1 Kings 4:7 kjv
And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, which provided victuals for the king and his household: each man his month in a year made provision.
1 Kings 4:7 nkjv
And Solomon had twelve governors over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household; each one made provision for one month of the year.
1 Kings 4:7 niv
Solomon had twelve district governors over all Israel, who supplied provisions for the king and the royal household. Each one had to provide supplies for one month in the year.
1 Kings 4:7 esv
Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household. Each man had to make provision for one month in the year.
1 Kings 4:7 nlt
Solomon also had twelve district governors who were over all Israel. They were responsible for providing food for the king's household. Each of them arranged provisions for one month of the year.
1 Kings 4 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 41:47-49 | During the seven years of abundance the earth brought forth plentifully... Joseph stored up grain in great quantities, like the sand of the sea... | Joseph's organized grain storage for Egypt's future need |
| Exod 18:21 | Moreover, you shall select from all the people able men... and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties.. | Moses organizing administrators in levels |
| Deut 17:15-16 | you may indeed set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses... He must not acquire many horses... nor shall he acquire many wives... | Warning against excesses of kings, though administration isn't direct command |
| 1 Sam 8:11-18 | This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons... your daughters for perfumers... take the best of your fields.. | Warning of the burden kingship places on the people |
| 2 Sam 8:15-18 | So David reigned over all Israel. And David administered justice and righteousness for all his people... Joab was over the army... | David's prior administration, precursor to Solomon |
| 1 Kgs 3:13 | I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no one among the kings shall be your equal all your days. | Solomon's wealth and prosperity prophesied and given |
| 1 Kgs 4:1 | So King Solomon was king over all Israel. | Confirmation of Solomon's wide reign before detail |
| 1 Kgs 4:2-6 | These were his officials: Azariah the son of Zadok was the priest; Elihoreph and Ahijah the sons of Shisha were secretaries... | Listing of core palace officials/ministers |
| 1 Kgs 4:22-23 (HB 5:2-3) | Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty cors of fine flour, and sixty cors of meal... ten fat oxen, and twenty pasture-fed cattle, and a hundred.. | Specific details of the immense provisions needed |
| 1 Kgs 10:14-27 | Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold... The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones... | Details of Solomon's vast wealth and abundance |
| 1 Kgs 11:4-8 | For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods... | Downfall due to many wives (exceeding Deut. warning) |
| 1 Kgs 12:4 | “Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke upon us, and we will serve you.” | People's complaint about the burden of Solomon's reign |
| 1 Kgs 12:13-14 | And he answered them harshly... “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will.. | Rehoboam's continuation/worsening of the burden leads to split |
| 1 Chr 27:1-15 | These are the chiefs of the fathers' houses and the commanders of thousands and hundreds... These are the divisions that served the king for the .. | David's system of monthly military/civil service |
| Neh 5:14 | Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year.. | Nehemiah's self-provision to avoid burdening people |
| Isa 33:17 | Your eyes will behold the king in his beauty; they will see a land that stretches afar. | Ideal king/kingdom imagery, often connected to Messianic peace |
| 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.. | God's comprehensive provision for His creation |
| Matt 6:29 | Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. | Comparison of Solomon's splendor, implicitly due to his administration |
| Matt 19:28 | Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also.. | Twelve thrones for apostles, echoing Israel's twelve tribes/rulers |
| Acts 6:1-3 | Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were .. | Appointment of deacons for administration and provision |
| Phil 4:19 | And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. | God's ultimate provision contrasted with human systems |
| Rev 21:12-14 | It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel.. | Symbolic significance of twelve in New Jerusalem |
1 Kings 4 verses
1 Kings 4 7 Meaning
This verse details a key administrative aspect of King Solomon's vast and prosperous kingdom. It describes the system by which twelve appointed officials, stationed across all Israel, were responsible for systematically gathering and supplying provisions for the immense needs of the king's royal household throughout the year, with each officer taking on this duty for a specific month. This sophisticated system highlights the centralized power, organizational efficiency, and immense scale of Solomon's rule, ensuring constant support for the royal court.
1 Kings 4 7 Context
1 Kings chapter 4 immediately follows the account of Solomon's profound wisdom (chapter 3) and his ascension to a unified Israel's throne (chapter 1-2). This chapter serves as a detailed administrative report, showcasing the practical manifestation of Solomon's reign of peace, prosperity, and expansive rule. It begins by listing his chief ministers (v. 1-6) and then transitions to this verse, which describes the systematic organization of his kingdom into twelve districts, each headed by an officer responsible for supplying the royal household. This administrative structure facilitated the immense logistical demands of Solomon's court, laying the groundwork for the subsequent description of its unparalleled opulence and daily consumption (v. 22-23 [HB 5:2-3]), the vastness of his empire (v. 21 [HB 5:1]), and the wisdom and peace that characterized his early reign (v. 29-34 [HB 5:9-14]). The context highlights not just wealth, but also the meticulous planning and execution required to manage such a kingdom, implying a highly organized and powerful state that commanded the resources of "all Israel."
