Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 4:21
And 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.
21 28. Extent of Solomon’s Kingdom, the provision for his table, his stud (Not in Chronicles)
21. This verse in the Hebrew is the beginning of Chapter 5, which has therefore 32 verses instead of 18 as in the English division. The LXX. and the Vulgate divide as in the A.V., but the former has a different order of the verses, putting after 1Ki 4:19, the other verses as follows 27, 28, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34. Of 1Ki 4:20-21; 1Ki 4:25-26 the LXX. has no notice, and adds a passage after 34, on which see note there.
over all kingdoms ] The country was governed by a number of petty kings who all owned Solomon as their lord superior.
from the river ] i.e. The River par excellence, viz. the Euphrates.
unto the land of the Philistines ] There is no word for ‘unto’ in the sentence. It would seem best therefore to repeat the previous preposition, and render ‘ over the land of the Philistines.’ The first section of the verse will thus embrace the kingdoms to the north and east of Israel and Judah, the second those to the south and west. It should be mentioned that in 2Ch 9:26 the preposition ‘unto’ is expressed in the Hebrew. The Vulgate here, in consequence of the absence of any preposition, translates ‘a flumine terr Philistiim.’
they brought presents ] The noun is singular, and comprehends all that sort of offerings which tributaries rendered to their chief lord, but to which the more euphemious name of ‘gift’ or ‘present’ was assigned. Cp. for the character of these gifts 2Sa 8:2; 2Sa 8:6, where they are described as tribute from nations who became servants to king David; and in 2Ki 17:4, we learn that they were presented year by year, and the failure in such service was ground enough for suspicion of conspiracy and for commencing war against the defaulter.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Solomons empire, like all the great empires of Asia down to the time of the Persians, consisted of a congeries of small kingdoms, all ruled by their own kings 1Ki 4:24, who admitted the suzerainty of the Jewish monarch, and paid him presents, i. e., an annual tribute (see 1Ki 10:25).
Unto the land of the Philistines – There is no word corresponding to unto in the Hebrew. The construction should be, Solomon reigned over all the kingdoms from the river (i. e., the Euphrates: see the marginal references), over the land of the Philistines, etc. The writer draws attention to the fact that the extent of Solomons kingdom was in accordance with the promises made to Abraham, Moses, and Joshua.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 21. Solomon reigned over all kingdoms] The meaning of this verse appears to be, that Solomon reigned over all the provinces from the river Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, even to the frontiers of Egypt. The Euphrates was on the east of Solomon’s dominions; the Philistines were westward on the Mediterranean sea; and Egypt was on the south. Solomon had, therefore, as tributaries, the kingdoms of Syria, Damascus, Moab, and Ammon, which lay between the Euphrates and the Mediterranean. See Calmet. Thus he appears to have possessed all the land that God covenanted with Abraham to give to his posterity.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
From the river Euphrates; for so far David, having conquered the Syrians, extended his empire, which Solomon also maintained in that extent. And so Gods promise concerning the giving of the whole land, as far as Euphrates, to the Israelites, was fulfilled. And if the Israelites had multiplied so much that the land of Canaan would not suffice them, having Gods grant of all the land as far as Euphrates, they might have seized upon it whensoever occasion required.
Unto the land of the Philistines, which is to be understood inclusively; for it is unreasonable to think that the Philistines were not within Solomons dominion.
Unto the border of Egypt; unto the river Sihor, which was the border between Egypt and Canaan, Jos 13:3. Compare Gen 15:18.
Served Solomon, by tribute, or other ways, as he needed and required.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
21. Solomon reigned over allkingdoms from the riverAll the petty kingdoms between theEuphrates and the Mediterranean were tributary to him. Similar is thestatement in 1Ki 4:24.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms,…. Not only over Judah and Israel, but all people round about him, they standing in fear of him; or who brought him presents, or paid tribute to him, which was an acknowledgment of superiority over them, and doing homage to him:
from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt; that is, from the river Euphrates, as the Targum, which was the border of his proper domains to the east, to Palestine, inhabited by the Philistines, which lay to the west, and as far as the border of Egypt, which was the southern boundary; a like and larger extent of Christ’s kingdom is given, Ps 72:8;
and they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life; this explains in what sense other kingdoms besides were ruled by Solomon, and subject to him; of Christ his antitype, see Ps 72:10.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Solomon’s Regal Splendour. – 1Ki 4:21. “Solomon was ruler over all the kingdoms from the river (Euphrates) onwards, over the land of the Philistines to the border of Egypt, who brought presents and were subject to Solomon his whole life long.” Most of the commentators supply before (even to the land of the Philistines) after the parallel passage 2Ch 9:26, so that the following would give a more precise definition of the terminus ad quem. But it is by no means probable that , which appears to be indispensable, should have dropped out through the oversight of a copyist, and it is not absolutely necessary to supply it, inasmuch as may be repeated in thought before from the preceding clause. The participle is construed ad sensum with . Bringing presents is equivalent to paying tribute, as in 2Sa 8:2, etc.
