1 Kings 4:12 kjv
Baana the son of Ahilud; to him pertained Taanach and Megiddo, and all Bethshean, which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel, from Bethshean to Abelmeholah, even unto the place that is beyond Jokneam:
1 Kings 4:12 nkjv
Baana the son of Ahilud, in Taanach, Megiddo, and all Beth Shean, which is beside Zaretan below Jezreel, from Beth Shean to Abel Meholah, as far as the other side of Jokneam;
1 Kings 4:12 niv
Baana son of Ahilud?in Taanach and Megiddo, and in all of Beth Shan next to Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth Shan to Abel Meholah across to Jokmeam;
1 Kings 4:12 esv
Baana the son of Ahilud, in Taanach, Megiddo, and all Beth-shean that is beside Zarethan below Jezreel, and from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah, as far as the other side of Jokmeam;
1 Kings 4:12 nlt
Baana son of Ahilud, in Taanach and Megiddo, all of Beth-shan near Zarethan below Jezreel, and all the territory from Beth-shan to Abel-meholah and over to Jokmeam.
1 Kings 4 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ki 4:7 | "Solomon had twelve district governors over all Israel..." | Describes the system of twelve district officers. |
| Gen 15:18 | "To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates..." | God's promise of the land's full extent to Abraham. |
| Exod 23:20 | "Behold, I send an angel before you... to bring you into the place I have prepared." | God guides Israel to inherit the promised land. |
| Deut 1:7 | "Turn and take your journey, and go to the hill country of the Amorites..." | Command to inherit and occupy the land. |
| Josh 1:3-4 | "Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you... from the wilderness and Lebanon..." | God grants all land Joshua's feet touch. |
| Judges 20:1 | "All the people of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba and from the land of Gilead..." | Establishes typical geographical extent of Israel. |
| 2 Sam 5:4 | "David was thirty years old when he began to reign..." | Context of consolidated kingdom pre-Solomon. |
| 1 Chr 22:9 | "He shall be a man of rest; I will give him rest from all his enemies all around. For his name shall be Solomon..." | Foreshadows peace and prosperity of Solomon's reign. |
| 1 Ki 4:20 | "Judah and Israel were as many as the sand by the sea; they ate and drank and were joyful." | Highlights the widespread prosperity and population. |
| 1 Ki 4:24 | "For he ruled over all the region beyond the Euphrates from Tiphsah to Gaza..." | Extent of Solomon's wider dominion. |
| 1 Ki 4:25 | "And Judah and Israel lived in safety, each man under his vine and under his fig tree..." | Describes the peace and security of the time. |
| 1 Ki 5:7 | "Blessed be the Lord today, who has given to David a wise son to be over this great people!" | Hiram blesses God for Solomon's wisdom. |
| Ps 72:3 | "The mountains will bring prosperity to the people, and the hills, in righteousness." | Prophetic psalm on a righteous king's prosperous reign. |
| Ps 72:7-8 | "In his days may the righteous flourish... May he have dominion from sea to sea..." | Further prophetic blessing on a just king. |
| Prov 11:10 | "When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices..." | Principle of national joy from righteous rule. |
| Jer 30:19 | "I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will make them honored, and they shall not be humble." | Promise of restoration and multitude for Israel. |
| Neh 11:3 | "These are the chiefs of the province who lived in Jerusalem..." | Later examples of administrative structures. |
| Luke 11:31 | "The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon..." | Testimony to Solomon's widespread renown and wisdom. |
| Matt 12:42 | "The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon..." | Jesus affirming Solomon's great wisdom. |
| Acts 2:9-11 | "Parthians and Medes and Elamites... from Mesopotamia... dwellers in Cappadocia... " | Example of diverse geographical groups gathering (though different context). |
| Rev 11:15 | "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ..." | Foreshadows the ultimate, all-encompassing kingdom of Christ. |
1 Kings 4 verses
1 Kings 4 12 Meaning
First Kings 4:12 describes one of Solomon's twelve district officers, Baana son of Ahilud, and the specific geographic region he was responsible for supplying the royal household for one month each year. This verse highlights the impressive administrative structure and the extensive control Solomon exercised over the Promised Land, a testament to the kingdom's peace, prosperity, and the fulfillment of God's covenant blessings during his reign. It signifies the immense wealth and logistical capability required to sustain such a vast royal administration.
1 Kings 4 12 Context
First Kings 4 is a descriptive chapter highlighting the extent of King Solomon's glorious and wise reign. It follows the narrative of Solomon's request for wisdom from God and the Lord's subsequent granting of not only wisdom but also unparalleled riches and honor (1 Ki 3). The chapter begins by listing Solomon's chief officials, then elaborates on his extensive administrative organization, which included twelve district governors responsible for providing provisions for the royal court. This system ensured that the king's vast household, including servants, guards, and numerous chariots and horsemen, was continuously supplied. The prosperity described, where Judah and Israel "were as many as the sand by the sea; they ate and drank and were joyful" (1 Ki 4:20), is portrayed as a direct blessing from God. Verse 12 specifically names one of these district officers, Baana son of Ahilud, and details the strategic and fertile areas he governed, emphasizing the geographical reach and efficient functioning of Solomon's kingdom. These locations – Taanach, Megiddo, Beth-shean, Zarethan, Jezreel, Abel-meholah, and Jokneam – represent the fertile plains and valleys of northern Israel, including the crucial Jezreel Valley, known for its agricultural abundance and strategic significance.
