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1 Kings · Catholic Public Domain Version

1 Kings 4 Catholic Public Domain Version

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  • Catholic
  • OT: Latin Vulgate
  • NT: Latin Vulgate
  • Catholic (73 books)
  • Formal (word for word)
  • 2009
  • Public domain

Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings

Notes on this text (3)
CPDV Catholic Public Domain Version
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
1 Now king Solomon was reigning over all of Israel.
1 King Solomon was king over all Israel.
2 And these were the leaders that he had: Azariah, the son of Zadok, the priest;
2 These were the princes whom he had: Azariah the son of Zadok, the priest;
3 Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, the scribes; Jehoshaphat, the son of Ahilud, the keeper of records;
3 Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder;
4 Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, over the army; and Zadok, and Abiathar, priests;
4 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;
5 Azariah, the son of Nathan, over those who were assisting the king; Zabud, the son of Nathan, the priest, the friend of the king;
5 Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers; Zabud the son of Nathan was chief minister, the king’s friend;
6 and Ahishar, first ruler of the house; and Adoniram, the son of Abda, over the tribute.
6 Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the men subject to forced labor.
7 And Solomon had twelve commanders over all of Israel, who offered yearly provisions for the king and his house. For each was ministering the necessities, by each month of the year.
7 Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household. Each man had to make provision for a month in the year.
8 And these are their names: Benhur, on mount Ephraim;
8 These are their names: Ben Hur, in the hill country of Ephraim;
9 Bendeker, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and in Beth-shemesh, and in Elon, and in Beth-hanan;
9 Ben Deker, in Makaz, in Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh, and Elon Beth Hanan;
10 Benhesed, in Arubboth: his was Socoh and the entire land of Hepher;
10 Ben Hesed, in Arubboth (Socoh and all the land of Hepher belonged to him);
11 Benabinadab, to whom was all of Naphath-Dor, who had Taphath, the daughter of Solomon, as wife;
11 Ben Abinadab, in all the height of Dor (he had Taphath, Solomon’s daughter, as wife);
12 Baana, the son of Ahilud, who was reigning in Taanach, and Megiddo, and all of Bethshean, which is beside Zarethan and below Jezreel, from Bethshean as far as Abelmeholah, opposite Jokmeam;
12 Baana the son of Ahilud, in Taanach and Megiddo, and all Beth Shean which is beside Zarethan, beneath Jezreel, from Beth Shean to Abel Meholah, as far as beyond Jokmeam;
13 Bengeber, in Ramoth Gilead, who had the town of Jair, the son of Manasseh, in Gilead; the same was first in the entire region of Argob, which is in Bashan, sixty great cities with walls that had bronze bars;
13 Ben Geber, in Ramoth Gilead (the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead, belonged to him; and the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, sixty great cities with walls and bronze bars, belonged to him);
14 Ahinadab, the son of Iddo, who was first in Mahanaim;
14 Ahinadab the son of Iddo, in Mahanaim;
15 Ahimaaz, in Naphtali, and he also had Basemath, the daughter of Solomon, in marriage;
15 Ahimaaz, in Naphtali (he also took Basemath the daughter of Solomon as wife);
16 Baana, the son of Hushai, in Asher and in Bealoth;
16 Baana the son of Hushai, in Asher and Bealoth;
17 Jehoshaphat, the son of Paruah, in Issachar;
17 Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar;
18 Shimei, the son of Ela, in Benjamin;
18 Shimei the son of Ela, in Benjamin;
19 Geber, the son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, in the land of Sihon, king of the Amorites, and of Og, king of Bashan, over all who were in that land.
19 Geber the son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan; and he was the only officer who was in the land.
20 Judah and Israel were innumerable, like the sand of the sea in multitude: eating and drinking, and rejoicing.
20 Judah and Israel were numerous as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and making merry.
21 Now Solomon had, in his dominion, all the kingdoms, from the river to the land of the Philistines, even to the border of Egypt. And they offered gifts to him, and they served him all the days of his life.
21 Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.
22 And the provisions of Solomon, for each day, were thirty cor of fine wheat flour, and sixty cor of meal,
22 Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty cors of fine flour, sixty measures of meal,
23 ten fattened oxen, and twenty oxen from the pastures, and one hundred rams, aside from the venison of stags, roe deer, and gazelles, and fattened poultry.
23 ten head of fat cattle, twenty head of cattle out of the pastures, and one hundred sheep, in addition to deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened fowl.
24 For he had obtained the entire region which was beyond the river, from Tiphsah as far as Gaza, and all the kings of those regions. And he had peace on every side all around.
24 For he had dominion over all on this side of the River, from Tiphsah even to Gaza, over all the kings on this side of the River; and he had peace on all sides around him.
25 And so, Judah and Israel were living without any fear, each one under his own vine and under his own fig tree, from Dan as far as Beersheba, during all the days of Solomon.
25 Judah and Israel lived safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.
26 And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of chariot horses, and twelve thousand riding horses.
26 Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.
27 And the above-stated commanders of the king nourished these. And they also offered the necessities for the table of king Solomon, with immense diligence, each in his time.
27 Those officers provided food for King Solomon, and for all who came to King Solomon’s table, every man in his month. They let nothing be lacking.
28 Also, they brought barley and straw for the horses and beasts of burden, to the place where the king was, just as it was appointed to them.
28 They also brought barley and straw for the horses and swift steeds to the place where the officers were, each man according to his duty.
29 And God gave wisdom to Solomon, and an exceedingly great prudence, and a spacious heart, like the sand which is on the shore of the sea.
29 God gave Solomon abundant wisdom, understanding, and breadth of mind like the sand that is on the seashore.
30 And the wisdom of Solomon surpassed the wisdom of all the East, and of the Egyptians.
30 Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.
31 And he was wiser than all men: wiser than Ethan, the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And he was renowned in all the nations on every side.
31 For he was wiser than all men—wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol; and his fame was in all the nations all around.
32 Solomon also spoke three thousand parables. And his verses were one thousand and five.
32 He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs numbered one thousand five.
33 And he discoursed about trees, from the cedar which is in Lebanon, to the hyssop which grows out from the wall. And he explained about beasts, and birds, and reptiles, and fish.
33 He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that grows out of the wall; he also spoke of animals, of birds, of creeping things, and of fish.
34 And they came from all the peoples in order to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from all the kings of the earth, who were hearing about his wisdom.
34 People of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon, sent by all kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.

