1 Kings 4:18 kjv
Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin:
1 Kings 4:18 nkjv
Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin;
1 Kings 4:18 niv
Shimei son of Ela?in Benjamin;
1 Kings 4:18 esv
Shimei the son of Ela, in Benjamin;
1 Kings 4:18 nlt
Shimei son of Ela, in Benjamin.
1 Kings 4 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ki 4:7 | Solomon had twelve district governors over all Israel, who provided food for the king... each for one month in the year. | Establishes the purpose of these officers. |
| 1 Ki 4:19 | Geber son of Uri was the only officer who was over the land of Gilead... and there was one officer in the land. | Clarifies Geber's unique jurisdiction over Gilead. |
| Deut 3:8-11 | We took the land at that time from the hand of the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan: Sihon and Og. | Historical conquest of Sihon and Og's territory. |
| Num 21:21-35 | Moses sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites... So Israel struck him and took possession of his land. Then turned... to Og. | Israel's conquest of Transjordanian kings. |
| Josh 12:1-6 | These are the kings of the land whom the people of Israel struck and took possession of their land... Sihon... Og. | Reiteration of the victory over Sihon and Og. |
| 1 Ki 5:4 | Now the L ORD my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor misfortune. | Divine blessing for Solomon's peaceful reign. |
| 1 Ki 4:21 | Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. | Demonstrates the vastness of Solomon's dominion. |
| 1 Ki 4:22-23 | Solomon's provision for one day: thirty cors of fine flour... a hundred cors of meal... fattened cattle, and sheep, and deer... | Highlights the enormous demands on the administration. |
| 2 Sam 20:19 | I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. | Refers to Gilead as part of Israel's heartland. |
| 1 Ki 4:26 | Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses... and 12,000 horsemen. | Further indication of vast resources and power. |
| Deut 34:1 | Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And the L ORD showed him... | Land of Gilead part of the Promised Land seen by Moses. |
| 2 Sam 2:9 | He made him king over Gilead, over the Ashurites, over Jezreel, over Ephraim, over Benjamin, and over all Israel. | Benjamin mentioned as a specific tribal territory. |
| 1 Ki 3:12 | I give you a wise and discerning heart... I will give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor. | God's blessing enabling Solomon's prosperity and organization. |
| Gen 49:27 | Benjamin is a ravenous wolf, in the morning devouring the prey and at evening dividing the spoil. | Tribal character of Benjamin, known for warrior prowess. |
| Josh 18:11 | The lot of the tribe of the people of Benjamin came up according to their clans. | Allocation of Benjamin's tribal territory. |
| Ezra 10:20 | From the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah. From the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah. | Shimei as a common name in Israel, implying administrative continuity. |
| Prov 29:4 | By justice a king builds up the land, but a man who takes bribes tears it down. | Implied good governance under Solomon's rule, ensuring order. |
| Zech 10:10 | I will bring them back from the land of Egypt and gather them from Assyria, and bring them to the land of Gilead and Lebanon. | Gilead as a significant, fertile land within Israel's boundaries. |
| Acts 7:45 | Our fathers in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations whom God drove out before our fathers... | Reminiscent of the Amorite conquest by God's power. |
| Heb 4:8 | For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later of another day. | Connects to the 'rest' that Solomon's reign signified. |
1 Kings 4 verses
1 Kings 4 18 Meaning
1 Kings 4:18 is part of a list detailing the twelve administrative district governors appointed by King Solomon throughout Israel. This verse specifically names two such officers: Shimei, son of Ela, who was responsible for the tribe of Benjamin, and Geber, son of Uri, who governed the expansive and historically significant land of Gilead, which included the former territories of the Amorite kings Sihon and Og in Bashan. This meticulous listing underscores the extensive organization and administrative control Solomon exerted over his prosperous kingdom, ensuring its supply and maintenance.
1 Kings 4 18 Context
1 Kings chapter 4 describes the grandeur, administrative structure, and peace of King Solomon's reign, marking a high point in Israel's history. Following his prayer for wisdom and its divine bestowal (1 Ki 3), Solomon establishes a sophisticated bureaucracy to manage his vast kingdom. Verses 7-19 list the twelve district governors (or "officers") appointed to provide provisions for the king's household on a monthly rotating basis, highlighting the meticulous organization and the immense resources required to sustain Solomon's opulent court. Verse 18 is part of this roll call, specifically identifying the administrators for the strategic territories of Benjamin and Gilead, areas with rich tribal history and significant geopolitical importance due to their location and past conquests. This detail illustrates Solomon's direct control over Israel's heartland and the land across the Jordan.
1 Kings 4 18 Word analysis
- Shimei: (Heb. שִׁמְעִי, shimʿī) - A common Israelite name meaning "my hearing" or "he who hears." It denotes someone who listens, possibly hinting at an attentive administrator. Several individuals bore this name in the Bible, including a relative of Saul who cursed David (2 Sam 16:5-13) and a son of Gershon (Ex 6:17). This Shimei is unique to Solomon's administration list, implying a specific administrative appointment rather than a tribal head by lineage.
- son of Ela: (Heb. בֶּן־אֵלָא, ben-ʾēlāʾ) - "Ela" (אֵלָא, ʾēlāʾ) means "oak" or "terebinth," possibly suggesting strength or stability, common imagery in the ancient Near East for significant landmarks or individuals. The patronymic identifies him uniquely within the record, stressing specific administrative accountability.
