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1 Kings · Free Bible Version

1 Kings 4 Free Bible Version

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

FBV Free Bible Version
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
1 King Solomon ruled over all of Israel.
1 King Solomon was king over all Israel.
2 These were his officials: Azariah, son of Zadok, was the priest;
2 These were the princes whom he had: Azariah the son of Zadok, the priest;
3 Elihoreph and Ahijah, sons of Shisha, were the king's secretaries. Jehoshaphat, son of Ahilud, kept the royal records.
3 Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder;
4 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was the army commander. Zadok and Abiathar were priests.
4 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;
5 Azariah, son of Nathan, was in charge of the governors. Zabud, son of Nathan, was a priest and the king's counselor.
5 Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers; Zabud the son of Nathan was chief minister, the king’s friend;
6 Ahishar was the palace manager. Adoniram, son of Abda, was in charge of those forced to work for the king.
6 Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the men subject to forced labor.
7 Solomon had twelve area governors whose responsibilities covered the whole of Israel, providing food for the king and his household. Each one in turn arranged supplies for one 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 Their names were: Ben-hur, in the hill country of Ephraim;
8 These are their names: Ben Hur, in the hill country of Ephraim;
9 Ben-deker in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth-shemesh and Elon-beth-hanan;
9 Ben Deker, in Makaz, in Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh, and Elon Beth Hanan;
10 Ben-hesed in Arubboth (Socoh and all the land of Hepher was his);
10 Ben Hesed, in Arubboth (Socoh and all the land of Hepher belonged to him);
11 Ben-abinadab, in the whole of Naphath-dor (Taphath, the daughter of Solomon, was his wife);
11 Ben Abinadab, in all the height of Dor (he had Taphath, Solomon’s daughter, as wife);
12 Baana, son of Ahilud, in Taanach and Megiddo, the whole of Beth-shan near Zarethan below Jezreel, and from Beth-shan to Abel-meholah and across to 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 Ben-geber, in Ramoth-gilead (the towns of Jair, son of Manasseh, in Gilead belonged to him, as well as the region of Argob in Bashan, with sixty great cities having walls and 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, son of Iddo, in Mahanaim;
14 Ahinadab the son of Iddo, in Mahanaim;
15 Ahimaaz, in Naphtali (he had married Basemath the daughter of Solomon);
15 Ahimaaz, in Naphtali (he also took Basemath the daughter of Solomon as wife);
16 Baana, son of Hushai, in Asher and in Aloth;
16 Baana the son of Hushai, in Asher and Bealoth;
17 Jehoshaphat, son of Paruah, in Issachar;
17 Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar;
18 Shimei, son of Ela, in Benjamin;
18 Shimei the son of Ela, in Benjamin;
19 Geber son of Uri in the land of Gilead (the former country of Sihon, king of the Amorites, and of Og, king of Bashan. There was also a governor who was over the land of Judah).
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 had become as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They ate, they drank, they were happy.
20 Judah and Israel were numerous as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and making merry.
21 Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines, right up to the border of Egypt. They presented tribute to Solomon and served him during his lifetime.
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 The food required every day for Solomon's court was thirty cors of the best flour and sixty cors of meal;
22 Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty cors of fine flour, sixty measures of meal,
23 ten fattened cattle, twenty range cattle, one hundred sheep, as well as deer, gazelles, roe deer, 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 Solomon ruled over the whole region west of the Euphrates, from Tiphsah to Gaza—over all the kingdoms west of the Euphrates. And he had peace on all sides around him. He had peace on every border.
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 During Solomon's lifetime, everyone in Judah and Israel lived in safety, from Dan to Beersheba. Each one had their own vine and fig tree.
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 Solomon had 40,000 stalls for his chariot horses, and 12,000 charioteers.
26 Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.
27 Every month the area governors provided in turn food for King Solomon and all who ate at his table. They made sure that nothing was missing.
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 They also delivered barley and straw where they were needed for the chariot horses and cart horses.
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 God gave to Solomon wisdom, very great discernment, and understanding as extensive as the sand on the seashore.
29 God gave Solomon abundant wisdom, understanding, and breadth of mind like the sand that is on the seashore.
30 Solomon's wisdom was greater than that of all the Eastern wise men, greater than all of Egypt's wisdom.
30 Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.
31 He was wiser than anyone, wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, wiser than Heman, Calcol, and Darda, sons of Mahol. His reputation spread through the nations around.
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 composed three thousand proverbs and one thousand and five songs.
32 He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs numbered one thousand five.
33 He was able to discuss knowledge of trees, from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows in the wall. He taught about animals, birds, 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 People from all nations came to hear Solomon's wisdom. They were sent by all the kings of the earth, who had heard 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

    See in the family tree

  • 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

    See in the family tree

  • 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

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  • Ben-abinadab

    Solomon's governor in Naphath-dor

    One of Solomon's twelve governors, over Naphath-dor, who was married to Taphath, a daughter of Solomon.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:11

    See in the family tree

  • Ben-deker

    Solomon's governor in Makaz

    One of Solomon's twelve governors, over Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth-shemesh and Elon-beth-hanan.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:9

    See in the family tree

  • Ben-geber

    Solomon's governor in Ramoth-gilead

    One of Solomon's twelve governors, over Ramoth-gilead, the villages of Jair, and the region of Argob in Bashan.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:13

    See in the family tree

  • Ben-hesed

    Solomon's governor in Arubboth

    One of Solomon's twelve governors, over Arubboth, including Socoh and the land of Hepher.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:10

    See in the family tree

  • Ben-hur

    Solomon's governor in Ephraim

    One of Solomon's twelve governors, over the hill country of Ephraim.

    Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 4:8

    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

    See in the family tree

  • 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

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  • 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

    See in the family tree

  • 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)