This chapter tells us of the internal order and of the splendor of Solomon’s kingdom, but also of its moral glory characterized by the wisdom of the king.
All Israel was gathered under his scepter (1 Kings 4:11So king Solomon was king over all Israel. (1 Kings 4:1)), thus forming one peaceful unity. Such had been unknown during his father’s reign, as the seven years at Hebron, the rebellion of Absalom, that of Sheba the son of Bichri, and that of Adonijah prove. Now everything is in order and worthy of this glorious reign, but we find only eleven princes (1 Kings 4:2-62And these were the princes which he had; Azariah the son of Zadok the priest, 3Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder. 4And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests: 5And Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers: and Zabud the son of Nathan was principal officer, and the king's friend: 6And Ahishar was over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute. (1 Kings 4:2‑6)). The perfect order in relation to government on earth, represented by the number twelve, had not yet come and would not come until the advent of One greater than Solomon.
Azariah the son of Zadok heads the princes. “He it is that executed the priest’s office in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem” (1 Chron. 6:1010And Johanan begat Azariah, (he it is that executed the priest's office in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem:) (1 Chronicles 6:10)). The very highest function falls to him. The temple is to become the center of the whole order of Solomon’s kingdom, just as it will be on the earth at the establishment of the millennial kingdom by Christ (Ezek. 40-48). Abiathar himself (1 Kings 4:44And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests: (1 Kings 4:4)), who had been driven from the priesthood, is counted among the princes alongside Zadok. He had carried the ark and shared all David’s afflictions, and though he was removed from his office, his lord did not wish to deprive him of the dignity which he was bestowing upon all those who had suffered with the rejected king.
Among Solomon’s twelve stewards (1 Kings 4:7-197And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, which provided victuals for the king and his household: each man his month in a year made provision. 8And these are their names: The son of Hur, in mount Ephraim: 9The son of Dekar, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Beth-shemesh, and Elon-beth-hanan: 10The son of Hesed, in Aruboth; to him pertained Sochoh, and all the land of Hepher: 11The son of Abinadab, in all the region of Dor; which had Taphath the daughter of Solomon to wife: 12Baana the son of Ahilud; to him pertained Taanach and Megiddo, and all Beth-shean, which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel, from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah, even unto the place that is beyond Jokneam: 13The son of Geber, in Ramoth-gilead; to him pertained the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead; to him also pertained the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, threescore great cities with walls and brazen bars: 14Ahinadab the son of Iddo had Mahanaim: 15Ahimaaz was in Naphtali; he also took Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wife: 16Baanah the son of Hushai was in Asher and in Aloth: 17Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar: 18Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin: 19Geber the son of Uri was in the country of Gilead, in the country of Sihon king of the Amorites, and of Og king of Bashan; and he was the only officer which was in the land. (1 Kings 4:7‑19)) we find two who had married daughters of the king, a singular honor granted to the son of that same Abinadab who had received the ark and had guarded it for twenty years in his house on the hill. To be of the family which had religiously watched over the ark of the Lord was a title to nobility in the king’s eyes.
An equal honor is granted to Ahimaaz, son of Zadok, faithful to David at the risk of his life, and concerning whom the old king had given this testimony: “He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.” He was the first to announce to David the victory which restored his throne to him and assured him of inheriting it according to God.
1 Kings 4:20-2820Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry. 21And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life. 22And Solomon's provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal, 23Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallowdeer, and fatted fowl. 24For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him. 25And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, all the days of Solomon. 26And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. 27And those officers provided victual for king Solomon, and for all that came unto king Solomon's table, every man in his month: they lacked nothing. 28Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries brought they unto the place where the officers were, every man according to his charge. (1 Kings 4:20‑28) describe the condition of the people under Solomon’s reign and the character of this reign. “Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude” (1 Kings 4:2020Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry. (1 Kings 4:20)). The promise made to Abraham after he had offered his son upon the altar was now realized (Gen. 22:1717That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; (Genesis 22:17)), at least in part, for his seed was to be “as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore.” This promise will not be fully realized until Christ’s millennial reign. Then as far as that which concerns Israel, the two parts of the kingdom, the heavenly and the earthly, shall be established forever in perfect harmony. Here the people is as numerous as the sand by the sea — restraining the surrounding peoples and keeping them within their bounds. Solomon’s subjects ate and drank and made merry (1 Kings 4:2020Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry. (1 Kings 4:20)). They had material abundance; there were no more needs which were not satisfied. Joy filled their hearts; security reigned everywhere (1 Kings 4:2525And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, all the days of Solomon. (1 Kings 4:25)). Everyone had his possession and was dwelling under his vine and under his fig tree. That which men vainly seek in this world of iniquity where Christ was cast out shall be fully realized when the Lord, acknowledged by all, shall reign over all the kingdoms of the earth (1 Kings 4:21, 2421And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life. (1 Kings 4:21)
24For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him. (1 Kings 4:24)). Moreover, this powerful reign shall be a reign of universal peace: “He had peace on all sides round about him” (1 Kings 4:2424For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him. (1 Kings 4:24)). All the prosperity, all the resources of the kingdom serve to exalt the king, unite to bring out his glory (1 Kings 4:22-23, 26-2822And Solomon's provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal, 23Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallowdeer, and fatted fowl. (1 Kings 4:22‑23)
26And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. 27And those officers provided victual for king Solomon, and for all that came unto king Solomon's table, every man in his month: they lacked nothing. 28Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries brought they unto the place where the officers were, every man according to his charge. (1 Kings 4:26‑28)).