Vv. 22-28. The splendour of the court, the consumption in the royal kitchen (1Ki 4:22-25), and the well-filled stables (1Ki 4:26-28), were such as befitted the ruler of so large a kingdom.
1Ki 4:22-23 The daily consumption of (food or provisions) amounted to thirty cors of fine meal ( = , fine sifted meal, Exo 29:2; for see also Lev 2:2), and sixty cors of , ordinary meal, ten fattened oxen, twenty pasture oxen, which were brought directly from the pasture and slaughtered, and a hundred sheep, beside different kinds of game. , , the later name for , the largest dry and also liquid (1Ki 5:11), measure of capacity, contained ten ephahs or baths, i.e., according to the calculation made by Thenius, 15,300 cubic inches (Dresden) = about 1 7/8 scheffel;
(Note: The scheffel is about an English sack (vid., Flgel ‘ s Dict.). – Tr.)
so that ninety cors would amount to 171 scheffel, from which 28,000 lbs. of bread could be baked ( Theol. Stud. und Krit. 1846, pp. 132,133). And “if we reckon 2 lbs. of bread to each person, there would be 14,000 persons in Solomon’s court,” The consumption of flesh would be quite in proportion to that of bread; for ten fattened oxen, twenty oxen from the pasture, and a hundred sheep, yield more than 21,000 lbs. of meat, that is to say, a pound and a half for each person, “assuming, according to the statements of those who are acquainted with the matter, that the edible meat of a fat ox amounts to 600 lbs., that of an ox from the pasture to 400 lbs., and that of a sheep to 70 lbs.” ( Thenius ut sup.). This daily consumption of Solomon’s court will not appear too great, if, on the one hand, we compare it with the quantity consumed at other oriental courts both of ancient and modern times,
(Note: According to Athen. Deipnos. iv. 10, the kings of Persia required a thousand oxen a day; and according to Tavernier, in Rosenmller ‘ s A. u. N. Morgenland, iii. pp. 166,167, five hundred sheep and lambs were slaughtered daily for the Sultan ‘ s court.)
and if, on the other hand, we bear in mind that not only the numerous attendants upon the king and his harem, but also the royal adjutants and the large number of officers employed about the court, were supplied from the king’s table, and that their families had also to be fed, inasmuch as the wages in oriental courts are all paid in kind. In addition to this, game was also supplied to the king’s table: viz., stags, gazelles, fallow-deer, and “fattened fowl.” The meaning of is doubtful. The earlier translators render it birds or fowl. Kimchi adopts the rendering “capons;” Tanch. Hieroz. “geese,” so called from their pure ( ) white feathers; and both Gesenius and Dietrich (Lex.) decide in favour of the latter. The word must denote some special kind of fowl, since edible birds in general were called (Neh 5:18).
1Ki 4:24-25 Solomon was able to appropriate all this to his court, because ( ) he had dominion, etc.;…and (1Ki 4:25) Israel and Judah enjoyed the blessings of peace during the whole of his reign. , “over all the other side of the river (Euphrates),” i.e., not the land on the east, but that on the west of the river. This usage of speech is to be explained from the fact that the author of our books, who was living in exile on the other side of the Euphrates, describes the extent of Solomon’s kingdom taking that as his starting-point. Solomon’s power only extended to the Euphrates, from Tiphsach in the north-east to Gaza in the south-west. (crossing, from ) is Thapsacus, a large and wealthy city on the western bank of the Euphrates, at which the armies of the younger Cyrus and Alexander crossed the river (Xen. Anab. i. 4; Arrian, Exped. Alex. iii. 7). Gaza, the southernmost city of the Philistines, the present Guzzeh; see at Jos 13:3. The are the kings of Syria who were subjugated by David (2Sa 8:6 and 2Sa 10:19), and of the Philistines (2Sa 8:1). “And he had peace on all sides round about.” This statement does not “most decidedly contradict 1Ki 11:23.,” as Thenius maintains; for it cannot be proved that according to this passage the revolt of Damascus had taken place before Solomon’s reign (Ewald and others; see at 1Ki 11:23.).
