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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 4:1-19

Here we have, I. Solomon upon his throne (1 Kgs. 4:1): So king Solomon was king, that is, he was confirmed and established king over all Israel, and not, as his successors, only over two tribes. He was a king, that is, he did the work and duty of a king, with the wisdom God had given him. Those preserve the name and honour of their place that mind the business of it and make conscience of it. II. The great officers of his court, in the choice of whom, no doubt, his wisdom much appeared. It is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 4:7

And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel ,.... Not with respect to the twelve tribes of Israel, for it does not appear that they had each of them a tribe under them, but some particular places in a tribe; but with respect to the twelve months of the year, in which each took his turn: which provided victuals for the king and his household: each man his month in a year made provision ; furnished food of all sorts out of the country in which they presided for the space of one month... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 4:8

And these are their names ,.... Or rather the names of their fathers; for of many of them not their own names but their fathers' names are given, as being well known: the son of Hur, in Mount Ephraim ; a fruitful country in the tribe of Ephraim, from whence this officer was to furnish the king with provisions for one month in the year. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 4:9

The son of Dekar in Makaz ,.... A place in the tribe of Dan, on the borders of it: and in Shaalbim, and Bethshemesh, and Elonbethhanan ; all in the same tribe, see Joshua 19:41 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 4:10

The son of Hesed in Aruboth ,.... Which seems to have been in the tribe of Judah by the places that follow: to him pertained Sochoh ; there were two places of this name in that tribe, Joshua 15:35 ; and all the land of Hepher : there was an Hepher in the land of Canaan, which was a royal city in the times of the Canaanites, Joshua 12:17 ; and there was an Hepher, the name of a man, a descendant of Judah, to whom, very probably, this land belonged, 1 Chronicles 4:6 ; unless it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 4:11

The son of Abinadab in all the region of Dor ,.... The same with Dor and her towns, belonged to the half tribe of Manasseh, on this side Jordan, Joshua 17:11 ; which had Taphath the daughter of Solomon to wife ; not when he was first put into this office, when, in all probability, Solomon had not a daughter marriageable; but behaving well in it, in process of time he bestowed a daughter of his on him. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 4:12

Baana the son of Ahilud, to him pertained Taanach and Megiddo, and all Bethshean ,.... All which were places in the tribe of Manasseh, Joshua 17:11 ; which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel ; so described, to distinguish it, as is thought, from Zaretan in Joshua 3:16 ; and the country this officer presided over reached also from Bethshean to Abelmeholah, even unto the place that is beyond Jokneam ; the two first of these were in the tribe of Manasseh, and the last in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 4:13

The son of Geber in Ramothgilead ,.... A city in the tribe of Gad, and was a city of refuge, Joshua 20:8 ; to him pertained the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead ; of which see Numbers 32:41 ; to him also pertained the region of Argob, which is in Bashan , threescore great cities with walls, and brasen bars ; called by Josephus F19 Antiqu. l. 13. c. 15. sect. 5. Ragaba, beyond Jordan; See Gill on Deuteronomy 3:4 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 4:14

Ahinadab the son of Iddo had Mahanaim. Another city on the other side Jordan, where both Ishbosheth and David sometimes dwelt, 2 Samuel 2:8 ; this and the places adjacent must be very fruitful, since this officer was to furnish the king with provisions for a month once a year from hence, read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 4:15

Ahimaaz was in Naphtali ,.... Out of that tribe he made a monthly provision annually: he also took Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wife ; another daughter of Solomon's, in course of time; See Gill on 1 Kings 4:11 . read more

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