1 Kings 4

Solomon Builds His Power Team & Runs the Nation

1 King Solomon ran the whole country, he was the top dog.

2 Here is the squad under him:

Azariah (Zadok’s Son) Was the High Priest.

3 Elihoreph and Ahijah (sons of Shisha) were his secretaries. Jehoshaphat (son of Ahilud) was the historian.

4 Benaiah (son of Jehoiada) ran the army. Zadok and Abiathar were the priests.

5 Azariah (son of Nathan) was in charge of the governors. Zabud (another of Nathan’s sons) was the king’s personal advisor and priest.

6 Ahishar ran the palace operations. Adoniram (son of Abda) handled forced labor and work crews.

The Twelve Governors

7 Solomon put twelve officials over all Israel. Each one handled food supply for the king and his squad for one month out the year.

8 Ben-hur held it down in the hill country of Ephraim.

9 Ben-deker ran Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth-shemesh, and Elon-beth-hanan.

10 Ben-hesed was over Arubboth, that included Socoh and all of Hepher too.

11 Ben-abinadab ruled Naphath-dor. He was married to Solomon’s daughter, Taphath.

12 Baana son of Ahilud ran Taanach, Megiddo, and all of Beth-shan near Zarethan, south of Jezreel, from Beth-shan to Abel-meholah, all the way to the far side of Jokmeam.

13 Ben-geber was over Ramoth-gilead. He ruled the towns of Jair (son of Manasseh) in Gilead, that is 60 big cities with walls and bronze bars.

14 Ahinadab son of Iddo ran Mahanaim.

15 Ahimaaz was over Naphtali. He married Solomon’s daughter, Basemath.

16 Baana son of Hushai ruled over Asher and Aloth.

17 Jehoshaphat son of Paruah handled Issachar.

18 Shimei son of Ela was over Benjamin.

19 Geber son of Uri ruled Gilead, that was the land of Sihon king of the Amorites and Og king of Bashan. He was the only official over that whole zone.

Peace, Bread, and Blessings

20 The people of Judah and Israel were thick, like sand on the beach. They ate good, drank well, and were happy.

21 Solomon ruled all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to Philistia and Egypt. Those kingdoms paid taxes and brought him gifts all his life.

Daily Provision Was No Joke

22 Every day, Solomon’s kitchen used: 150 bushels of flour

300 Bushels of Meal

23 10 fattened cows 20 pasture-fed cows 100 sheep

Plus Deer, Gazelles, Roebucks, and Birds

24 Solomon had peace over all the land from Tiphsah to Gaza.

25 Everyone in Judah and Israel lived safe, from Dan to Beersheba, sitting under their own vine and fig tree all Solomon’s days.

26 He had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots and 12,000 horsemen.

27 The governors supplied food for the king every month, no slipping.

28 They brought in barley and straw for the horses, no shortages anywhere.

Solomon’s Wisdom Went Global

29 God gave Solomon crazy wisdom, deep understanding, and a mind as wide as the seashore.

30 His wisdom outshined all the wise men of the East and Egypt.

31 He was wiser than anyone, even dudes like Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Darda. His name was known in all the nations around.

32 He wrote 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs.

33 He spoke on trees, animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, the man was a natural scientist too.

34 People from every nation came to hear his wisdom, kings sent their reps to sit at his feet.