1Ki 4:25 “Judah and Israel sat in safety, every one under his vine and his fig-tree.” This expresses the undisturbed enjoyment of the costly productions of the land (2Ki 18:31), and is therefore used by the prophets as a figure denoting the happiness of the Messianic age (Mic 4:4; Zec 3:10). “From Dan to Beersheba,” as in Jdg 20:1, etc.
1Ki 4:26 This verse is not to be regarded “as a parenthesis according to the intention of the editor,” but gives a further proof of the peace and prosperity which the kingdom and people enjoyed under Solomon. Solomon had a strong force of war chariots and cavalry, that he might be able to suppress every attempt on the part of the tributary kings of Syria and Philistia to revolt and disturb the peace. “Solomon had 4000 racks of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 riding horses,” which were kept partly in Jerusalem and partly in cities specially built for the purpose (1Ki 9:19; 1Ki 10:26; 2Ch 1:14; 2Ch 9:25). (40) is an old copyist’s error for (4), which we find in the parallel passage 2Ch 9:25, and as we may also infer from 1Ki 10:26 and 2Ch 1:14, since according to these passages Solomon had 1400 or war chariots. For 4000 horses are a very suitable number for 1400 chariots, though not 40,000, since two draught horses were required for every war chariot, and one horse may have been kept as a reserve. does not mean a team (Ges.), but a rack or box in a stable, from , carpere. According to Vegetius, i. 56, in Bochart ( Hieroz. i. p. 112, ed. Ros.), even in ancient times every horse had it own crib in the stable just as it has now. Bttcher (n. ex. Krit. Aehrenl. ii. p. 27) is wrong in supposing that there were several horses, say at least ten, to one rack. is used collectively for “chariots.”
1Ki 4:27-28 “And” = a still further proof of the blessings of peace – ”those prefects (1Ki 4:7.) provided for king Solomon, and all who came to the king’s table, i.e., who were fed from the royal table, every one his month (see at 1Ki 4:7), so that nothing was wanting (1Ki 4:28), and conveyed the barley (the ordinary food of cattle in Palestine and the southern lands, where oats are not cultivated) and the straw for the horses and coursers to the place where it ought to be. To the lxx, Vulg., and others supply as the subject: wherever the king might stay. This is certainly more in harmony with the imperfect than it would be to supply , as Bochart and others propose; still it is hardly correct. For in that case could only be understood as referring to the chariot horses and riding horses, which Solomon kept for the necessities of his court, and not to the whole of the cavalry; since we cannot possibly assume that even if Solomon changed his residence according to the season and to suit his pleasure, or on political grounds, as Thenius supposes, though this cannot by any means be inferred from 1Ki 9:18 and 1Ki 9:19, he took 16,000 horses about with him. But this limitation of the clause is evidently at variance with the context, since too plainly refer back to 1Ki 4:6. Moreover, “if the king were intended, he would certainly have been mentioned by name, as so many other subjects and objects have come between.” For these reasons we agree with Bttcher in taking indefinitely: “where it (barley and straw) was wanted, according to the distribution of the horses.” probably denotes a very superior kind of horse, like the German Renner (a courser or race-horse). , every one according to his right, i.e., whatever was appointed for him as right.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
II. THE WONDERMENT OF THIS REIGN 4:2134
With 1Ki. 4:21 (1Ki. 5:1 in the Hebrew) the author takes up the thought introduced in 1Ki. 4:20, viz., that Solomon ruled over a vast and happy people. The disconnected details recorded in this section serve to underscore the fact that the age of Solomon was the golden age of Israel. Here the author discusses (1) the extent and power of Solomons kingdom (1Ki. 4:21-28); and (2) Solomons profound wisdom and fame (1Ki. 4:29-34).
A. THE EXTENT AND POWER OF SOLOMONS KINGDOM 4:2128
TRANSLATION
(21) And Solomon became the ruler over all the kingdoms from the river to the land of the Philistines and the border of Egypt. They continued to bring presents and to serve Solomon all the days of his life. (22) Now the provision of Solomon for one day was thirty kors of fine flour and sixty kors of meal, (23) ten fat cattle, twenty cattle of the field, a hundred sheep besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and cribbed geese.[147] (24) For he ruled over all the land beyond the river from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings beyond the river; and he had peace on all sides round about him. (25) And Judah and Israel dwelt securely, each man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon. (26) And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. (27) And these officers supplied provisions for Solomon and for all who came unto King Solomons table, each man in his month; they did not lack a thing. (28) Also barley and straw for the horses, and steeds, they brought unto the place where they were, each man according to his assessment.
