Chapter 4:
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Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 2 Samuel 2 Kings
1 Kings 4
Complete Concise
An instance of the wisdom God granted to Solomon we had in the
close of the foregoing chapter. In this we have an account of his wealth and
prosperity, the other branch of the promise there made him. We have here, I. The
magnificence of his court, his ministers of state (v. 1-6), and the purveyors of
his household (v. 7-19), and their office (v. 27, 28). II. The provisions for
his table (v. 22, 23). III. The extent of his dominion (v. 21-24). IV. The
numbers, case, and peace, of his subjects (v. 20-25). V. His stables (v. 26).
VI. His great reputation for wisdom and learning (v. 29-34). Thus great was
Solomon, but our Lord Jesus was greater than he (Mt. 12:42), though he took upon
him the form of a servant; for divinity, in its lowest humiliation, infinitely
transcends royalty in its highest elevation.
Verses 1-19
Here we have,
I. Solomon upon his throne (v. 1):
So king Solomon was king,
that is, he was confirmed and established king
over all Israel, and not,
as his successors, only over two tribes. He was a king, that is, he did the work
and duty of a king, with the wisdom God had given him. Those preserve the name
and honour of their place that mind the business of it and make conscience of
it.
II. The great officers of his court, in the choice of whom, no
doubt, his wisdom much appeared. It is observable, 1. That several of them are
the same that were in his father's time. Zadok and Abiathar were then priests
(2 Sa. 20:25), so they were now; only then Abiathar had the precedency, now
Zadok. Jehoshaphat was then recorder, or keeper of the great seal, so he was
now. Benaiah, in his father's time, was a principal man in military affairs,
and so he was now. Shisha was his father's scribe, and his sons were his, v.
3. Solomon, though a wise man, would not affect to be wiser than his father in
this matter. When sons come to inherit their father's wealth, honour, and
power, it is a piece of respect to their memory,
caeteris paribus—where it
can properly be done, to employ those whom they employed, and trust those
whom they trusted. Many pride themselves in being the reverse of their good
parents. 2. The rest were priests' sons. His prime-minister of state was
Azariah
the son of Zadok the priest. Two others of the first rank were the sons of
Nathan the prophet, v. 5. In preferring them he testified the grateful respect
he had for their good father, whom he loved
in the name of a prophet.
III. The purveyors for his household, whose business it was to
send in provisions from several parts of the country, for the king's tables
and cellars (v. 7) and for his stables (v. 27, 28), that thus, 1. His house
might always be well furnished at the best hand. Let great men learn hence good
house-keeping, to be generous in spending according to their ability, but
prudent in providing. It is the character of the virtuous woman that she
bringeth
her food from afar (Prov. 31:14), not far-fetched and dear-bought, but the
contrary, every thing bought where it is cheapest. 2. That thus he himself, and
those who immediately attended him, might be eased of a great deal of care, and
the more closely apply themselves to the business of the state, not troubled
about much serving, provision for that being got ready to their hand. 3. That
thus all the parts of the kingdom might be equally benefited by the taking off
of the commodities that were the productions of their country and the
circulating of the coin. Industry would hereby be encouraged, and consequently
wealth increased, even in those tribes that lay most remote from the court. The
providence of God extends itself to all
places of his dominions (Ps.
103:22); so should the prudence and care of princes. 4. The dividing of this
trust into so many hands was prudent, that no man might be continually burdened
with the care of it nor grow exorbitantly rich with the profit of it, but that
Solomon might have those, in every district, who, having a dependence upon the
court, would be serviceable to him and his interest as there was occasion. These
commissioners of the victualling-office, not for the army or navy (Solomon was
engaged in no war), but for the household, are here named, several of them only
by their surnames, as great men commonly call their servants:
Ben-hur, Ben-dekar,
etc., though several of them have also their proper names prefixed. Two of
them married Solomon's daughters, Ben-Abinadab (v. 11) and Ahimaaz (v. 15),
and no disparagement to them to marry men of business. Better match with the
officers of their father's court that were Israelites than with the sons of
princes that were
strangers to the covenant of promise. The son of Geber
was in Ramoth-Gilead (v. 19), and Geber himself was in the country of Sihon and
Og, which included that and Mahanaim, v. 14. He is therefore said to be
the
only officer in that land, because the other two, mentioned v. 13, 14,
depended on him, and were subordinate to him.
Verses 20-28
Such a kingdom, and such a court, surely never any prince had,
as Solomon's are here described to be.