People & places in this chapter

From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.

People

  • Abda

    Father of Adoniram

    Named as the father of Adoniram, who was in charge of the forced labor.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:6

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  • Adoniram

    Over Solomon's forced labor

    Son of Abda, in charge of the forced labor, who oversaw the monthly shifts of 30,000 sent to Lebanon.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:6; 1 Kings 5:14

    See in the family tree

  • Ahijah

    Secretary to Solomon

    One of the two sons of Shisha listed among Solomon's chief officials as a secretary.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:3

    See in the family tree

  • Ahilud

    Father of the recorder Jehoshaphat

    Named as the father of Jehoshaphat, David's recorder.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 8:16; 2 Samuel 20:24; 1 Kings 4:3

    See in the family tree

  • Ahimaaz

    Solomon's governor in Naphtali

    One of Solomon's twelve governors, over Naphtali, who married Basemath, a daughter of Solomon.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:15

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  • Ahinadab

    Solomon's governor at Mahanaim

    Son of Iddo, one of Solomon's twelve governors, over Mahanaim.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:14

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  • Ahishar

    Over Solomon's palace

    Listed among Solomon's chief officials as being in charge of the palace.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:6

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  • Azariah

    Over Solomon's governors

    Son of Nathan (the text does not say which Nathan), in charge of the governors.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:5

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  • Azariah

    Priest among Solomon's officials

    Son of Zadok, listed first among Solomon's chief officials as the priest.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:2