[147] The Hebrew word is of uncertain meaning. The translation proposed by Gray has been adapted here.
COMMENTS
Solomons empire was vast, extending from the river, i.e., the Euphrates in the north, to the land of the Philistines, i.e., the Mediterranean shore on the west, to the border of Egypt on the south. The border of Egypt is generally regarded as the Wadi al-Arish, or River of Egypt which lies in the desert between Philistia and Egypt. The promise of Gen. 15:18 had now been fulfilled. This verse demonstrates that those millenialists who affirm that the land promise of Genesis 15 was never fulfilled are totally wrong. All these lands rendered tribute to Solomon and were under his domain all the days of his life (1Ki. 4:21).
The daily consumption of the royal household is next related so as to demonstrate the grandeur and luxury of Solomons court. Each day approximately 340 bushels of fine flour and 155 bushels of meal were consumed (1Ki. 4:23).[148] Thirty head of beef, a hundred sheep, as well as wild game, were required daily at the royal tables (1Ki. 4:24). The stall-fed oxen were probably for the palace table, while these from the pasture were for the palace guards and inferior servants. It has been estimated that such a quantity of bread and meat would feed at least fourteen thousand persons and some estimates run as high as thirty-five thousand. Because of what is known of the extravagances in the royal courts of antiquity, even liberal scholars are forced to admit that the figures presented here may be sober history and not wild exaggeration.[149]
[148] Authorities differ as to how many bushels were in the kor measure. Estimates range from a high of eleven bushels to a low of 5.16 bushels. This lower equivalency has been used in the computation here. See Sellers, IDB, RZ, p. 835. Scott (BAR, III, 34558) gives the equivalency as 6.25 bushels to a kor.
[149] Montgomery cites examples from the Persian and Egyptian court, (ICC, p. 128). According to Gray (OTL, p. 137) these instances indicate that this is no exaggeration here and may be an excerpt from official records.
Solomons court provisions were commensurate with the size of his kingdom. He had control of the entire region of Beyond-the-River. This is a technical geographical designation for the region west of the Euphrates river. The northern most point in the empire was Tiphsah, a town on the west bank of the middle course of the Euphrates at its most important crossing-place. The southern most point was Azzah, i.e., Gaza, the last town in Palestine on the frontier of Egypt. All the kings in the Beyond-the-River region rendered tribute to Solomon. The author probably has in mind the kings of Syria conquered by David (2Sa. 8:6) and of the Philistines (2Sa. 8:1). But despite the wide extent of his kingdom, there was peace everywhere (1Ki. 4:24).[150] From Dan, at the headwaters of the Jordan, to Beersheba, on the edge of the southern wilderness every man sat under his vine and under his fig tree (1Ki. 4:25). This proverbial expression denotes rest and the undisturbed enjoyment of the fruits of the earth.
[150] Gray (OTL, p. 136) contends that this statement contradicts 1Ki. 11:23 which speaks of the Arameans revolting after the death of David. The present passage, however, is only asserting that the reign of Solomon was predominately peaceful. It may mean no more then than Israel did not itself suffer from the ravages of war.
