1 Kings 4.
WE are given the names of those who were Solomon’s princes, the men who were concerned with the different departments of his government. If the deposed priest, Abiathar, be omitted, there were ten of them, each holding a different office, except that two were scribes. Then there were twelve who took turns in providing for a month, from their various districts, the food for the king and his numerous household. The country was prosperous, and at peace with the neighboring nations during Solomon’s reign, and his rule extended over all kingdoms, from the river (Euphrates) on the east, to the land of the Philistines bordering the Mediterranean sea, and southward to the border of Egypt. This embraced just about the area given to Abraham in Genesis 15:1818In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: (Genesis 15:18), but the subjection of these other nations was only during Solomon’s reign.
The food required to supply Solomon’s household for one day was as much as 400 pounds of flour and meal, 30 oxen, 100 sheep, and deer and fowl, which shows that he had a very large number of attendants and others attached to him, beside his own immediate family. Forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen (verse 26) show that there was quite an army under Solomon.
Three things are said of Solomon as given him by God: “Wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the seashore.” His wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east, and the wisdom of Egypt; he was wiser than all men. He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were a thousand and five. The book of Proverbs and the Song of Solomon and Ecclesiastes are all that have been preserved of his wisdom.
It is a striking thing that this wonderfully endowed man, rich and powerful, wise beyond compare, to whom came people from all lands to hear his wisdom, should sum up life, apart from the true knowledge of God in these words:
“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
ML 05/08/1927