 26 Solomon also had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots and twelve thousand horsemen.(E) 27 Those officials 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.(F) 28 They also brought to the required place barley and straw for the horses and swift steeds, each according to his charge.

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Footnotes

  1. 4.21 5.1 in Heb
  2. 4.20–21 Gk lacks 4.20–21
  3. 4.24 Gk: Heb adds from Tiphsah to Gaza, over all the kings west of the Euphrates