1 Kings 4

1 Kings 4

The big picture

1 Kings 4 opens in verse 1 with “So king Solomon was king over all Israel.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 17 with “Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar:”, and closes in verse 34 with “And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth…” Repeated or prominent terms include Solomon, king, wisdom, Beth, Israel. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.

Scripture beside the summary

1 Kings · King James Version · 34

1 Kings 4:1-7

1–7: So king Solomon was king over all Israel.

1 Kings 4:1–7 opens with “So king Solomon was king over all Israel.” and reaches “And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, which provided victuals for the king and his…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Kings 4 develops its own movement around Solomon, king, wisdom, Beth, Israel, with particular weight carried by king, Azariah, household.

Context that brings the passage to life

“So king Solomon was king over all Israel.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And these were the princes which he had; Azariah the son of Zadok the priest,” Naming Azariah and Zadok keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

1 Kings 4:1-7

King James Version

1So king Solomon was king over all Israel.

2And these were the princes which he had; Azariah the son of Zadok the priest,

3Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder.

4And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:

5And Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers: and Zabud the son of Nathan was principal officer, and the king’s friend:

6And Ahishar was over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute.

7And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, which provided victuals for the king and his household: each man his month in a year made provision.

1 Kings 4:8-14

8–14: These are their names: The son of Hur, in mount Ephraim:

1 Kings 4:8–14 opens with “And these are their names: The son of Hur, in mount Ephraim:” and reaches “Ahinadab the son of Iddo had Mahanaim:” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Kings 4 develops its own movement around Solomon, king, wisdom, Beth, Israel, with particular weight carried by Beth, pertained, gilead.

Context that brings the passage to life

“And these are their names: The son of Hur, in mount Ephraim:” Naming Ephraim and Hur keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The son of Dekar, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Beth-shemesh, and Elon-beth-hanan:” Naming Beth and Dekar keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

1 Kings 4:8-14

King James Version

8And these are their names: The son of Hur, in mount Ephraim:

9The son of Dekar, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Beth-shemesh, and Elon-beth-hanan:

10The son of Hesed, in Aruboth; to him pertained Sochoh, and all the land of Hepher:

11The son of Abinadab, in all the region of Dor; which had Taphath the daughter of Solomon to wife:

12Baana the son of Ahilud; to him pertained Taanach and Megiddo, and all Beth-shean, which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel, from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah, even unto the place that is beyond Jokneam:

13The son of Geber, in Ramoth-gilead; to him pertained the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead; to him also pertained the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, threescore great cities with walls and brasen bars:

14Ahinadab the son of Iddo had Mahanaim:

1 Kings 4:15-21

15–21: Ahimaaz was in Naphtali; he also took Basmath the daughter of Solomon to…

1 Kings 4:15–21 opens with “Ahimaaz was in Naphtali; he also took Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wife:” and reaches “And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Kings 4 develops its own movement around Solomon, king, wisdom, Beth, Israel, with particular weight carried by Solomon, country, king.

Context that brings the passage to life

“Ahimaaz was in Naphtali; he also took Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wife:” Naming Ahimaaz and Basmath keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

1 Kings 4:15-21

King James Version

15Ahimaaz was in Naphtali; he also took Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wife:

16Baanah the son of Hushai was in Asher and in Aloth:

17Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar:

18Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin:

19Geber the son of Uri was in the country of Gilead, in the country of Sihon king of the Amorites, and of Og king of Bashan; and he was the only officer which was in the land.

20Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry.

21And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.

1 Kings 4:22-28

22–28: Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and…

1 Kings 4:22–28 opens with “And Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures…” and reaches “Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries brought they unto the place where the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Kings 4 develops its own movement around Solomon, king, wisdom, Beth, Israel, with particular weight carried by Solomon, horses, king.

Context that brings the passage to life

“And Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal,” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallowdeer…” The number ten makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

1 Kings 4:22-28

King James Version

22And Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal,

23Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallowdeer, and fatted fowl.

24For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him.

25And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, all the days of Solomon.

26And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.

27And those officers provided victual for king Solomon, and for all that came unto king Solomon’s table, every man in his month: they lacked nothing.

28Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries brought they unto the place where the officers were, every man according to his charge.

1 Kings 4:29-34

29–34: God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness…

1 Kings 4:29–34 opens with “And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as…” and reaches “And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Kings 4 develops its own movement around Solomon, king, wisdom, Beth, Israel, with particular weight carried by wisdom, spake, Solomon.

Context that brings the passage to life

“And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the…” Naming Solomon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.” Naming Egypt and Solomon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

1 Kings 4:29-34

King James Version

29And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.

30And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.

31For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.

32And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.

33And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.

34And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.

Details worth noticing

34verses in this reading
5major movements
2verses with speech

The opening image

1 Kings 4:1 begins with “So king Solomon was king over all Israel.”

Where the chapter turns

1 Kings 4:17 forms a natural hinge: “Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar:”

The final note

1 Kings 4:34 leaves the reader with “And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.”

A word trail through the chapter

The words Solomon, king, wisdom, Beth, Israel, officers help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.

What opportunity exists before the murder?

Cain receives a warning and a call to resist sin in verse 7. Anger is not treated as an irresistible excuse.

What do the two speeches about vengeance reveal?

God limits retaliation against Cain; Lamech celebrates escalation.

KJV words made clear

dominion
responsibility or rule
unto
to
spake
spoke

Text first

Where readers differ

The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.

The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.

Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.