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1 So King Solomon was king ouer all Israel.
2 And these were the Princes which he had, Azariah the sonne of Zadok, the Priest,
3 Elihoreph, and Ahiah the sonnes of Shisha, Scribes: Iehoshaphat the sonne of Ahilud the Recorder;
4 And Benaiah the sonne of Iehoiada was ouer the host: And Zadok and Abiathar were the Priests:
5 And Azariah the sonne of Nathan was ouer the officers: and Zabud the sonne of Nathan was principall officer, and the kings friend.
6 And Ahishar was ouer the houshold: and Adoniram the sonne of Abda was ouer the tribute.
7 ¶ And Solomon had twelue officers ouer all Israel, which prouided victuals for the king and his houshold: each man his moneth in a yeere made prouision.
8 And these are their names: the sonne of Hur in mount Ephraim,
9 The sonne of Dekar in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Bethshemesh, and Elon-Bethhanan.
10 The sonne of Heseb in Aruboth, to him pertained Sochoh, and all the land of Hepher;
11 The sonne of Abinadab in all the region of Dor, which had Taphath the daughter of Solomon to wife:
12 Baana the sonne of Ahilud, to him pertained Taanach and Megiddo, and all Beth-shean, which is by Zartanah beneath Iezreel, from Beth-shean to Abel-Meholah, euen vnto the place that is beyond Iokneam:
13 The sonne of Geber in Ramoth Gilead, to him pertained the townes of Iair the sonne of Manasseh, which are in Gilead: to him also pertained the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, threescore great cities, with walles, and brasen barres.
14 Ahinadab the sonne of Iddo had Mahanaim.
15 Ahimaaz was in Naphtali; he also tooke Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wife.
16 Baanah the sonne of Hushai was in Asher and in Aloth:
17 Iehoshaphat the sonne of Paruah in Issachar:
18 Shimei the sonne of Elah in Beniamin:
19 Geber the sonne of Uri was in the countrey of Gilead, in the countrey of Sihon king of the Amorites, and of Og king of Bashan; and hee was the onely officer which was in the land.
20 ¶ Iudah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and making merrie.
21 And Solomon reigned ouer all kingdoms from the riuer vnto the land of the Philistines, and vnto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and serued Solomon all the dayes of his life.
22 ¶ And Solomons prouision for one day, was thirtie measures of fine floure, and threescore measures of meale,
23 Ten fat oxen, and twentie oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheepe, beside Harts, and Roe-buckes, and fallow Deere, and fatted foule.
24 For he had dominion ouer all the region on this side the Riuer, from Tiphsah euen to Azzah ouer all the kings on this side the Riuer: and he had peace on all sides round about him.
25 And Iudah and Israel dwelt safely, euery man vnder his Uine, and vnder his Figtree, from Dan euen to Beer-sheba, all the dayes of Solomon.
26 ¶ And Solomon had fourtie thousand stalles of horses for his charets, and twelue thousand horsemen.
27 And those officers prouided victuall for king Solomon, and for all that came vnto king Solomons table, euery man in his moneth: they lacked nothing.
28 Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries, brought they vnto the place where the officers were, euery man according to his charge.
29 ¶ And God gaue Solomon wisdome, and vnderstanding, exceeding much, and largenesse of heart, euen as the sand that is on the sea shoare.
30 And Solomons wisedome excelled the wisedome of all the children of the East countrey, and all the wisedome of Egypt.
31 For hee was wiser then all men; then Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda the sonnes of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.
32 And he spake three thousand prouerbes: and his songs were a thousand and fiue.
33 And hee spake of trees, from the Cedar tree that is in Lebanon, euen vnto the Hyssope that springeth out of the wall: hee spake also of beasts, and of foule, and of creeping things, and of fishes.
34 And there came of all people to heare the wisedome of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisedome.
Solomon's court. (1-19) Solomon's dominions, His daily provision. (20-28) The wisdom of Solomon. (29-34)1-19 In the choice of the great officers of Solomon's court, no doubt, his wisdom appeared. Several are the same that were in his father's time. A plan was settled by which no part of the country was exhausted to supply his court, though each sent its portion.
20-28 Never did the crown of Israel shine so bright, as when Solomon wore it. He had peace on all sides. Herein, his kingdom was a type of the Messiah's; for to Him it is promised that he shall have the heathen for his inheritance, and that princes shall worship him. The spiritual peace, and joy, and holy security, of all the faithful subjects of the Lord Jesus, were typified by that of Israel. The kingdom of God is not, as Solomon's was, meat and drink, but, what is infinitely better, righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. The vast number of his attendants, and the great resort to him, are shown by the provision daily made. Herein Christ far outdoes Solomon, that he feeds all his subjects, not with the bread that perishes, but with that which endures to eternal life.
29-34 Solomon's wisdom was more his glory than his wealth. He had what is here called largeness of heart, for the heart is often put for the powers of the mind. He had the gift of utterance, as well as wisdom. It is very desirable, that those who have large gifts of any kind, should have large hearts to use them for the good of others. What treasures of wisdom and knowledge are lost! But every sort of knowledge that is needful for salvation is to be found in the holy Scriptures. There came persons from all parts, who were more eager after knowledge than their neighbours, to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Solomon was herein a type of Christ, in whom are hid all treasures of wisdom and knowledge; and hid for us, for he is made of God to us, wisdom. Christ's fame shall spread through all the earth, and men of all nations shall come to him, learn of him, and take upon them his easy yoke, and find rest for their souls.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.