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Selected Verse: 1 Kings 4:1 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
1Ki 4:1	Strong Concordance	So king [04428] Solomon [08010] was king [04428] over all Israel [03478].
	King James	So king Solomon was king over all Israel.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
SOLOMON'S PRINCES. (Kg1 4:1-6) So King Solomon was king over all Israel--This chapter contains a general description of the state and glory of the Hebrew kingdom during the more flourishing or later years of his reign.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

SOLOMON'S PRINCES. (Kg1 4:1-6)

So King Solomon was king over all Israel--This chapter contains a general description of the state and glory of the Hebrew kingdom during the more flourishing or later years of his reign.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Solomon, that is, was king over "all Israel" from the first; not like David, who for seven and a half years reigned over Judah only. This feature well introduces the glory of Solomon and the organisation of the court, of which the historian in this chapter intends to give us a general sketch. Solomon constitutes certain "princes" or officers of the first rank, deriving their station from him, and probably holding it during pleasure.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
The Chief Ministers of State. - The list is introduced in Kg1 4:1 by the general remark, that "king Solomon was king over all Israel." Kg1 4:2 The first of the שׂרים, princes, i.e., chief ministers of state or dignitaries, mentioned here is not the commander-in-chief, as under the warlike reign of David (Sa2 8:16; Sa2 20:23), but, in accordance with the peaceful rule of Solomon, the administrator of the kingdom (or prime minister): "Azariah the son of Zadok was הכּהן," i.e., not the priest, but the administrator of the kingdom, the representative of the king before the people; like כּהן in v. 5, where this word is interpreted by המּלך רעה, with this difference, however, arising from the article before כּהן, that Azariah was the Kohen par excellence, that is to say, held the first place among the confidential counsellors of the king, so that his dignity was such as befitted the office of an administrator of the kingdom. Compare the explanation of כּהן at Sa2 8:18. The view of the Vulgate, Luther, and others, which has been revived by Thenius, namely, that כּהן is to be connected as a genitive with בּן־צדוק in opposition to the accents, "Azariah the son of Zadok the priest," is incorrect, and does not even yield any sense, since the connection of these words with the following Elichoreph, etc., is precluded by the absence of the copula Vav, which would be indispensable if Azariah had held the same office as the two brothers Elichoreph and Achijah. (Note: The objection by which Thenius tries to set aside this argument, which has been already advanced by Houbigant, viz., that "if the first (Azariah) was not also a state scribe, the copula would be inserted, as it is everywhere else from v. 4 onwards when a new office is mentioned," proves nothing at all, because the copula is also omitted in v. 3, where the new office of מזכּיר is introduced.) Moreover, Azariah the son of Zadok cannot be a grandson of Zadok the high priest, i.e., a son of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, as many infer from 1 Chr. 5:34-35 (Ch1 6:8-9); for, apart from the fact that Zadok's grandson can hardly have been old enough at the time for Solomon to invest him with the chief dignity in the kingdom, which would surely be conferred upon none but men of mature years, we can see no reason why the Azariah mentioned here should not be called the son of Ahimaaz. If the Zadok referred to here was the high priest of that name, Azariah can only have been a brother of Ahimaaz. And there is no real difficulty in the way, since the name Azariah occurs three times in the line of high priests (1 Chr. 5:36, 39), and therefore was by no means rare. Kg1 4:3 Elichoreph and Achijah, sons of Shisha, who had held the same office under David, were secretaries of state (ספרים: see at Sa2 8:17 and Sa2 20:25, where the different names שׁשׁא = שׁיא and שׂריה are also discussed). - Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the chancellor, as he had already been in the time of David (Sa2 8:17 and Sa2 20:24). The rendering of Thenius, "whilst Jehoshaphat was chancellor," is grammatically impossible. Kg1 4:4 On Benaiah, compare Kg1 2:35 and the Commentary on Sa2 23:20. On Zadok and Abiathar, see at Sa2 8:17. It appears strange that Abiathar should be named as priest, i.e., as high priest, along with Zadok, since Solomon had deposed him from the priestly office (Kg1 2:27, Kg1 2:35), and we cannot imagine any subsequent pardon. The only possible explanation is that proposed by Theodoret, namely, that Solomon had only deprived him of the ἀρχή, i.e., of the priest's office, but not of the ἱερωσύνη or priestly dignity, because this was hereditary. (Note: Τὴν ἀρχὴν ἀφείλατο, ου ̓ τῆς ἱερωσύνης ἐγύμνωσεν· τὴν γὰρ τῆς ἱερωσύνης αξίαν οὐκ ἐκ χειροτονίας ἀλλ ̓ ἐκ γονικῆς εἶχον διαδοχῆς. - Theodoret.) Kg1 4:5 Azariah the son of Nathan was over the נצּבים, i.e., the twelve officers named in vv. 7ff. Zabud the son of Nathan was כּהן (not the son of "Nathan the priest," as Luther and many others render it). כּהן is explained by the epithet appended, המּלך רעה: privy councillor, i.e., confidential adviser of the king. Nathan is not the prophet of that name, as Thenius supposes, but the son of David mentioned in Sa2 5:14. Azariah and Zabud were therefore nephews of Solomon. Kg1 4:6 Ahishar was הבּית על, over the palace, i.e., governor of the palace, or minister of the king's household (compare Kg1 16:9; Kg2 18:18, and Isa 22:15), an office met with for the first time under Solomon. Adoniram, probably the same person as Adoram in Sa2 20:24, was chief overseer of the tributary service. He was so in the time of David also.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

