MPV Commentary
Read the modernized Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary, aligned with each Bible book and chapter, in clear, updated English.
Currently viewing commentary for 1 Kings 4
Read the modernized Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary, aligned with each Bible book and chapter, in clear, updated English.
Currently viewing commentary for 1 Kings 4
7 Solomon appointed twelve officers to oversee all of Israel. The royal revenues were collected in the form of produce from the land, rather than money payments. This was a common practice in ancient times and still exists today in some parts of the East.
To facilitate the collection and distribution of these tithes, which would have been difficult to manage due to their bulk (1Sa 8:15), Solomon appointed twelve officers, each responsible for a tribe or district from which supplies were drawn on a monthly basis. These supplies were first deposited in "store cities" that had been built specifically for this purpose (1Ki 9:19; 2Ch 8:4, 6).
8 The son of Hur is mentioned here, but it's also possible to interpret his name as Benhur or Bendekar. In rural areas of Syria and among the Arabs, people are often referred to by their father's name rather than their own.
21 Solomon's kingdom extended from the Euphrates River to the Mediterranean Sea, with all the petty kingdoms in between paying tribute to him. This is also stated in 1Ki 4:24.
22-23 The provision made for one day was not just for the king's table but for everyone connected with the court, including the royal consorts, officers, bodyguards, and foreign visitors. The quantity of fine flour used was estimated at 240 bushels, while common flour came to 480 bushels. The number of cattle required for consumption was proportionate to what was needed in other Eastern courts.
24 Solomon's kingdom stretched from Tiphsah (Thapsacus), a large town on the west bank of the Euphrates River, to Azzah (Gaza) on the southwestern extremity near the Mediterranean Sea.
25 Every man under his vine and fig tree is a common metaphor for peace and security (Mic 4:4; Zec 3:10). In modern Syria, it's still common practice to train fruit trees up walls and stairs of houses, creating a shaded area where people can relax.
26 The royal stables had forty thousand stalls for the horses (see 2Ch 9:25).
28 Barley mixed with chopped straw was used as fodder for the horses. Dromedaries, or one-humped camels, were known for their speed and agility.