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Solomon’s Royal Court and Administrators

King Solomon ruled over all Israel. These were his officials:

Azariah son of Zadok was the priest.

Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, wrote down what happened.[a]

Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was in charge of the records.

Benaiah son of Jehoiada was commander of[b] the army.

Zadok and Abiathar were priests.

Azariah son of Nathan was supervisor of[c] the district governors.

Zabud son of Nathan was a priest and adviser to[d] the king.

Ahishar was supervisor of the palace.[e]

Adoniram son of Abda was supervisor of[f] the work crews.[g]

Solomon had twelve district governors appointed throughout Israel who acquired supplies for the king and his palace. Each was responsible for one month in the year. These were their names:

Ben Hur was in charge of the hill country of Ephraim.

Ben Deker was in charge of Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh, and Elon Beth Hanan.

10 Ben Hesed was in charge of Arubboth; he controlled Socoh and all the territory of Hepher.

11 Ben Abinadab was in charge of Naphath Dor. (He was married to Solomon’s daughter Taphath.)

12 Baana son of Ahilud was in charge of Taanach and Megiddo, as well as all of Beth Shean next to Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth Shean to Abel Meholah and on past Jokmeam.

13 Ben Geber was in charge of Ramoth Gilead; he controlled the villages of Jair son of Manasseh in Gilead, as well as the region of Argob in Bashan, including sixty large walled cities with bronze bars locking their gates.

14 Ahinadab son of Iddo was in charge of Mahanaim.

15 Ahimaaz was in charge of Naphtali. (He married Solomon’s daughter Basemath.)

16 Baana son of Hushai was in charge of Asher and Aloth.

17 Jehoshaphat son of Paruah was in charge of Issachar.

18 Shimei son of Ela was in charge of Benjamin.

19 Geber son of Uri was in charge of the land of Gilead (the territory which had once belonged to King Sihon of the Amorites and to King Og of Bashan). He was sole governor of the area.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 4:3 tn Heb “were scribes”; NASB, NIV, NRSV “secretaries”; TEV, NLT “court secretaries.”
  2. 1 Kings 4:4 tn Heb “was over.”
  3. 1 Kings 4:5 tn Heb “was over.”
  4. 1 Kings 4:5 tn Heb “close associate of”; KJV, ASV, NASB “the king’s friend” (a title for an adviser, not just an acquaintance).
  5. 1 Kings 4:6 tn Heb “over the house.”
  6. 1 Kings 4:6 tn Heb “was over.”
  7. 1 Kings 4:6 sn The work crews. This Hebrew word (מַס, mas) refers to a group of laborers conscripted for royal or public service.

Solomon’s Administrative Officers

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

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

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