1 Kings 4:15 kjv
Ahimaaz was in Naphtali; he also took Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wife:
1 Kings 4:15 nkjv
Ahimaaz, in Naphtali; he also took Basemath the daughter of Solomon as wife;
1 Kings 4:15 niv
Ahimaaz?in Naphtali (he had married Basemath daughter of Solomon);
1 Kings 4:15 esv
Ahimaaz, in Naphtali (he had taken Basemath the daughter of Solomon as his wife);
1 Kings 4:15 nlt
Ahimaaz, in Naphtali. (He was married to Basemath, another of Solomon's daughters.)
1 Kings 4 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kgs 4:7 | And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel... | Lists district officers, context for Ahimaaz. |
| 1 Kgs 4:1 | So King Solomon was king over all Israel. | Highlights unified kingdom Solomon governed. |
| 1 Kgs 4:27-28 | And those officers provided food for King Solomon and for all who came... | Details the purpose of the officers. |
| 1 Kgs 3:1 | Solomon made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt. | Strategic external royal marriage precedent. |
| 1 Kgs 11:1-3 | Now King Solomon loved many foreign women... | Negative contrast to later destructive marriages. |
| Gen 41:45 | Pharaoh gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. | Marriage used to integrate into ruling class. |
| 1 Sam 18:27 | So David arose and went, he and his men, and killed two hundred of the Philistines... | David's marriage to Saul's daughter for political alliance. |
| 2 Sam 3:3 | and the second, Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite... | David's marriages for tribal connections. |
| 2 Chr 11:21 | Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom more than all his wives... | Rehoboam securing succession through royal marriage. |
| Neh 13:23-27 | In those days also I saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod... | Warning against intermarriage leading to spiritual compromise. |
| Gen 49:21 | “Naphtali is a doe let loose that bears beautiful fawns.” | Jacob's prophecy concerning Naphtali. |
| Deut 33:23 | Of Naphtali he said, "O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, and full of the blessing of the LORD..." | Moses' blessing on the tribe of Naphtali. |
| Josh 19:32-39 | The sixth lot came out for the people of Naphtali... | Describes Naphtali's tribal inheritance. |
| Judg 4:6 | She sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali... | Naphtali's role in Deborah and Barak's victory. |
| Isa 9:1-2 | But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish... | Prophecy of light for Galilee, including Naphtali. |
| Matt 4:13-16 | And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea... | Fulfillment of Isaiah 9 in Christ's ministry. |
| Prov 11:14 | Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. | Speaks to the importance of effective administration. |
| Prov 29:4 | By justice a king builds up his country, but a man who takes bribes tears it down. | Governance requires just leadership. |
| Rom 13:1 | Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. | Divine institution of authority, including royal rule. |
| 1 Kgs 9:15-19 | This is the account of the forced labor that King Solomon conscripted... | The administrative system supported Solomon's projects. |
1 Kings 4 verses
1 Kings 4 15 Meaning
1 Kings 4:15 states that Ahimaaz, one of Solomon's twelve district officers responsible for the territory of Naphtali, also married Basemath, one of King Solomon's daughters. This verse highlights the consolidation of power and the integration of administration and royalty in Solomon's unified kingdom, as a royal marriage cemented loyalty and authority within a key administrative district.
1 Kings 4 15 Context
1 Kings chapter 4 describes the zenith of King Solomon's rule, focusing on his immense wisdom, wealth, and sophisticated administration. Verses 1-6 list his key officials, and verses 7-19 detail the twelve district governors appointed to manage the supply of provisions for the king and his household throughout the year, with each governor responsible for one month's provision. This particular verse (1 Kgs 4:15) mentions Ahimaaz, one such governor, and uniquely adds a personal detail: his marriage to one of Solomon's daughters, Basemath. This personal connection reinforces the political stability and royal consolidation that characterized Solomon's early reign, binding local administration more directly to the central authority through familial ties. The historical context reflects a period of unparalleled peace and prosperity in Israel under a highly organized monarchical system.
1 Kings 4 15 Word analysis
- Ahimaaz (אֲחִימַעַץ, ʼĂḥîmaʿaṣ): Hebrew for "My brother is wrath/counsel" or "Brother of Counsel." In this context, he is distinct from the Ahimaaz known as David's loyal runner and Zadok's son. This Ahimaaz is one of the administrative officers appointed by Solomon, indicating a distinct identity and role within Solomon's advanced administrative structure.
- in Naphtali (בְּנַפְתָּלִי, bĕnap̄tālî): Refers to the territory historically allocated to the tribe of Naphtali. This northern region was strategically important and often fertile. Ahimaaz's specific district indicates the extent of Solomon's organized control, reaching into the farthest tribal territories of Israel.
- he also took (גַּם־הוּא לָקָח, gam-hū lāqaḥ): "He also" emphasizes this detail as an additional significant point about Ahimaaz beyond just being a district officer. "Took" (lāqaḥ) is the common Hebrew verb used for taking a wife, indicating marriage.
- Basemath (בָּשְׂמַת, Bāśəmāṯ): Hebrew for "fragrance" or "spice." She is explicitly identified as a daughter of Solomon. The mention of her name adds a specific, personal dimension to the otherwise administrative list.
- the daughter of Solomon (בַּת־שְׁלֹמֹה, bat-šəlōmōh): Directly states her royal lineage. Marriage to a king's daughter was a significant political act in the ancient Near East, solidifying alliances, granting status, and ensuring loyalty.
- to wife (לְאִשָּׁה, lĕ'iššāh): Literally "for a woman," functioning as the object of marriage. This idiom explicitly confirms the union was a marriage, emphasizing its formal and significant nature.
Words-group analysis:
- "Ahimaaz in Naphtali; he also took Basemath the daughter of Solomon to wife": This entire phrase connects two critical aspects of Solomon's reign: administrative efficiency and royal consolidation. By placing a trusted officer in charge of a strategic region and then linking him to the royal house through marriage, Solomon secured the region's loyalty and smooth administration. It highlights a system where power was not just delegated but reinforced through dynastic ties. This differs from Solomon's foreign alliances (like with Pharaoh's daughter), serving to solidify internal control rather than external diplomacy.
1 Kings 4 15 Bonus section
The mention of Basemath is unique because not all of Solomon's many daughters are individually named in the biblical text. Her specific naming and the detail of her marriage indicate the importance attached to this particular union. It wasn't just any marriage; it was a strategically significant political tool for internal unity and the efficient functioning of Solomon's vast and prosperous kingdom. This act of forming ties with the regional administration stands in contrast to Solomon's later, less fortunate choices of marrying many foreign wives (1 Kgs 11:1-3) who eventually led him astray. Here, the marriage served a constructive purpose for the kingdom's early stability and organization.
1 Kings 4 15 Commentary
1 Kings 4:15 succinctly illustrates King Solomon's masterful blend of efficient governance and strategic dynastic alliance during the peak of his rule. The inclusion of Ahimaaz, the officer in the northern territory of Naphtali, and the note of his marriage to Solomon's daughter, Basemath, is more than a mere personal detail. It reveals a sophisticated political strategy: integrating the royal family directly into the kingdom's administrative structure. Such marriages served as potent symbols of loyalty, cementing the allegiance of key provincial leaders to the crown. The officer's authority was enhanced by his royal connection, and the king secured an unbreakable bond with a vital regional leader responsible for provisioning the royal court. This arrangement reflects Solomon's wisdom in establishing a stable and well-supported kingdom, leveraging familial ties to ensure centralized control and efficient resource management across the diverse tribal lands of Israel.