1 Kings 4 7 Word analysis
- And Solomon: Signifies continuation from previous narrative where Solomon's wisdom and anointing were established. Solomon's reign represented a pinnacle of Israelite monarchy in terms of wealth and peace, albeit temporary.
- had twelve officers: The Hebrew word is נְצִבִים (nᵉtsîbîm), which translates to "appointed ones," "prefects," or "governors." These were not simply servants but high-ranking regional administrators. The number "twelve" is highly symbolic in Israel, representing the twelve tribes and suggesting that Solomon's administration encompassed and governed all parts of the unified nation of Israel, echoing the divine ordering. This system mirrored earlier organizational structures within Israel (e.g., twelve tribal leaders under Moses).
- over all Israel: Hebrew כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל (kōl-yiśrā’ēl). This emphasizes the full scope and unified nature of Solomon's kingdom, contrasting with earlier, more fragmented periods (e.g., Judges). It suggests comprehensive control and administration across the entire geographical and demographic extent of Israel. This detail is significant as it shows the kingdom's extensive reach and the centralized power Solomon wielded.
- who provided food: The verb used implies supplying provisions or sustenance. This was a critical function for sustaining the large royal court and government officials described later. It indicates a tax-in-kind system, where produce and livestock were collected rather than solely money, highlighting the agricultural basis of the kingdom's economy.
- for the king and his household: This points to the massive scale of the daily provisions needed not just for Solomon, but for his extensive family, countless wives and concubines, palace officials, numerous servants, and extensive military (implied by subsequent verses regarding horses and chariots). This reveals the opulent lifestyle supported by this administrative system.
- each one made provision: This phrase emphasizes the precise delegation of duties and the rotational aspect of the system. It speaks to a highly organized, systematic approach to resource management.
- for one month in the year: This indicates a highly efficient and continuous supply chain. Each officer and their district were responsible for sustaining the royal court for a designated month, ensuring that the royal provisions never ran out. This system was innovative and vital for maintaining the king's grand lifestyle.
Words-group analysis
- "Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel": This phrase introduces the central administrative reform of Solomon's reign. The appointment of "twelve officers" governing distinct regions "over all Israel" speaks to a deliberate attempt at centralizing power and integrating all tribal lands under the direct administrative control of the king, possibly circumventing traditional tribal leadership structures. It denotes a mature, organized state capable of sustained rule.
- "who provided food for the king and his household": This highlights the immediate purpose of this administrative structure. The primary responsibility of these officers was to sustain the royal establishment, underlining the hierarchical nature of the kingdom where resources flowed up to the center of power. This massive provisioning system enabled Solomon's renowned extravagance and his ability to host foreign dignitaries in splendor.
- "each one made provision for one month in the year": This specifies the systematic, rotational nature of the provision system. It demonstrates the meticulous planning and logistical genius required to ensure continuous supply for a large and demanding court. This monthly rotation spread the burden across the various districts over the course of the year, although it would ultimately contribute to the populace's discontent that erupted after Solomon's death (1 Kgs 12).
1 Kings 4 7 Bonus section
The mention of "twelve officers" distributing the burden and administration geographically across Israel marks a significant shift from David's less centralized structure. It may represent a new administrative partitioning of the land, distinct from the traditional tribal boundaries in some cases (as suggested by the list of officers and their districts in verses 8-19 [HB 5:7-19]). This move could have been aimed at increasing administrative efficiency and royal control, potentially reducing the influence of entrenched tribal leadership in favor of directly appointed royal officials. This systematic taxation-in-kind was not unique to Israel and finds parallels in other ancient Near Eastern empires, indicating a highly developed bureaucratic state characteristic of powerful monarchies.
1 Kings 4 7 Commentary
1 Kings 4:7 offers a crucial glimpse into the sophisticated organizational structure that underpinned King Solomon's glorious reign. Far from a spontaneous burst of prosperity, his kingdom was supported by meticulous planning and administrative innovation. The establishment of "twelve officers" across "all Israel," each with a specific monthly responsibility to provision the royal household, signifies a highly centralized, systematic, and efficient governance model. This system ensured an unbroken flow of resources to sustain the massive daily consumption of Solomon's court, as elaborated later in the chapter. While this demonstrates the peace, wealth, and administrative brilliance granted to Solomon, it also implicitly foreshadows the future burden it would impose on the people, leading to the complaints against Rehoboam (1 Kgs 12) after Solomon's passing. This verse thus speaks to both the pinnacle of Israelite kingdom management and the potential for royal administration to become a source of national grievance.