Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 4:27
And 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.
27. And those officers ] Referring to the twelve enumerated in 1Ki 4:8-19. There is a degree of awkwardness in the way in which the fresh mention of them is introduced, and this no doubt led to the transposition in the LXX. which has been noticed above.
they lacked nothing ] Rather, ‘they let nothing be missing.’ The notion of the verb is that of inspecting troops, and marking, and at once correcting, deficiencies.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
1Ki 4:22-23; 1Ki 4:27-28
Solomons provisions for one day.
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Solomons feast
This would seem to be part of the Parable of the Prodigal Son before its time. This typical feast of Solomons has no reference to gluttony. We have read of Caligula, who would never eat bread unless it was gilded–had a coating of gold over the crust; but we are not commending such men in representing Solomons feast as the feast of fat things and wine upon the lees well refined, as being part of the viands and provision of the table of God, which is so abundantly–yea, lavishly–spread. When did God give just enough? When was there less at the end than there was at the beginning? When He had five loaves and fed five thousand, how many basketfuls of fragments took ye up? Let God be judged by the fragments, whoever found the loaves; let God be judged by the harvest, whoever lent the seed out of which it sprang. (J. Parker, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Those officers; named above, 1Ki 4:7, &c.
They lacked nothing; or rather, they suffered nothing to be lacking to any man that came thither, but plentifully provided all things necessary.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And these officers provided victuals for King Solomon,…. The twelve before mentioned; and this is repeated here, after the account of his horses, to observe, that they provided for them also, as well as for the sake of what follows; that the large provision made by them was not only for Solomon’s family and domestic servants, but for strangers from different arts, who came upon messages to him, or to visit him, and to behold the splendour of his court:
and for all that came to Solomon’s table; which was an open table for all comers, as there were some from all parts of the earth, 1Ki 4:34;
every man in his month; each of the twelve officers provided food in the month assigned to him:
they lacked nothing; they always had enough to supply the king with, and they failed not in the performance of their duty, nor came short of their salaries, being fully and punctually paid them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
27. Those officers That is, the officers named in 1Ki 4:7-19.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Ki 4:27 And 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.
Ver. 27. And for all that came unto king Solomon’s table.] Who were not a few, not only natives, but foreigners; not ambassadors only, but others, who came from all parts to hear his wisdom, 1Ki 4:34 and so to be proselyted haply. But Josephus relateth of the Jews, that they were very careful how they received proselytes in Solomon’s time; because then the state of the Jews flourished.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
those officers: 1Ki 4:7-19
Reciprocal: 1Sa 8:12 – and will set 1Ch 27:1 – month
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
SOLOMON IN ALL HIS GLORY
They lacked nothing. He was wiser than all men.
1Ki 4:27; 1Ki 4:31
We cannot but contrast Solomon and Jesus. Solomons wealth was enormous; Jesus was a poor manin the world which was made by Him, yet not having where to lay His head. Solomon was a type of worldly prosperity; Jesus was a man of sorrows, living a life which the world called an utter failure. On the other hand, Solomons light soon became tinged with darkness. Heathenism crept into his court with the wives he chose and brought there. The smoke from the holy altars of the Temple mingled with other smoke from heathen altars, erected here and there throughout the city in honour of idols. He who began with so much promise ended his life in sorrow and darkness, though, let us hope, in penitence. In contrast with all this, think of Jesus, whose life and teachings and influence remained holy and pure and Divine unto the end. A greater than Solomon is here.
I. The blessings of peace are very precious.In Solomons time the people dwelt safelyevery man under his vine and fig tree. There was no war to make them afraid. They went on with their work on their farms, in their homes, without fear of being disturbed by enemies breaking in upon them. We are enjoying the blessings of peace in our own country. We cannot be too thankful for this. David had fought battles and subdued the enemies of the kingdom, and Solomons peace was the fruit of what David had done. The blessings we are enjoying are the results of the sacrifices and toils of those who have gone before us. The blessings of the Christians peace are ours also, because Christ went to His cross for us. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him.
II. We should notice that Solomons wisdom and largeness of heart were Gods gift to him.He was called to do a certain great work for God, and God gave him the wisdom and the ability necessary for it. We should never forget that all our talents and all our powers are Gods gifts to us. If a girl has a good voice for singing, God gave it to her, and she must think of it as sacred, to be used for Him. If a young man has a gift for business, for money-making, God gave it to him, and it must be used in Gods service. If one is a poet, or an orator, or possesses any other fine endowment, it is from God, and is to be employed in Gods work. We must not think that our powers are our own. We must not boast of them as if they were. We ought to be made humble as we think of them, because they indicate our responsibility.
III. We must not imagine that Solomons wisdom saved him from all labour.Evidently he was a great worker. No man could have written the things which are described in verses 32 and 33 without being a most laborious worker. The gifts that God bestows upon us must be developed by us by proper training and exercise. Then we can accomplish good results with them only by incessant diligence and earnest use. Even Jesus, the wisest of all men, did not acquire knowledge without study. He applied Himself to His lessons, and learned as other boys must learn.
IV. We must remember, as we read of Solomons wisdom, what Jesus said about it.People came from all parts of the world to hear Solomons wise sayings. Jesus reminded His hearers that He was greater than Solomon. It has become true that all the world has listened to the voice of Jesus as the teachings of the Gospel have gone forth. But we should remember that Jesus, being the wisest teacher the world has ever had, we should go to Him continually to learn the lessons which He alone can teach us.
V. It is very sad to think that although Solomon began so well, with such promise and such endowments, he afterwards turned away from God.This is one of the saddest things in history. We must remember that great gifts are not enough to make a mans life finally successful. When God gave Solomon the wisdom he chose, there was a conditionthat Solomon should walk in Gods ways. Failing in this, he lost much of the blessing, and his last years were darkened by sorrow. The Book of Ecclesiastes helps us to understand what vanity the worlds riches and honour are unless ones heart be right with God.
Illustration
Here is Solomon in all his glory, in the width of his empire, in the bounty of the provision for his household, in his army, in his wisdom and knowledge, in his widespread influence over all lands. But as we turn from him to the Carpenter of Nazareth, Who had not where to lay His head, Who found His close friends among the poor, and Who ultimately laid down His life a ransom for men, who does not feel that, altogether apart from His Divine Sonship, His was the nobler ideal and the more useful career? Probably Solomon himself would have admitted this, but it is to be remembered that He has set us an example that we should follow His steps. A greater than Solomon is here; let us hear Him.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
1Ki 4:27-28. Those officers Named above, 1Ki 4:7. They lacked nothing Or, rather, they suffered nothing to be lacking to any man that came to Solomons table, but plentifully provided all things necessary. This is repeated to show their diligence, exactness, and care, which was remarkable; especially since they took care of his stables as well as of his house, as it follows in the next verse. Barley also and straw Barley was anciently horse-corn, as appears by many places in Homer. For the horses and dromedaries The Hebrew word, rechesh, signifies swift horses, as Abarbinel thinks; see Est 8:14; but others take them for mules. Where the officers were Or, rather, Where the beasts were; for there is no word for officers in the Hebrew. Every man according to his charge Which lasted for a month every year.