The Chief Ministers of State. - The list is introduced in Kg1 4:1 by the general remark, that "king Solomon was king over all Israel."

Kg1 4:2

The first of the שׂרים, princes, i.e., chief ministers of state or dignitaries, mentioned here is not the commander-in-chief, as under the warlike reign of David (Sa2 8:16; Sa2 20:23), but, in accordance with the peaceful rule of Solomon, the administrator of the kingdom (or prime minister): "Azariah the son of Zadok was הכּהן," i.e., not the priest, but the administrator of the kingdom, the representative of the king before the people; like כּהן in v. 5, where this word is interpreted by המּלך רעה, with this difference, however, arising from the article before כּהן, that Azariah was the Kohen par excellence, that is to say, held the first place among the confidential counsellors of the king, so that his dignity was such as befitted the office of an administrator of the kingdom. Compare the explanation of כּהן at Sa2 8:18. The view of the Vulgate, Luther, and others, which has been revived by Thenius, namely, that כּהן is to be connected as a genitive with בּן־צדוק in opposition to the accents, "Azariah the son of Zadok the priest," is incorrect, and does not even yield any sense, since the connection of these words with the following Elichoreph, etc., is precluded by the absence of the copula Vav, which would be indispensable if Azariah had held the same office as the two brothers Elichoreph and Achijah.

(Note: The objection by which Thenius tries to set aside this argument, which has been already advanced by Houbigant, viz., that "if the first (Azariah) was not also a state scribe, the copula would be inserted, as it is everywhere else from v. 4 onwards when a new office is mentioned," proves nothing at all, because the copula is also omitted in v. 3, where the new office of מזכּיר is introduced.)

Moreover, Azariah the son of Zadok cannot be a grandson of Zadok the high priest, i.e., a son of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, as many infer from 1 Chr. 5:34-35 (Ch1 6:8-9); for, apart from the fact that Zadok's grandson can hardly have been old enough at the time for Solomon to invest him with the chief dignity in the kingdom, which would surely be conferred upon none but men of mature years, we can see no reason why the Azariah mentioned here should not be called the son of Ahimaaz. If the Zadok referred to here was the high priest of that name, Azariah can only have been a brother of Ahimaaz. And there is no real difficulty in the way, since the name Azariah occurs three times in the line of high priests (1 Chr. 5:36, 39), and therefore was by no means rare.

