1 Kings 4:23

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 4:20-28

Such a kingdom, and such a court, surely never any prince had, as Solomon's are here described to be. I. Such a kingdom. Never did the crown of Israel shine so brightly as it did when Solomon wore it, never in his father's days, never in the days of any of his successors; nor was that kingdom ever so glorious a type of the kingdom of the Messiah as it was then. The account here given of it is such as fully answers the prophecies which we have concerning it in Ps. 72:1-20, which is a psalm for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 4:23

Ten fat oxen ,.... Such as were kept up in the stall and fatted: and twenty oxen out of the pastures ; which were killed as they were taken from thence, and not put up to be fed: and an hundred sheep ; out of the folds: beside harts, and roebucks, and fallow deer ; which were clean creatures, according to the Levitical law, Deuteronomy 14:5 ; these were hunted in fields, or taken out of the park, or were presents from other countries; so that here was plenty of beef, mutton,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 4:20-25

The Golden Age. It has been cynically said that men always place the golden age in the past or in the future. Possibly they are not so far wrong after all. For, if our historian is true, there has been such a period in the history of the world. And if the Holy Gospel is true, there will be such a period hereafter. The reign of Solomon was the Augustan, the golden age, of Israel. The reign of Jesus, of which Solomon's empire was a foreshadowing, will be the golden age of the world. Let... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 4:20-25

A Prosperous Reign. This chapter presents a general view of the prosperity of Solomon's reign, much of which was owing to the extraordinary, glory of the reign of David. Such a rule as David's sowed seeds of blessing m the land which it was Solomon's privilege to reap. David united the kingdoms of Judah and Israel, and Solomon came into quiet possession of the completed commonwealth. David laid the foundation, Solomon developed the fabric and adorned it. Each succeeding generation inherits... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 4:23

Ten fat [Heb. fatted, i.e; for table] oxen, and twenty fat oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheep, beside harts and roebucks [or gazelles] and fallowdeer [ Roebucks. The name Yahmur is still current in Palestine in this sense], and fatted fowl [This word ( בַּרְבֻּדִים ) occurs nowhere else. The meaning most in favour is geese .] read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 4:23

Harts ... - The exact sorts of wild land animals here intended are very uncertain. Perhaps it would be best to translate “wild-goats, gazelles, and wild oxen,” which abounded in the wilder parts of Syria, from where Solomon would be supplied. (See 1 Kings 4:24.) (Yahmur, or the “roebuck,” gives its name to a valley in a wooded district, south of Carmel (Conder).) The use of game at the royal banquets of Assyria appears in the sculptures. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 4:22-23

1 Kings 4:22-23. Thirty measures of fine flour Hebrew, 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. Ten fat oxen Fatted in stalls. Out of pastures Well fleshed, tender, and good, though not so fat as the former. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 4:1-34

The administration of the kingdom (4:1-34)Details are now given of how Solomon administered Israel. First the leading religious, civil and army officials are listed (4:1-6). Solomon revised the taxation system by dividing the country into twelve zones, each of which had to provide the royal household with all its food supplies for one month of the year. These twelve zones apparently replaced the former tribal areas (7-19).Neighbouring nations that had become part of the Israelite empire also... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Kings 4:23

1 Kings 4:23. And fatted fowl— See Nehemiah 5:18. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Kings 4:13-34

B. The Foundation of Solomon’s Reign 2:13-4:34The writer noted that Solomon’s sole reign began well. The things most responsible were God’s gift of wisdom to Solomon (the central section), his political decisions (the first section), and his administrative ability (the third section). read more

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