1 Kings 4:30

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 4:29-34

Solomon's wisdom was more his glory than his wealth, and here we have a general account of it. I. The fountain of his wisdom: God gave it him, 1 Kgs. 4:29. He owns it himself. Prov. 2:6; The Lord giveth wisdom. He gives the powers of reason (Job 38:36), preserves and improves them. The ordinary advances of them are owing to his providence, the sanctification of them to his grace, and this extraordinary pitch at which they arrived in Solomon to a special grant of his favour to him in answer to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 4:30

And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east ,.... The Arabians, and Persians, famous for wisdom, and who lay to the east of the land of Judea; whose wisdom lay in the knowledge of the stars, in divination by birds, and soothsaying F13 Midrash Kohelet. fol. 76. 3. : and all the wisdom of Egypt ; which it was eminent for in the times of Moses, and in which he was learned and well-skilled, Acts 7:22 ; and hence in later times the philosophers of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 4:30

The children of the east country - That is the Chaldeans, Persians, and Arabians, who, with the Egyptians, were famed for wisdom and knowledge through all the world. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 4:30

And Solomon's wisdom excelled [or exceeded; same word as in 1 Kings 4:29 ] the wisdom of all the children of the east country [By the Beni-Kedem we are hardly to understand (with Rawlinson) a distinct tribe on the banks of the Euphrates. It is true that the land of the Beni-Kedem is identified with Haran or Mesopotamia ( Genesis 29:1 ), and the mountains of Kedem ( Numbers 23:7 ) are evidently those of Aram. It is also true that "the children of the East" are apparently... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 4:30

Children of the east country - Rather, “of the East” - the Beni Kedem - a distinct tribe, who occupied both sides of the Euphrates along its middle course (marginal reference). They were mostly nomads, who dwelt in tents Jeremiah 49:28-29. Job belonged to them Job 1:3, as did probably his three friends; and, perhaps, Balsam Numbers 23:7. They must have been either Arabs or Aramaeans. We may see in the Book of Job the character of their “wisdom.” Like Solomon’s, it was chiefly gnomic but... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 4:29-30

1 Kings 4:29-30. God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much Knowledge of a great variety of things, and prudence in the administration of the government. And largeness of heart Vastness of understanding, or a very comprehensive mind, capable of receiving the knowledge of all things, both divine and human. As the sand that is on the sea-shore As the sand there encloses a vast body of waters, so his mind contained an ocean of knowledge, as the Lord Bacon somewhere speaks. ... 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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Kings 4:30

children = sons. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Kings 4:30

1 Kings 4:30. Solomon's wisdom excelled, &c.— There were three nations in the east of Canaan, which were very famous for their wisdom and erudition: the Chaldeans beyond the Euphrates, the Persians beyond the Tigris, and the Arabians on the nearer side of the Euphrates, a little towards the south: but whether the Persians and Chaldeans were remarkable for their learning in Solomon's days, is much doubted among commentators. The book of Job sufficiently shews, that the Arabians (for of that... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 4:30

30. Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country—that is, the Arabians, Chaldeans, and Persians ( :-). all the wisdom of Egypt—Egypt was renowned as the seat of learning and sciences, and the existing monuments, which so clearly describe the ancient state of society and the arts, show the high culture of the Egyptian people. read more

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