1Ki 4:15 | KingComments | STEP | At the end of the previous chapter we have an example of the wisdom God gave to Solomon. In this chapter we read about his wealth and prosperity. He receives what God has promised to give him after he has asked for wisdom ( ). We see his wisdom here in the way in which he has regulated and maintains internal order in his empire: 1. his princes ( ), 2. his governors who provide for his food ( ), 3. the number, prosperity and peace of its subjects ( ), 4. the vastness of his rule ( ), 5. the amount of food for his house ( ) and 6. the food for his horses ( ). The chapter concludes with a detailed description of his wisdom and knowledge and the fame that comes from it ( ). But however great Solomon may be, the Lord Jesus is infinitely greater than he ( ). The situation under Solomon’s government is very different from that under his father David’s government. David has always had to deal with internal revolt and also with enemies from outside. Solomon, after having dealt with some remaining enemies, until his public forsaking the LORD ( ), has known only peace, security, joy and abundance. He has an army and an army commander, but he has not waged any war with a hostile power. None of the nations subject to him has tried to throw off his yoke or made any effort to do so. On the contrary, they were happy in their dependence on him. Herein, his kingdom is a type of the kingdom of the Messiah. For the Messiah is promised that He will have the nations for His inheritance ( ) and that princes will bow down before Him ( ). Solomon rules over “all Israel” ( ), that is to say, over an – as yet – undivided realm. The whole realm is under his authority. In his government of the realm he has appointed several people as officials to perform different tasks. The first official who is mentioned is a priest ( ). The fact that Azariah is the priest probably means that he is the high priest. Here the priesthood is attached to the kingship. The Lord Jesus is the true King-Priest (cf. ). To be a good official we must be priest. This means that our relationship to God, our approach to Him, determines our kingship toward people. Peter speaks about this in relation to us in his first letter. He first says that we are “a holy priesthood” ( ) and that we offer up spiritual sacrifices. This is what happens toward God. Then he speaks of “a royal priesthood” ( ). This is what is happening toward the people. The secretaries, or writers ( ), have an important task. They prepare royal decrees or ordinances for trade treaties and military unions, of which they keep official records. There is also a recorder – who had also served under David ( ) –, someone who is over the army, someone who is over the deputies, a priest who is a friend of the king, someone who is over the household and someone who is over the men subject to forced labor ( ). This division of tasks among the officials indicates that everyone has his own responsibility, each of whom must be faithful in order to fulfill the task assigned to him in accordance with the law. As long as all are aware of being directly responsible to Solomon, everything goes well. Things go wrong when tasks are passed to each other without Solomon having given an assignment to do so. This is exactly how it works in the church. If everyone listens to the Lord Jesus and does what He says, things go well. In addition to the officials, Solomon also appointed “twelve deputies over all Israel” ( ) to serve him and his interests. Every deputy has a duty for a month to provide for the king and his household. Dividing his task over so many people and deploying them at different times is wise policy. The distribution of the burden makes the task to be performed a task to which no one will succumb because too much and too long work would have to be done. It is like caring for the tabernacle and the temple which was also a care divided over a large number of priests and Levites. It also reduced the risk of abusing the position in order to enrich oneself or to obtain special benefits. Two of the deputies are married to Solomon’s daughters, which means an extra honor in addition to the position they hold. One of them is Ben-abinadab which means son of Abinadab ( ), with whom the ark has been in the house for twenty years ( ). The other is Ahimaaz ( ). The deputies are divided over the land, each being given its own area of responsibility. This also has a lesson for the church. Not only are there tasks to be performed, there is also an area in which each is working ( ). We must respect the field of work that the Lord has given someone. For example, we won’t be spreading the gospel tracts in an area if we know others are already there bringing the gospel.