I. Such a kingdom. Never did the crown of Israel shine so
brightly as it did when Solomon wore it, never in his father's days, never in
the days of any of his successors; nor was that kingdom ever so glorious a type
of the kingdom of the Messiah as it was then. The account here given of it is
such as fully answers the prophecies which we have concerning it in Ps. 72,
which is a psalm for Solomon, but with reference to Christ. 1. The territories
of his kingdom were large and its tributaries many; so it was foretold that he
should
have dominion from sea to sea, Ps. 72:8-11. Solomon reigned not
only over all Israel, who were his subjects by choice, but over all the
neighbouring kingdoms, who were his subjects by constraint. All the princes from
the river Euphrates, north-east to the border of Egypt south-west, not only
added to his honour by doing him homage and holding their crowns from him, but
added to his wealth by serving him, and bringing him presents, v. 21. David, by
his successful wars, compelled them to this subjection, and Solomon, by his
admirable wisdom, made it easy and reasonable; for it is fit that the fool
should be
servant to the wise in heart. If they gave him presents, he
gave them instructions, and still
taught the people knowledge, not only
his own people, but those of other nations: and
wisdom is better than gold.
He had
peace on all sides, v. 24. None of all the nations that were
subject to him offered to shake off his yoke, or to give him any disturbance,
but rather thought themselves happy in their dependence upon him. Herein his
kingdom typified the Messiah's; for to him it is promised that he shall have
the
heathen for his inheritance and that
princes shall worship him,
Isa. 49:6, 7; 53:12. 2. The subjects of his kingdom and its inhabitants, were
many and cheerful. (1.) They were numerous and country was exceedingly populous
(v. 20):
Judah and Israel were many, and that good land was sufficient to
maintain them all.
They were as the sand of the sea in multitude. Now was
fulfilled the promise made to Abraham concerning the increase of his seed (Gen.
22:17), as well as that concerning the extent of their dominion, Gen. 15:18.
This was their strength and beauty, the honour of their prince, the terror of
their enemies, and an advancement of the wealth of the nation. If they grew so
numerous that the place was any where too strait for them, they might remove
with advantage into the countries that were subject to them. God's spiritual
Israel are many, at least they will be so when they come all together, Rev. 7:9.
(2.) They were easy, they dwelt safely, or with confidence and assurance (v.
25), not jealous of their king or of his officers, not disaffected either to him
or one to another, nor under any apprehension or danger from enemies foreign or
domestic. They were happy and knew it, safe and willing to think themselves so.
They dwelt every man under
his vine and fig-tree. Solomon invaded no man's
property, took not to himself their vineyards and olive-yards, as sometimes was
the manner of the king (1 Sa. 8:14), but what they had they could call their
own: he protected every man in the possession and enjoyment of his property.
Those that had vines and fig-trees ate the fruit of them themselves; and so
great was the peace of the country that they might, if they pleased, dwell as
safely under the shadow of them as within the walls of a city. Or, because it
was usual to have
vines by the sides of their houses (Ps. 128:3), they
are said to
dwell under their vines. (3.) They were cheerful in the use
of their plenty,
eating and drinking, and making merry, v. 20. Solomon
did not only keep a good table himself, but enabled all his subjects, according
to their rank, to do so too, and taught them that God gave them their abundance
that they might use it soberly and pleasantly, not that they might hoard it up.
There
is nothing better than for a man to
eat the labour of his hands
(Eccl. 2:24), and that
with a merry heart, Eccl. 9:7. His father, in the
Psalms, had led his people into the comforts of communion with God, and now he
led them into the comfortable use of the good things of this life. This pleasant
posture of Israel's affairs extended, in place, from Dan to Beer-sheba—no
part of the country was exposed nor upon any account uneasy; and it continued a
long time,
all the days of Solomon, without any material interruption. Go
where you would, you might see all the marks of plenty, peace, and satisfaction.
The spiritual peace, and joy, and holy security, of all the faithful subjects of
the Lord Jesus were typified by this.
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.
II. Such a court Solomon kept as can scarcely be paralleled. We
may guess at the vast number of his attendants, and the great resort there was
to him, by the provision that was made daily for his table. Of bread there were
so many measures of flour and meal as, it is computed, would richly serve 3000
men (Carellus computes above 4800 men), and the provision of flesh (v. 23) was
rather more in proportion. What vast quantities were here of beef, mutton, and
venison, and the choicest of all
fatted things, as some read that which
we translate
fatted fowl! Ahasuerus, once in his reign, made a
great
feast, to
show the riches of his kingdom, Esth. 1:3, 4. But it was
much more the honour of Solomon that he kept a constant table and a very noble
one, not of dainties or deceitful meats (he himself witnessed against them, Prov.
23:3), but substantial food, for the entertainment of those who came to hear his
wisdom. Thus Christ fed those whom he taught, 5000 at a time, more than ever
Solomon's table would entertain at once: and all believers have in him a
continual feast. Herein he far outdoes Solomon, that he feeds all his subjects,
not with the bread that perishes, but
with that which endures to eternal
life. It added much both to the strength and glory of Solomon's kingdom
that he had such abundance of horses, 40,000 for chariots and 12,000 for his
troops, 1000 horse, perhaps, in every tribe, for the preserving of the public
peace, v. 26. God had commanded that their king should not multiply horses (Deu.