- in Benjamin: (Heb. בְּבִנְיָמִין, bəbinyāmîn) - Refers to the territory of the tribe of Benjamin. This tribe, despite its relatively small size, was strategically vital due to its location encompassing key cities like Jerusalem (partially) and Gibeon, nestled between Judah and Ephraim. Benjamin was also a source of fierce warriors, highlighting the king's need for effective governance over such a tribe. The placement of an officer "in" Benjamin signifies direct royal administration, distinct from traditional tribal authority.
- Geber: (Heb. גֶּבֶר, geḇer) - Meaning "man" or "strong man." This is another relatively common Hebrew name. Its generic meaning might subtly emphasize the executive function and authority granted to the administrator.
- son of Uri: (Heb. בֶּן־אוּרִי, ben-ʾûrî) - "Uri" (אוּרִי, ʾûrî) means "my light" or "light of Yahweh." This name often carries positive connotations, implying someone insightful or divinely guided. This specific Uri is otherwise unknown, highlighting the uniqueness of these appointees to Solomon's bureaucracy rather than established historical figures.
- in the land of Gilead: (Heb. בְּאֶרֶץ הַגִּלְעָד, bəʾereṣ hagilʿād) - Gilead was a significant trans-Jordanian region known for its fertile pastures, balm, and strategic importance, located east of the Jordan River. It spanned across parts of the tribal territories of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh. Its inclusion shows Solomon's consolidated control beyond the Jordan, a historical hotbed of conflict and diverse populations.
- the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and Og king of Bashan: (Heb. אֶרֶץ סִיחֹן מֶלֶךְ הָאֱמֹרִי וְעוֹג מֶלֶךְ הַבָּשָׁן, ʾereṣ sīḥon meleḵ hāʾĕmōrī wəʿōḡ meleḵ habāšān) - This specific territorial description grounds Solomon's kingdom in a rich history of conquest.
- Sihon king of the Amorites (Num 21:21-31, Deut 2:26-37): An Amorite king of Heshbon, whose land was conquered by Moses and Israel, marking a foundational victory in their journey to the Promised Land. The Amorites were a powerful Semitic group inhabiting Canaan and Transjordan.
- Og king of Bashan (Num 21:33-35, Deut 3:1-11): Another Amorite king from Bashan (a fertile region north of Gilead, east of the Sea of Galilee), also defeated by Moses. Og was famously of gigantic stature.
- Mentioning these specific historical conquests (by Moses) as defining Geber's district highlights the depth of Israel's dominion, linking Solomon's present prosperity and extensive rule to God's past faithfulness in securing these lands. It subtly affirms divine ownership over these territories, now consolidated under Solomon. It also potentially served as a polemic, asserting the definitive nature of Yahweh's victory over the ancient pagan rulers and their associated deities, solidifying Israel's claim and the legitimate inheritance bestowed by God.
- and one officer in the country: This phrase at the very end of verse 18 (often translated as "and there was one officer in the country" or related to the phrase in verse 19 that specifies Geber was "the only officer") indicates either a direct clarification of Geber's sole responsibility for this vast, multi-part territory or an editorial note distinguishing this large, geographically complex district from others. Given the follow-up in v. 19 (Geber was the only officer over the land of Gilead), it strongly implies a unique consolidation of power and administrative burden under Geber, acknowledging the significant extent and distinct challenges of managing this frontier region.
1 Kings 4 18 Bonus section
The comprehensive nature of Solomon's administrative districts, as exemplified by 1 Kings 4:18, suggests more than mere logistical management. It embodies the realization of the Abrahamic covenant promises regarding the extent of the land (Gen 15:18). By naming regions tied to foundational conquests like Sihon and Og's kingdoms, the narrative subtly reinforces the divine legitimacy of Solomon's rule and the completeness of God's grant of the Promised Land to Israel. Furthermore, the district system may have inadvertently served as a model for future administrative structures in the region, reflecting sophisticated bureaucratic foresight. However, such a system, while demonstrating opulence and power, also centralized control and resources, which would eventually contribute to the grievances and heavy burdens felt by the populace, foreshadowing the later division of the kingdom.
1 Kings 4 18 Commentary
1 Kings 4:18 provides a granular view into the operational specifics of Solomon's kingdom. Far from a mere list of names, it illustrates the profound organizational capacity of Solomon's government, a direct outflow of the wisdom granted to him by God. The appointment of district governors like Shimei and Geber was essential for maintaining the extensive and elaborate royal household, underscoring the shift from a more tribal, decentralized governance to a robust, centralized monarchy. The particular mention of Benjamin, a strategically central tribal land, alongside Gilead, which covered the historically crucial territories of defeated Amorite kings Sihon and Og, speaks volumes. It highlights not only the physical reach of Solomon's influence but also his meticulous approach to consolidating all regions, including those historically challenging or geographically distant, under singular, accountable officers. This administrative achievement was a testament to the peace and prosperity divinely granted to Solomon, allowing for sophisticated systems previously unattainable, ensuring the material provision of the entire kingdom through a rotational collection system. The naming of specific officers like Geber over such vast and complex regions reveals the high degree of trust and responsibility invested in these individuals to manage a significant part of the royal provision cycle.