In the note about Solomons cavalry and chariotry, the author continues to paint the picture of the pomp and power of Israels greatest king. At the same time the allusion to this multiplication of horses is an indication that Solomon was beginning to violate the law of God with respect to kings (cf. Deu. 17:16). That the figure forty thousand for the number of stalls is a scribal error is indicated by two considerations: (1) In the parallel passage in 2Ch. 9:25 the figure given is four thousand; and (2) this lower figure is more in line with the number of chariots (fourteen hundred) possessed by Solomon (1Ki. 10:26). It was customary in the Near East to yoke two horses to each chariot. A third horse was usually provided for each chariot in case of an accident. Thus four thousand horses for his chariot force would be more than ample. In addition the king kept twelve hundred cavalry horses. This great number of horses and horsemen threw an extra burden on each of the twelve district governors mentioned in 1Ki. 4:7-19 (1Ki. 4:27). These officers faithfully brought barley, the food of the horses, and straw to the various depots throughout the land where the animals were kept (1Ki. 4:28). The dromedaries of the KJV are really the swift horses used by the kings messengers.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(21) And Solomon reigned.His dominion is described as extending on the south to the land of the Philistines and the border of Egypt, including what we call Arabia (see Psa. 72:10, and comp. 1Ki. 10:15); on the east to the river Euphrates, as far north as Tiphsah (the Greek Thapsacus); on the west it would, of course, be bounded by the sea; and on the north it extended far beyond Damascus, probably up to the borders of the Assyrian Empire. It seems also clear that the Syrian Kingdoms (like the kingdom of Tyre), were allies on a footing of some dependence, though not exactly tributaries. This extension of dominion was the fruit of the warlike energy of the two preceding reigns. As in all ancient Eastern empires, it represented, not an organised monarchy, but the supremacy of a dominant kingdom over tributaries gathered roundthe kings on this side the river who brought presentsapparently at that time numerous, and ruling over small territories. Such an empire would rise rapidly, and as rapidly fall to pieces; and in Solomons case it was sustained less by military power than by the peaceful forces of wealth and policy, and was largely dependent on his own personal ascendancy.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
21. The river The great Euphrates, far to the east. Compare Gen 15:18.
Land of the Philistines On the Mediterranean coast to the west of Judea.
Border of Egypt At the south. Within these limits there were now many kingdoms.
Brought presents, and served Solomon These subject kingdoms doubtless preserved their separate organization and nationality, as when independent, but were ever ready both to contribute to the annual revenues of Solomon, and also to furnish, when occasion offered, their quota of men for any public service. Thus, too, the fame of Solomon became registered in the records of the kings of the East. Ezr 4:20.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Ki 4:21. And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms This would be better rendered, Solomon reigned over all the kingdoms or provinces which were from the river, &c. 1:e. from the Euphrates to the Nile. The bounds of his kingdom were, the Euphrates to the east; the country of the Philistines, which bordered upon the Mediterranean sea, to the west; and Egypt to the south; so that he had the kingdoms of Syria, Damascus, Moab, and Ammon, which lay between Euphrates and the Mediterranean; as, indeed, without such a number of tributary kingdoms, we cannot conceive how the country of Israel could have furnished such a constant supply of provisions and other things necessary for the support of this prince’s grandeur. We have, in this description of the extent and peace of Solomon’s kingdom, an ample completion of God’s promises to Abraham.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
1Ki 4:21 And 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.
Ver. 21. And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms. ] Not all the kingdoms of the world, a , – as some Hebrews make him, – but over all kingdoms thereabout. He was a most potent and flourishing monarch.
All the days of his life.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the river = the Euphrates. Compare Gen 15:18, &c.
unto = even unto. Compare 2Ch 9:26.
brought presents. Compare Psa 72:10, Psa 72:11.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Solomon: 1Ki 4:24, Gen 15:18, Exo 23:31, Deu 11:24, Jos 1:4, 2Ch 9:26-31, Ezr 4:20, Psa 72:8-11
brought: 1Sa 10:27, 2Ki 17:3, 2Ch 17:5, 2Ch 32:23, Psa 68:29, Psa 72:10, Psa 72:11, Psa 76:11
Reciprocal: Gen 27:29 – Let people Gen 43:11 – carry down Num 24:7 – his kingdom Deu 15:6 – thou shalt reign Deu 19:8 – General 2Sa 8:3 – at the river 1Ki 3:13 – riches 1Ki 8:65 – from the entering 2Ki 24:7 – from the river 1Ch 13:5 – Shihor 2Ch 7:8 – from the entering Psa 68:13 – the wings Psa 80:11 – General Psa 89:25 – I will Pro 14:28 – General Ecc 2:25 – who can Lam 1:1 – great Eze 16:13 – and thou didst Zec 9:10 – from the river
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ki 4:21. From the river Euphrates; for so far David, having conquered the Syrians, extended his empire, which Solomon also maintained in that extent. And so Gods promise concerning the giving the whole land, as far as Euphrates, to the Israelites, was fulfilled. And if the Israelites had multiplied so much that the land of Canaan would not have sufficed them, having Gods grant of all the land as far as Euphrates, they might have seized upon it whensoever occasion required. The land of the Philistines Which is to be understood inclusively; for the Philistines were within Solomons dominion. The border of Egypt Unto the river Sihor, which was the border between Egypt and Canaan. And served By tribute, or other ways, as he needed and required.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
4:21 And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the {g} 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.
(g) Which is the Euphrates.