1 Kings 4:23 kjv
Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallowdeer, and fatted fowl.
1 Kings 4:23 nkjv
ten fatted oxen, twenty oxen from the pastures, and one hundred sheep, besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fatted fowl.
1 Kings 4:23 niv
ten head of stall-fed cattle, twenty of pasture-fed cattle and a hundred sheep and goats, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks and choice fowl.
1 Kings 4:23 esv
ten fat oxen, and twenty pasture-fed cattle, a hundred sheep, besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened fowl.
1 Kings 4:23 nlt
also 10 oxen from the fattening pens, 20 pasture-fed cattle, 100 sheep or goats, as well as deer, gazelles, roe deer, and choice poultry.
1 Kings 4 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 28:11-12 | "The Lord will grant you abundance... prosperity... will open... His good treasury" | Blessing for obedience |
| Ps 72:3-4 | "The mountains shall bring peace to the people... He will deliver the needy..." | Foreshadows Messianic prosperity and justice |
| Ps 72:7-8 | "In His days may the righteous flourish, and abundance of peace... rule from sea to sea" | Messianic kingdom's global dominion & prosperity |
| Prov 10:22 | "The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it." | Divine source of wealth |
| 1 Kgs 4:7 | "And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household..." | Administrative structure for provisions |
| 1 Kgs 4:20 | "Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand by the sea; they ate and drank and were happy." | General prosperity of the people |
| 1 Kgs 4:22 | "Solomon's provision for one day was thirty cors of fine flour, and sixty cors of meal..." | Immediate context, other daily provisions |
| 1 Kgs 10:4-7 | "When the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built... there was no more spirit in her." | Queen of Sheba astonished by Solomon's wealth |
| 1 Kgs 10:23-25 | "So King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom... every man brought his present..." | Solomon's unmatched wealth from other kings |
| 2 Chr 9:22 | "King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom." | Parallel account emphasizing Solomon's supremacy |
| Neh 5:17-18 | "Moreover, 150 Jews and officials ate at my table, besides those who came to us from the nations around us." | Nehemiah's large, constant provisions for others |
| Gen 18:6-8 | "Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah... fetch a tender and good calf... prepared it... He took curds and milk and the calf... and set it before them." | Ancient Near East hospitality and feasting |
| Exod 16:13-15 | "in the morning dew lay around the camp... when the dew was gone, behold, on the face of the wilderness, lay a thin flaky substance." | God's daily provision for His people (Manna/Quail) |
| Isa 25:6 | "On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine..." | Eschatological feast of the Messiah's kingdom |
| Jer 31:12 | "They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion... be radiant over the goodness of the Lord, over the grain, the wine, and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd..." | Future blessing and abundance for restored Israel |
| Ezek 34:25-27 | "I will make with them a covenant of peace... give them rains in their season... there shall be showers of blessing... they shall no longer be victims among the nations." | Divine promise of future safety and abundance |
| Matt 6:26 | "Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" | God's unfailing provision for His creation |
| Phil 4:19 | "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." | God's complete provision for believers |
| Lk 14:16-24 | Parable of the great banquet: a master sends invitations for a grand feast. | The Kingdom of God as a generous banquet |
| Rev 19:9 | "Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." | The ultimate divine feast |
1 Kings 4 verses
1 Kings 4 23 Meaning
This verse details a portion of the vast daily provisions required for King Solomon's household and extensive court. It signifies an unprecedented era of abundance, peace, and prosperity in Israel during his reign, showcasing the immense divine blessings and the scale of his kingdom's wealth.
1 Kings 4 23 Context
This verse appears within a broader description of Solomon's magnificent reign, particularly after enumerating his administrative structure (1 Kgs 4:1-19). Verses 20-34 paint a comprehensive picture of the peace, prosperity, and unparalleled wisdom that characterized his rule. Specifically, 1 Kings 4:22-28 details the daily provisions for the king and his extensive court, including food for hundreds of officials, servants, and guests. This list highlights the sheer volume and variety of provisions, emphasizing the vast resources at Solomon's disposal due to God's blessing. Historically, Solomon's kingdom reached its territorial peak, controlling trade routes and receiving tribute from various surrounding nations (1 Kgs 4:21), allowing for such unprecedented daily consumption.
