1 Kings 4:20

EXPOSITION

SOLOMON 'S RULE , STATE , AND WISDOM .—The remainder of this chapter, which de-scribes to us the extent and character of Solomon's sway ( 1 Kings 4:20 , 1 Kings 4:21 , 1 Kings 4:24 , 1 Kings 4:25 ), the pomp and provision of his household ( 1 Kings 4:22 , 1 Kings 4:23 , 1 Kings 4:26-28 ), and his profound and varied wisdom ( 1 Kings 4:29-34 ), has every appearance of a compilation from different sources. It scarcely has the order and coherence which we should find in the narrative of a single writer.

Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude [a reminiscence of Genesis 13:16 ; Genesis 22:17 ; Genesis 32:12 (cf. Genesis 3:8 ). In the reign of Solomon these promises had their fulfilment], eating and drinking, and making merry . [Cf. 1 Samuel 30:16 . The Hebrew here begins a new chapter. The LXX . omits 1 Samuel 30:20 , 1 Samuel 30:21 , 1 Samuel 30:25 , 1 Samuel 30:26 , and places 1 Samuel 30:27 , 1 Samuel 30:28 , "and those officers," etc; after the list of prefects, 1 Samuel 30:19 .]