1 Kings 4:1
All Israel — This is spoken with respect to his successors, who were kings only over a part, and that the smallest part of it.... [ Continue Reading ]
All Israel — This is spoken with respect to his successors, who were kings only over a part, and that the smallest part of it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Princes — That is, the chief rulers or officers. The son — Or the grand — son. The priest — The second priest, or the priest that attended upon Solomon's person in holy offices and administrations.... [ Continue Reading ]
Scribes — That is, secretaries of state. He chose two, whereas David had but one: either, because he observed some inconveniences in trusting all those matters in one hand: or, because he had now much more employment than David had, this being a time of great peace and prosperity, and his empire enl... [ Continue Reading ]
Priests — That is, the high — priests, successively, first Abiathar, and then Zadok.... [ Continue Reading ]
Officers — Over those twelve Officers, named 1 Kings 4:7, &c. who were all to give up their accompts to him. Nathan — The prophet, who had been so highly instrumental in Solomon's establishment in the throne. Principal officer — Possibly, president of the king's council. Friend — His confident, with... [ Continue Reading ]
Abiathar was — Steward of the king's household. Tribute — The personal tribute, or the levy of men, as appears by comparing this with 1 Kings 5:13, it being very fit that there should be some one person to whom the chief conduct of that great business was committed.... [ Continue Reading ]
The son, &c. — This and others of them are denominated from their fathers, because they were known and famous in their generation.... [ Continue Reading ]
Hepher — In Judah.... [ Continue Reading ]
Country of Gilead — That is, in the remaining part of that land of Gilead, which was mentioned above. The only officer — In all Gilead, excepting the parcels mentioned before, in all the territories of Sihon and Og; which because they were of large extent, and yet all committed to this one man, it i... [ Continue Reading ]
The river — Euphrates: for so far David, having conquered the Syrians, extended his empire, which Solomon also maintained in that extent. And so God's promise concerning the giving the whole land, as far as Euphrates, to the Israelites, was fulfilled. And, if the Israelites had multiplied so much th... [ Continue Reading ]
Measures — Heb. Cors: each of which contained ten ephahs. So this provision was sufficient for near three thousand persons. Meal — Of a coarser sort for common use.... [ Continue Reading ]
Fat — Fatted in stalls. Out of pastures — Well fleshed, tender and good, though not so fat as the former.... [ Continue Reading ]
Tiphsah — Either that Tiphsah, 2 Kings 15:16, which was in the kingdom of Israel within Jordan; or, rather, another place of that name upon Euphrates, even that eminent city which is mentioned by Ptolemy, and Strabo, and Pliny, called Thapsarum. And this best agrees with the following: Azzah, which... [ Continue Reading ]
Under his vine — Enjoying the fruit of his own labour with safety and comfort. Under these two trees, which were most used and cultivated by the Israelites, he understands all other fruit — bearing trees, and all other comforts. And they are brought in as fitting or dwelling under these trees, partl... [ Continue Reading ]
Forty thousand — In 2 Chronicles 9:25, it is but four thousand. But it is not exactly the same Hebrew word which is here and there, though we translate both stalls; and therefore there may well be allowed some difference in the signification, the one signifying properly stables, of which there were... [ Continue Reading ]
The officers — Named above. They lacked — Or rather, they suffered nothing to be lacking to any man that came thither, but plentifully provided all things necessary.... [ Continue Reading ]
Largeness of heart — Vastness of understanding, a most comprehensive knowledge of all things both Divine and human.... [ Continue Reading ]
East country — The Chaldeans, Persians, and Arabians, who all lay eastward from Canaan, and were famous in ancient times for their wisdom and learning. Egypt — The Egyptians, whose fame was then great for their skill in the arts and sciences, which made them despise the Grecians as children in knowl... [ Continue Reading ]
All men — Either of his nation; or, of his time: or, of all times and nations, whether of the east or any other country excepting only the first and second Adam. Ethan, &c. — Israelites of eminent wisdom, probably the same mentioned, 1 Chronicles 2:6, 1 Chronicles 15:19, 1 Chronicles 25:4; Psalms 88... [ Continue Reading ]
Proverbs — That is, short, and deep, and useful sentences, whereof a great part are contained in the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. Songs — Whereof the chief and most divine are in the Canticles.... [ Continue Reading ]
Trees — That is, of all plants, of their nature and qualities: all which discourses are lost, without any impeachment of the perfection of the holy scriptures; which were not written to teach men philosophy or physick, but only to make them wise unto salvation. From the cedar, &c. — That is, from th... [ Continue Reading ]
All kings — All the neighbouring kings; a restriction grounded upon the following words, where this is limited to such as heard of Solomon's wisdom. Let those who magnify the modern learning above that of the ancients, produce such a treasury of learning, anywhere in these later ages, as that was, w... [ Continue Reading ]