17:16), nor, according to the account here given, considering the extent and
wealth of Solomon's kingdom, did he multiply horses in proportion to his
neighbours; for we find even the Philistines bringing into the field 30,000
chariots (1 Sa. 13:5) and the Syrians at least 40,000 horse, 2 Sa. 10:18. The
same officers that provided for his house provided also for his stable, v. 27,
28. Every one knew his place, and work, and time; and so this great court was
kept without confusion. Solomon, that had vast incomes, lived at a vast expense,
and perhaps wrote that with application to himself, Eccl. 5:11.
When goods
increase those are increased that eat them; and what good is there to the owners
thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes, unless withal they
have the satisfaction of doing good with them?
Verses 29-34
Solomon's wisdom was more his glory than his wealth, and here
we have a general account of it.
I. The fountain of his wisdom:
God gave it him, v. 29. He
owns it himself. Prov. 2:6,
The Lord giveth wisdom. He gives the powers
of reason (Job 38:36), preserves and improves them. The ordinary advances of
them are owing to his providence, the sanctification of them to his grace, and
this extraordinary pitch at which they arrived in Solomon to a special grant of
his favour to him in answer to prayer.
II. The fulness of it:
He had wisdom and understanding,
exceeding much, great knowledge of distant countries and the histories of
former times, a quickness of thought, strength of memory, and clearness of
judgment, such as never any man had. It is called
largeness of heart; for
the heart is often put for the intellectual powers. He had a vast compass of
knowledge, could take things entire, and had an admirable faculty of laying
things together. Some, by his
largeness of heart, understand his courage
and boldness, and that great assurance with which he delivered his dictates and
determinations. Or it may be meant of his disposition to do good with his
knowledge. He was very free and communicative, had the gift of utterance as well
as wisdom, was as free of his learning as he was of his meat, and grudged
neither to any that were about him. Note, 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; and this is
from the hand of God, Eccl. 2:24. He shall
enlarge
the heart, Ps. 119:32. The greatness of Solomon's wisdom is illustrated by
comparison. Chaldea and Egypt were nations famous for learning; thence the
Greeks borrowed theirs; but the greatest scholars of these nations came short of
Solomon, v. 30. If nature excels art, much more does grace. The knowledge which
God gives by special favour goes beyond that which man gets by his own labour.
Some wise men there were in Solomon's time, who were in great repute,
particularly Heman, and others who were Levites, and employed by David in the
temple-music, 1 Chr. 15:19. Heman was
his seer in the word of God, 1 Chr.
25:5. Chalcol and Darda were own brothers, and they also were noted for learning
and wisdom. But
Solomon excelled them all (v. 30), he out-did them and
confounded them; his counsel was much more valuable.
III. The fame of it. It was talked of
in all nations round
about. His great wealth and glory made his wisdom much more illustrious, and
have him those opportunities of showing it which those cannot have that live in
poverty and obscurity. The jewel of wisdom may receive great advantage by the
setting of it.
IV. The fruits of it; by these the tree is known: he did not
bury his talent, but showed his wisdom,
1. In his compositions. Those in divinity, written by divine
inspiration, are not mentioned here, for they are extant, and will remain to the
world's end monuments of his wisdom, and are, as other parts of scripture, of
use to make us
wise unto salvation. But, besides these, it appears by
what he spoke, or dictated to be written from him, (1.) That he was a moralist,
and a man of great prudence, for he spoke 3000
proverbs, wise sayings,
apophthegms, of admirable use for the conduct of human life. The world is much
governed by proverbs, and was never better furnished with useful ones than by
Solomon. Whether those proverbs of Solomon that we have were any part of the
3000 is uncertain. (2.) That he was a poet and a man of great wit:
His songs
were 1005, of which one only is extant, because that only was divinely
inspired, which is therefore called his
Song of songs. His wise
instructions were communicated by proverbs, that they might be familiar to those
whom he designed to teach and ready on all occasions, and by
songs, that
they might be pleasant and move the affections. (3.) That he was a natural
philosopher, and a man of great learning and insight into the mysteries of
nature. From his own and others' observations and experience, he wrote both of
plants and animals (v. 33), descriptions of their natures and qualities, and
(some think) of the medicinal use of them.
2. In his conversation. There came persons from all parts, who
were more inquisitive after knowledge than their neighbours, to
hear the
wisdom of Solomon, v. 34. Kings that had heard of it sent their ambassadors
to hear it and to bring them instructions from it. Solomon's court was the
staple of learning, and the rendezvous of philosophers, that is, the lovers of
wisdom, who all came to light their candle at his lamp and to borrow from him.
Let those who magnify the modern learning above that of the ancients produce
such a treasure of knowledge any where in these latter ages as that was which
Solomon was master of; yet this puts an honour upon human learning, that Solomon
was praised for it, and recommends it to the great men of the earth, as well
worthy their diligent search. But,
Lastly, Solomon was, herein, a type of Christ,
in whom
are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and hidden for use;
for he is
made of God to us wisdom.
Chapter 4:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 2 Samuel 2 Kings
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
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