Kg1 4:3

Elichoreph and Achijah, sons of Shisha, who had held the same office under David, were secretaries of state (ספרים: see at Sa2 8:17 and Sa2 20:25, where the different names שׁשׁא = שׁיא and שׂריה are also discussed). - Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the chancellor, as he had already been in the time of David (Sa2 8:17 and Sa2 20:24). The rendering of Thenius, "whilst Jehoshaphat was chancellor," is grammatically impossible.

Kg1 4:4

On Benaiah, compare Kg1 2:35 and the Commentary on Sa2 23:20. On Zadok and Abiathar, see at Sa2 8:17. It appears strange that Abiathar should be named as priest, i.e., as high priest, along with Zadok, since Solomon had deposed him from the priestly office (Kg1 2:27, Kg1 2:35), and we cannot imagine any subsequent pardon. The only possible explanation is that proposed by Theodoret, namely, that Solomon had only deprived him of the ἀρχή, i.e., of the priest's office, but not of the ἱερωσύνη or priestly dignity, because this was hereditary.

(Note: Τὴν ἀρχὴν ἀφείλατο, ου ̓ τῆς ἱερωσύνης ἐγύμνωσεν· τὴν γὰρ τῆς ἱερωσύνης αξίαν οὐκ ἐκ χειροτονίας ἀλλ ̓ ἐκ γονικῆς εἶχον διαδοχῆς. - Theodoret.)

Kg1 4:5

Azariah the son of Nathan was over the נצּבים, i.e., the twelve officers named in vv. 7ff. Zabud the son of Nathan was כּהן (not the son of "Nathan the priest," as Luther and many others render it). כּהן is explained by the epithet appended, המּלך רעה: privy councillor, i.e., confidential adviser of the king. Nathan is not the prophet of that name, as Thenius supposes, but the son of David mentioned in Sa2 5:14. Azariah and Zabud were therefore nephews of Solomon.

Kg1 4:6

Ahishar was הבּית על, over the palace, i.e., governor of the palace, or minister of the king's household (compare Kg1 16:9; Kg2 18:18, and Isa 22:15), an office met with for the first time under Solomon. Adoniram, probably the same person as Adoram in Sa2 20:24, was chief overseer of the tributary service. He was so in the time of David also.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
All Israel - This is spoken with respect to his successors, who were kings only over a part, and that the smallest part of it.

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¹ So king [04428] Solomon [08010] was king [04428] over all Israel [03478].
² And these were the princes [08269] which he had; Azariah [05838] the son [01121] of Zadok [06659] the priest [03548],
³ Elihoreph [0456] and Ahiah [0281], the sons [01121] of Shisha [07894], scribes [05608]; Jehoshaphat [03092] the son [01121] of Ahilud [0286], the recorder [02142].
⁴ And Benaiah [01141] the son [01121] of Jehoiada [03077] was over the host [06635]: and Zadok [06659] and Abiathar [054] were the priests [03548]:
⁵ And Azariah [05838] the son [01121] of Nathan [05416] was over the officers [05324]: and Zabud [02071] the son [01121] of Nathan [05416] was principal officer [03548], and the king's [04428] friend [07463]:
⁶ And Ahishar [0301] was over the household [01004]: and Adoniram [0141] the son [01121] of Abda [05653] was over the tribute [04522].

²⁴ And Adoram [0151] was over the tribute [04522]: and Jehoshaphat [03092] the son [01121] of Ahilud [0286] was recorder [02142]:

¹⁵ Thus saith [0559] the Lord [0136] GOD [03069] of hosts [06635], Go [03212], get [0935] thee unto this treasurer [05532], even unto Shebna [07644], which is over the house [01004], and say,

¹⁸ And when they had called [07121] to the king [04428], there came out [03318] to them Eliakim [0471] the son [01121] of Hilkiah [02518], which was over the household [01004], and Shebna [07644] the scribe [05608], and Joah [03098] the son [01121] of Asaph [0623] the recorder [02142].

⁹ And his servant [05650] Zimri [02174], captain [08269] of half [04276] his chariots [07393], conspired [07194] against him, as he was in Tirzah [08656], drinking [08354] himself drunk [07910] in the house [01004] of Arza [0777] steward of his house [01004] in Tirzah [08656].