1 Kings 4 23 Word analysis
- ten: A specific quantity, indicating precise accounting for these valuable, specially prepared animals, underlining the scale rather than just a general number.
- fat oxen (בָּקָר מָרִיא bāqār mārîʾ): Hebrew for "fat cattle" or "fed oxen." These were likely specially bred and grain-fed animals, producing prime, tender meat for the most esteemed members of the court and honored guests. Their presence signifies extreme luxury and premium sustenance.
- and twenty oxen out of the pastures (וְעֶשְׂרִים בָּקָר מִמִּרְעֶה wəʿeśrîm bāqār mimmiṣreʿ): Refers to standard grazing cattle, still a significant daily quantity, but less elite than the "fat oxen." This implies a layered consumption for the vast number of people served daily, beyond Solomon himself.
- and an hundred sheep (וּמֵאָה צֹאן ûmēʾâ ṣōn): Sheep were a common source of meat in the ancient Near East, yet 100 per day signifies enormous regular consumption, a testament to the immense population reliant on the king's provisions.
- beside: This word emphasizes that the following items are additional to the substantial quantities of livestock already listed, further magnifying the abundance and extravagance.
- harts (אַיָּל ʾayyāl): Wild deer, particularly male deer. Including wild game signifies diverse tastes, the availability of extensive hunting grounds, and an administration capable of procuring such varieties regularly.
- and gazelles (צְבִי ṣəbî): A swift, elegant antelope common in the region. Another type of wild game, emphasizing variety.
- and roebucks (יַחְמוּר yaḥmûr): Often translated as fallow deer or a species of antelope (sometimes wild goat or chamois). The consistent presence of these specific wild animals underscores access to and a preference for exotic or hunted meats.
- and fatted fowl (וּבַרְבֻּרִים אֲבוּסִים ûbarburîm ʾăḇūsîm): Literally "fodder-fed fowl" or "fed geese/swans." These were special birds, likely domestically fattened for prime eating or possibly exotic birds captured for consumption. This detail points to culinary sophistication and extensive efforts in sourcing provisions.
Words-group analysis:
- "ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheep": This cluster represents the daily staple meat provision. The massive quantity (30 cattle and 100 sheep) points to the necessity of feeding an extremely large contingent of people — not just Solomon and his family, but also his vast bureaucracy, military officers, guests, and retinue that accompanied the court. This volume reflects the prosperity and population boom under Solomon's wise and blessed reign.
- "beside harts, and gazelles, and roebucks, and fatted fowl": This grouping highlights the luxury, variety, and exotic nature of Solomon's diet. These were not common, everyday meats but additions that signaled unparalleled wealth, refined culinary tastes, and an administrative capacity to secure diverse provisions from wild game reserves and specialized poultry farms. It symbolizes the breadth of Solomon's dominion and the extent of his kingdom's resources, both natural and cultivated.
1 Kings 4 23 Bonus section
The scale of Solomon's daily provisions as described in this verse far surpassed that of contemporary Near Eastern monarchs, emphasizing the uniqueness of God's blessing upon Israel during his reign. The logistical undertaking to procure, prepare, and distribute such vast quantities of food daily suggests a highly organized and efficient administration, reflecting Solomon's famed wisdom not just in judgment, but also in governance. This immense provision supported an extensive economy and workforce involved in farming, animal husbandry, hunting, and transportation, all sustained by the kingdom's affluence. However, the costs associated with maintaining such an opulent court also hint at the eventual burden that would fall upon the people, contributing to later unrest.
1 Kings 4 23 Commentary
1 Kings 4:23 offers a vivid snapshot of Solomon's extraordinary reign, a period often referred to as Israel's Golden Age. The meticulous detail of daily provisions—quantities of different livestock, alongside various types of wild game and specially fattened fowl—paints a picture of immense, unparalleled wealth. This was not mere gluttony, but the sustenance required for a sprawling royal court, numerous officials, servants, and guests from across his vast empire. It symbolizes the peace (no longer warring like David's reign) and the administrative efficiency of Solomon's kingdom. More profoundly, it stands as a testament to God's covenant faithfulness and abundant blessing on Israel when His people walked in obedience, particularly fulfilling the promise of a kingly descendant on David's throne who would have vast dominion and resources.