1 Kings 4:21, 1 Kings 4:24 ASV

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 4:21

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... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 4:21

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... 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 4:21

And Solomon reigned [Heb. was reigning ] over all kingdoms [Heb. the kingdoms . That is, as suzerain, as is explained presently. So that Psalms 72:10 , Psalms 72:11 had its fulfilment] from the river [ i.e; the Euphrates, the river of that region: so called Genesis 31:21 ; Exodus 23:1-33 :81; 2 Samuel 10:16 . In Genesis 15:18 it is called "the great river, the river Euphrates." Similarly Joshua 1:4 ] unto [not in the Hebrew. It is found in the parallel... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 4:21

Solomon’s 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 1 Kings 4:24, who admitted the suzerainty of the Jewish monarch, and paid him “presents,” i. e., an annual tribute (see 1 Kings 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... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 4:21

1 Kings 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 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 that the land of Canaan would not have sufficed them, having God’s grant of all the land as far as Euphrates, they might have seized upon it whensoever occasion required. The land... 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 4:21

the river = the Euphrates. Compare Genesis 15:18 , &c. unto = even unto. Compare 2 Chronicles 9:26 . brought presents. Compare Psalms 72:10 , Psalms 72:11 . read more

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 4:21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 4:21

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 4:20-25

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 4:20-25

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 4:21

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 4:21

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 4:21

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 4:1-34

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Kings 4:21

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