⁶ And Ahishar [0301] was over the household [01004]: and Adoniram [0141] the son [01121] of Abda [05653] was over the tribute [04522].

¹⁴ And these be the names [08034] of those that were born [03209] unto him in Jerusalem [03389]; Shammua [08051], and Shobab [07727], and Nathan [05416], and Solomon [08010],

⁵ And Azariah [05838] the son [01121] of Nathan [05416] was over the officers [05324]: and Zabud [02071] the son [01121] of Nathan [05416] was principal officer [03548], and the king's [04428] friend [07463]:

³⁵ And the king [04428] put [05414] Benaiah [01141] the son [01121] of Jehoiada [03077] in his room over the host [06635]: and Zadok [06659] the priest [03548] did the king [04428] put [05414] in the room of Abiathar [054].

²⁷ So Solomon [08010] thrust out [01644] Abiathar [054] from being priest [03548] unto the LORD [03068]; that he might fulfil [04390] the word [01697] of the LORD [03068], which he spake [01696] concerning the house [01004] of Eli [05941] in Shiloh [07887].

¹⁷ And Zadok [06659] the son [01121] of Ahitub [0285], and Ahimelech [0288] the son [01121] of Abiathar [054], were the priests [03548]; and Seraiah [08304] was the scribe [05608];

²⁰ And Benaiah [01141] the son [01121] of Jehoiada [03077], the son [01121] of a valiant [02428] man [0376] [0381], of Kabzeel [06909], who had done many [07227] acts [06467], he slew [05221] two [08147] lionlike men [0739] of Moab [04124]: he went down [03381] also and slew [05221] a lion [0738] in the midst [08432] of a pit [0953] in time [03117] of snow [07950]:

⁴ And Benaiah [01141] the son [01121] of Jehoiada [03077] was over the host [06635]: and Zadok [06659] and Abiathar [054] were the priests [03548]:

²⁴ And Adoram [0151] was over the tribute [04522]: and Jehoshaphat [03092] the son [01121] of Ahilud [0286] was recorder [02142]:

¹⁷ And Zadok [06659] the son [01121] of Ahitub [0285], and Ahimelech [0288] the son [01121] of Abiathar [054], were the priests [03548]; and Seraiah [08304] was the scribe [05608];

²⁵ And Sheva [07864] [07724] was scribe [05608]: and Zadok [06659] and Abiathar [054] were the priests [03548]:

¹⁷ And Zadok [06659] the son [01121] of Ahitub [0285], and Ahimelech [0288] the son [01121] of Abiathar [054], were the priests [03548]; and Seraiah [08304] was the scribe [05608];

³ Elihoreph [0456] and Ahiah [0281], the sons [01121] of Shisha [07894], scribes [05608]; Jehoshaphat [03092] the son [01121] of Ahilud [0286], the recorder [02142].

⁸ And Ahitub [0285] begat [03205] Zadok [06659], and Zadok [06659] begat [03205] Ahimaaz [0290],
⁹ And Ahimaaz [0290] begat [03205] Azariah [05838], and Azariah [05838] begat [03205] Johanan [03110],

¹⁸ And Benaiah [01141] the son [01121] of Jehoiada [03077] was over both the Cherethites [03774] and the Pelethites [06432]; and David's [01732] sons [01121] were chief rulers [03548].

²³ Now Joab [03097] was over all the host [06635] of Israel [03478]: and Benaiah [01141] the son [01121] of Jehoiada [03077] was over the Cherethites [03774] [03746] and over the Pelethites [06432]:

¹⁶ And Joab [03097] the son [01121] of Zeruiah [06870] was over the host [06635]; and Jehoshaphat [03092] the son [01121] of Ahilud [0286] was recorder [02142];

² And these were the princes [08269] which he had; Azariah [05838] the son [01121] of Zadok [06659] the priest [03548],

¹ So king [04428] Solomon [08010] was king [04428] over all Israel [03478].