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  • Baana

    Solomon's governor at Taanach and Megiddo

    Son of Ahilud, one of Solomon's twelve governors, over Taanach, Megiddo and Beth-shean.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:12

    See in the family tree

  • Baana

    Solomon's governor in Asher

    Son of Hushai, one of Solomon's twelve governors, over Asher and Aloth.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:16

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  • Basemath

    Daughter of Solomon

    A daughter of Solomon, wife of the governor Ahimaaz.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:15

    See in the family tree

  • Calcol

    Renowned wise man

    One of the sons of Mahol, a wise man whom Solomon's wisdom surpassed.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:31

    See in the family tree

  • Darda

    Renowned wise man

    One of the sons of Mahol, a wise man whom Solomon's wisdom surpassed.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:31

    See in the family tree

  • Ela

    Father of Shimei

    Named as the father of Shimei, Solomon's governor in Benjamin.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:18

    See in the family tree

  • Elihoreph

    Secretary to Solomon

    One of the two sons of Shisha listed among Solomon's chief officials as a secretary.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:3

    See in the family tree

  • Ethan the Ezrahite

    Renowned wise man

    A wise man whom Solomon's wisdom surpassed.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:31; Psalm 89:1

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  • Geber

    Solomon's governor in Gilead

    Son of Uri, one of Solomon's governors, over the land of Gilead including the territories of Sihon and Og.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:19

    See in the family tree

  • Heman

    Renowned wise man

    One of the sons of Mahol, a wise man whom Solomon's wisdom surpassed.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:31

    See in the family tree

  • Hushai

    Father of Baana

    Named as the father of Baana, Solomon's governor in Asher.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:16

    See in the family tree

  • Iddo

    Father of Ahinadab

    Named as the father of Ahinadab, Solomon's governor at Mahanaim.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:14

    See in the family tree

  • Jehoshaphat

    David's recorder

    Son of Ahilud, listed as the recorder in David's administration.

    Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 8:16; 2 Samuel 20:24; 1 Kings 4:3

    See in the family tree

  • Jehoshaphat

    Solomon's governor in Issachar

    Son of Paruah, one of Solomon's twelve governors, over Issachar.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:17

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  • Mahol

    Father of Heman, Calcol and Darda

    Named as the father of the wise men Heman, Calcol and Darda.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:31

    See in the family tree

  • Paruah

    Father of Jehoshaphat

    Named as the father of Jehoshaphat, Solomon's governor in Issachar.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:17

    See in the family tree

  • Shimei

    Solomon's governor in Benjamin

    Son of Ela, one of Solomon's twelve governors, over Benjamin.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:18

    See in the family tree

  • Shisha

    Father of two royal secretaries

    Named as the father of Elihoreph and Ahijah, Solomon's secretaries.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:3

    See in the family tree

  • Sihon

    King of the Amorites

    King of the Amorites, whose former territory lay within the district of Solomon's governor in Gilead.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:19

    See in the family tree

  • Solomon

    King of Israel

    David's son who built the temple and became famous for God-given wisdom.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 1-11; 1 Chron. 3:5; Matt. 1:6-7

    See in the family tree

  • Taphath

    Daughter of Solomon

    A daughter of Solomon, wife of the governor Ben-abinadab.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:11

    See in the family tree

  • Uri

    Father of Geber

    Named as the father of Geber, Solomon's governor in Gilead.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:19

    See in the family tree

  • Zabud

    Priest and adviser to Solomon

    Son of Nathan (the text does not say which Nathan), called a priest and adviser to the king.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:5

    See in the family tree

Cross references (31)

Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.