‏ 1 Kings 4:15

Introduction

At the end of the previous chapter we have an example of the wisdom God gave to Solomon. In this chapter we read about his wealth and prosperity. He receives what God has promised to give him after he has asked for wisdom (1Kgs 3:13). We see his wisdom here in the way in which he has regulated and maintains internal order in his empire:

1. his princes (1Kgs 4:1-6),

2. his governors who provide for his food (1Kgs 4:7-19 ; 27),

3. the number, prosperity and peace of its subjects (1Kgs 4:20 ; 25),

4. the vastness of his rule (1Kgs 4:21 ; 24),

5. the amount of food for his house (1Kgs 4:22-23) and

6. the food for his horses (1Kgs 4:26).

The chapter concludes with a detailed description of his wisdom and knowledge and the fame that comes from it (1Kgs 4:29-34). But however great Solomon may be, the Lord Jesus is infinitely greater than he (Mt 12:42).

The situation under Solomon’s government is very different from that under his father David’s government. David has always had to deal with internal revolt and also with enemies from outside. Solomon, after having dealt with some remaining enemies, until his public forsaking the LORD (1Kgs 11:1-8), has known only peace, security, joy and abundance.

He has an army and an army commander, but he has not waged any war with a hostile power. None of the nations subject to him has tried to throw off his yoke or made any effort to do so. On the contrary, they were happy in their dependence on him. Herein, his kingdom is a type of the kingdom of the Messiah. For the Messiah is promised that He will have the nations for His inheritance (Psa 2:8) and that princes will bow down before Him (Isa 49:7).

The Rule of Solomon

Solomon rules over “all Israel” (1Kgs 4:1), that is to say, over an – as yet – undivided realm. The whole realm is under his authority. In his government of the realm he has appointed several people as officials to perform different tasks. The first official who is mentioned is a priest (1Kgs 4:2). The fact that Azariah is the priest probably means that he is the high priest. Here the priesthood is attached to the kingship. The Lord Jesus is the true King-Priest (cf. Zec 6:13).

To be a good official we must be priest. This means that our relationship to God, our approach to Him, determines our kingship toward people. Peter speaks about this in relation to us in his first letter. He first says that we are “a holy priesthood” (1Pet 2:5) and that we offer up spiritual sacrifices. This is what happens toward God. Then he speaks of “a royal priesthood” (1Pet 2:9). This is what is happening toward the people.

The secretaries, or writers (1Kgs 4:3a), have an important task. They prepare royal decrees or ordinances for trade treaties and military unions, of which they keep official records. There is also a recorder – who had also served under David (2Sam 8:16 ; 2Sam 20:24) –, someone who is over the army, someone who is over the deputies, a priest who is a friend of the king, someone who is over the household and someone who is over the men subject to forced labor (1Kgs 4:3b-6).

This division of tasks among the officials indicates that everyone has his own responsibility, each of whom must be faithful in order to fulfill the task assigned to him in accordance with the law. As long as all are aware of being directly responsible to Solomon, everything goes well. Things go wrong when tasks are passed to each other without Solomon having given an assignment to do so. This is exactly how it works in the church. If everyone listens to the Lord Jesus and does what He says, things go well.

In addition to the officials, Solomon also appointed “twelve deputies over all Israel” (1Kgs 4:7) to serve him and his interests. Every deputy has a duty for a month to provide for the king and his household. Dividing his task over so many people and deploying them at different times is wise policy.

The distribution of the burden makes the task to be performed a task to which no one will succumb because too much and too long work would have to be done. It is like caring for the tabernacle and the temple which was also a care divided over a large number of priests and Levites. It also reduced the risk of abusing the position in order to enrich oneself or to obtain special benefits.

Two of the deputies are married to Solomon’s daughters, which means an extra honor in addition to the position they hold. One of them is Ben-abinadab which means son of Abinadab (1Kgs 4:11), with whom the ark has been in the house for twenty years (1Sam 7:1-2). The other is Ahimaaz (1Kgs 4:15).

The deputies are divided over the land, each being given its own area of responsibility. This also has a lesson for the church. Not only are there tasks to be performed, there is also an area in which each is working (2Cor 10:15-16). We must respect the field of work that the Lord has given someone. For example, we won’t be spreading the gospel tracts in an area if we know others are already there bringing the gospel.