1 Kings 4 12 Word analysis
- Baana (בַּעֲנָא, Ba'ana') - A personal name, likely meaning "son of affliction" or "in trouble," though his position indicates privilege and responsibility. He is specifically identified as an individual holding authority.
- the son of Ahilud (בֶּן־אֲחִילוּד, ben-'Achilud) - Standard biblical practice to identify individuals by their patronymic, establishing lineage and clarifying identity in an era without surnames. Ahilud means "brother of one born." This identifies him as the same lineage as Jehoshaphat, who served under David.
- in Taanach (בְּתַעְנַךְ, bəTav'nakh) - Taanach was an ancient Canaanite city in the western Jezreel Valley, often mentioned with Megiddo. Historically, it was a battleground, notably where Deborah and Barak defeated Sisera's army (Judges 5:19). Its inclusion highlights Solomon's control over historically strategic locations.
- and Megiddo (וּמְגִדּוֹ, uMəgiddô) - Another prominent city in the Jezreel Valley, archaeologically famous for its multiple layers of occupation, indicating its long strategic importance. King Josiah was killed near Megiddo (2 Ki 23:29). Solomon reinforced this city (1 Ki 9:15), indicating its importance for administration and defense.
- and all Beth-shean (וְכָל־בֵּית־שְׁאָן, vəKhāl-Bêt-šə'ān) - Beth-shean, meaning "house of security/rest" or "house of garlic/garlic-plant," was a key city controlling the eastern Jezreel Valley and the Jordan Rift Valley. It was where the Philistines displayed Saul's body (1 Sam 31:10). Its fertile surrounding areas provided significant resources. The phrase "all Beth-shean" emphasizes full jurisdiction over the city and its surrounding territory.
- which is beside Zarethan (אֲשֶׁר מִצַּד צָרְתָן, 'ăsher miṣṣad Ṣar'tân) - Zarethan (also Zarethan) was a place in the Jordan Valley, associated with the Jordan River where its waters were miraculously held back for Israel to cross (Josh 3:16). It was also near the location where Hiram cast the bronze Temple vessels for Solomon (1 Ki 7:46).
- below Jezreel (מִתַּחַת לְיִזְרְעֶאל, mitachta l'Yizre'el) - Jezreel itself was a strategically important city overlooking the fertile Jezreel Valley. The mention "below Jezreel" specifies a region encompassing parts of the rich valley, emphasizing the extensive agricultural lands included in this district. "Jezreel" (יִזְרְעֶאל, Yizre'el) means "God sows" or "God plants."
- from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah (מִבֵּית־שְׁאָן עַד־אָבֵל מְחוֹלָה, miBêt-šə'ān 'ad-'Ābêl Mᵉḥôlâ) - This defines the extent of the district along the Jordan Valley. Abel-meholah, meaning "meadow of dancing," was the birthplace of Elisha (1 Ki 19:16). This denotes a north-south stretch along the Jordan, indicating control over this vital lowland region.
- as far as beyond Jokneam (עַד־מֵעֵבֶר לְיׇקְנְעָם, 'ad-me'ēver l'Yoqnə'am) - Jokneam (יׇקְנְעָם, Yoqnə'am), meaning "the people will lament," was a Levitical city on the edge of the Carmel mountain range (Josh 21:34). The phrase "beyond Jokneam" expands the district's boundary to encompass territory to the west, towards the Mediterranean, encompassing parts of the coastal plain or western slopes of Carmel. This demonstrates the varied geography and extensive reach of Baana's administrative responsibility, integrating fertile valleys, strategic passes, and riverine areas.
1 Kings 4 12 Bonus section
The geographical area described in 1 Kings 4:12 includes large portions of what is known today as the Jezreel Valley (Esdraelon) and part of the northern Jordan Valley. This region is renowned for its fertility and strategic importance, being a primary route for trade and military movements through ancient Israel. Solomon's ability to efficiently organize and derive regular provisions from this area highlights not only the wisdom God granted him but also his practical skills in administration and logistics, ensuring the kingdom's immense prosperity and the upkeep of his vast court. The stability evident in such an organized system allowed for the building projects (like the Temple) and the cultural flourishing that characterized Solomon's reign. This specific district officer, Baana son of Ahilud, along with the others listed in this chapter, demonstrates the vast number of people supported by the monarchy, including wives, concubines, servants, and the significant military (horses and chariots), all necessitating a well-structured economy and continuous supply lines.
1 Kings 4 12 Commentary
1 Kings 4:12 offers a concise yet powerful snapshot of Solomon's kingdom at its zenith. It functions not just as a list of names and places, but as tangible evidence of God's blessing and the fulfillment of promises. The mention of specific, historically significant locations like Taanach, Megiddo, and Beth-shean highlights the depth of Solomon's control and administrative sophistication. These were not peripheral areas but strategic and productive centers that had often been contested. Including them within a regular supply district underscores the peace and stability of the era. The detailed geographic delineation ("from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah, as far as beyond Jokneam") paints a picture of comprehensive land management, illustrating how every part of the kingdom contributed to the king's magnificent enterprise. This verse, therefore, quietly emphasizes the organized, efficient, and well-resourced nature of Solomon's rule, showcasing the abundant provision available to the king and his court, reflective of God's overflowing grace upon a king who sought wisdom. It symbolizes the golden age of Israel, a kingdom functioning in divine order, foreshadowing a time when all kingdoms will serve the righteous King, Jesus Christ.