  1. 1 2 Chronicles 9:30; 1 Kings 12:19–20; 1 Chronicles 12:38; Ecclesiastes 1:12; 1 Kings 11:35–36
  2. 2 1 Corinthians 12:28; Exodus 18:21; 2 Samuel 20:23–26; 2 Samuel 8:15–18; 1 Chronicles 6:8–10
  3. 3 2 Samuel 8:16; Isaiah 62:6; 1 Chronicles 18:15; 1 Chronicles 18:6; 2 Samuel 20:24–25
  4. 4 1 Kings 2:35; 1 Kings 2:26–27
  5. 5 2 Samuel 15:37; 1 Chronicles 27:33; 2 Samuel 16:16; John 15:14–15; 2 Samuel 12:25
  6. 6 2 Samuel 20:24; 1 Kings 12:18; 1 Kings 9:15; 1 Kings 5:13–14
  7. 7 1 Chronicles 27:1–15
  8. 8 Joshua 24:33; Judges 19:1; Judges 17:1
  9. 9 Joshua 19:42; 1 Samuel 6:12; Judges 1:35; Joshua 21:16; 1 Samuel 6:20
  10. 10 Joshua 12:17; Joshua 15:35; Joshua 17:2
  11. 11 Joshua 11:2; Joshua 17:11; Joshua 12:23; Judges 1:27
  12. 12 Joshua 17:11; Joshua 3:16; 1 Kings 19:16; Judges 5:19; 1 Kings 7:46
  13. 13 Deuteronomy 3:4; Numbers 32:41; 1 Kings 22:3; 2 Kings 9:14; Deuteronomy 4:43
  14. 14 Genesis 32:2; 2 Samuel 2:8; Joshua 13:26; 2 Samuel 17:24; 2 Samuel 17:27
  15. 15 1 Samuel 18:18; Joshua 19:32–39; 2 Samuel 15:27; 1 Kings 4:11
  16. 16 Joshua 19:24–31; 2 Samuel 15:32
  17. 17 Joshua 19:17–23
  18. 18 1 Kings 1:8; Zechariah 12:13; Joshua 18:20–28
  19. 19 Deuteronomy 2:26–3:17; Joshua 13:9–12; Numbers 21:21–35
  20. 20 1 Kings 3:8; Genesis 22:17; Genesis 32:12; 1 Chronicles 12:39; Genesis 15:5
  21. 21 Genesis 15:18; Joshua 1:4; Psalm 68:29; 2 Chronicles 9:26–31; 1 Kings 4:24
  22. 23 Nehemiah 5:17–18
  23. 24 1 Chronicles 22:9; Psalm 72:11; Genesis 10:19; 1 Kings 5:4; Isaiah 9:7
  24. 25 Micah 4:4; Zechariah 3:10; Jeremiah 33:15–16; Jeremiah 23:5–6; 2 Kings 18:31
  25. 26 2 Chronicles 1:14; 2 Chronicles 9:25; 2 Samuel 8:4; Psalm 20:7; 1 Kings 10:25–26
  26. 28 Esther 8:10; Esther 8:14; Micah 1:13
  27. 29 1 Kings 3:12; James 3:17; James 1:5; 1 Kings 4:20; Ecclesiastes 2:26
  28. 30 Daniel 5:11–12; Genesis 25:6; Acts 7:22; Daniel 1:20; Job 1:3
  29. 31 1 Chronicles 15:19; 1 Chronicles 2:6; 1 Kings 3:12; 1 Chronicles 6:33; Psalm 89:1–52
  30. 33 2 Kings 19:23; Psalm 51:7; Psalm 92:12; Numbers 19:18; Numbers 24:6
  31. 34 2 Chronicles 9:23; 1 Kings 10:1; 2 Chronicles 9:1; Isaiah 2:2; Zechariah 8:23

Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences

What the Fathers said

Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).

How these were chosen

“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).

  1. Quotes verse 4:34 Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies (Book IV, Chapters XXV–XXVI)

    … cannot contain, really dwell with men upon the earth?" And he pleased God, and was the admiration of all; and all kings of the earth sought an interview with him (quærebant faciem ejus) that they might hear the wisdom which God had conferred upon him. The queen of the south, too, came to him from the ends of the earth, …

    Read in context · Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1 (1885)