But that which characterizes this universal dominion above all was its moral aspect, much more glorious than its material aspect (1 Kings 4:29-3429And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. 30And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about. 32And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five. 33And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. 34And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom. (1 Kings 4:29‑34)). “God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart even as the sand that is on the sea shore” (1 Kings 4:2929And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. (1 Kings 4:29)). God had given Solomon wisdom, the moral discernment that applies itself to all things, to the good, to the evil, to the various circumstances of man, and the knowledge of the manner of conducting oneself in relation to these things. This moral discernment is not to be found apart from the fear of God which, as we have seen, characterized Solomon at the beginning of his career. The Word of God is the means of communicating this wisdom to us; that is why Solomon asked God for “an understanding heart.” This wisdom has found its expression in the Proverbs of Solomon, themselves become the Word of God.
“And understanding exceeding much.” Solomon’s understanding was as great as his wisdom, to which it was intimately bound. Understanding is the capacity to take in and to appropriate the thoughts of God in such a way that one is able to communicate them to others. Beyond that — “largeness of heart even as the sand that is on the sea shore,” a heart capable of embracing all his people (cf. 1 Kings 4:2020Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry. (1 Kings 4:20)), identifying Israel with himself, providing all their needs according to his love, responding to all their interests and making them his own. Does not this speak to us of Christ, of that which He will fully manifest when He shall introduce us into the glorious rest of His presence, when His heart, divinely large, shall embrace us all; when “He will rest in His love” (Zeph. 3:1717The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17))?
The extent of Solomon’s wisdom is described for us in 1 Kings 4:33-3433And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. 34And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom. (1 Kings 4:33‑34). During his reign there was much more than mere physical rule. His wisdom had sway over all things. “And he spoke of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon, even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spoke also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes” (1 Kings 4:3333And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. (1 Kings 4:33)). Adam had rules physically “over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth” (Gen. 1:2626And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (Genesis 1:26)). God had delivered into Noah’s hands “every beast of the earth, and... every fowl of the air... all that moveth upon the earth, and... all the fishes of the sea” (Gen. 9:22And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. (Genesis 9:2)). Later the God of heaven gave “the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven” into the hands of the king of the Gentiles and made him ruler over them and over men. All this is not said of Solomon, but his wisdom held sway over all these things, from the cedar to the hyssop, from the beasts to the fishes. He understood their life, the reason for their being, their relationships among themselves and their interrelationships with the whole of creation, the examples God was furnishing by their means for the moral life of mankind; and he spoke of all these things. Modern science, with all its high pretensions, is nothing but darkness compared with these certainties. But Solomon did not possess universal dominion under these two aspects. This is reserved for a Greater than Solomon, for the Second Adam: Thou hast “crowned him with glory and honor. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: all sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; the fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the sea” (Psa. 8:5-85For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor. 6Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: 7All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; 8The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. (Psalm 8:5‑8)). It is also said of Him: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing” (Rev. 5:1212Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. (Revelation 5:12)).
Solomon’s dominion was but a weak type of Christ’s, who will have “the uttermost parts of the earth” (Psa. 2:88Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. (Psalm 2:8)) for His possession. The king of Israel had dominion “over all the region on this side of the river” “unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt” (1 Kings 4:24, 2124For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him. (1 Kings 4:24)
21And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life. (1 Kings 4:21)). In sum, these were the limits the Lord had assigned to Israel in Joshua 1:44From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast. (Joshua 1:4); but when it came to the wisdom of Solomon, these limits were exceeded by far: All people came to hear him; all the kings of the earth came to inquire of him (1 Kings 4:3434And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom. (1 Kings 4:34)), and we see in type that which is said of Christ: “I will... give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.”
“Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol” (1 Kings 4:30-3130And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about. (1 Kings 4:30‑31)). We have no other mention of the two latter except in 1 Chronicles 2:66And the sons of Zerah; Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara: five of them in all. (1 Chronicles 2:6), but we have an indication of the wisdom of Ethan and of Heman in the Word. Heman the Ezrahite is the inspired author of Psalm 88; Ethan the Ezrahite, that of Psalm 89. Now, what kind of wisdom is found in these two psalms? Psalm 88 has a very special character which is found to the same degree in no other psalm. It shows us Israel, convicted of having broken the law, and under the consequences of this disobedience. Nothing could be worse! Death, the grave, being cut off, and darkness are Israel’s lot. Moreover, the wrath of God weighs upon her and she is afflicted with all His waves. She is abandoned by men and is shut up. She cries, she cries in vain (Psa. 88:1, 9, 131<<A Song or Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite.>> O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee: (Psalm 88:1)
9Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: Lord, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee. (Psalm 88:9)
13But unto thee have I cried, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee. (Psalm 88:13)). She is rejected; God hides His face from her. The intense heat of the Lord’s wrath has passed over her; she is overwhelmed by His terror. God has removed from her all who might have sympathized with her. And the conclusion of all this? None! Not a ray of hope! A soul who cries out, and God who does not answer!
Now, let us note, this Psalm is the only record given us of the wisdom of Heman. This is very great wisdom, indeed, to consider the responsibility of man relative to the demands of righteousness and divine holiness; wisdom which ascertains that there is no way out of this position, and that the law, the measure of this responsibility, must cast man into the darkness of death, forever far from the face of God.
Through wisdom Heman reached the conclusion which God desired to teach man by the law of Moses. Has not this man of God’s spirit already been convinced of the experience to which the long centuries of man’s history must lead and which should form the basis for the gospel? In reading this Psalm does one not seem to read the description of the law which kills the sinner which we find in the Epistle to the Romans?
In Psalm 89 the wisdom of Ethan instructs us. What does this other wise man speak of? Of grace! This Psalm is about the unchangeable promises of God and the sure mercies of David. The people’s relationship to God on the footing of the law can only lead to the darkness of judgment and death; their relation on the basis of the covenant of grace made with David leads to this: “Mercy shall be built up forever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens” (Psa. 89:22For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens. (Psalm 89:2)) in the heavens, where nothing shall ever touch it. This magnificent Psalm is the hymn of grace and of all the glory of God which this grace has established and brought to light.
Righteousness, judgment, mercy, truth, faithfulness, and the power of God are celebrated as manifested in a person, Himself the center and the key to this Psalm: the True David, exalted as One chosen out of the people, the Lord’s Anointed (Psa. 89:19-2019Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. 20I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: (Psalm 89:19‑20)), He who is to be made the First-born, higher than the kings of the earth (Psa. 89:2727Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. (Psalm 89:27)), He from whom He will not withdraw His loving kindness, whom His faithfulness shall not fail (Psa. 89:3333Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. (Psalm 89:33)), He whose seed shall endure forever, whose throne shall be as the sun before the Lord (Psa. 89:3636His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. (Psalm 89:36))!
Doubtless, in this marvelous picture of grace seen in the True David and in His glorious throne, the question of the responsibility of David’s sons (Psa. 89:30-3230If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; 31If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; 32Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. (Psalm 89:30‑32)) cannot be absent, nor the consequences which result for the people who have failed (Psa. 89:38-5138But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed. 39Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant: thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground. 40Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin. 41All that pass by the way spoil him: he is a reproach to his neighbors. 42Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries; thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice. 43Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword, and hast not made him to stand in the battle. 44Thou hast made his glory to cease, and cast his throne down to the ground. 45The days of his youth hast thou shortened: thou hast covered him with shame. Selah. 46How long, Lord? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire? 47Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain? 48What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah. 49Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses, which thou swarest unto David in thy truth? 50Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy servants; how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people; 51Wherewith thine enemies have reproached, O Lord; wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed. (Psalm 89:38‑51)), but this dark scene ends in blessing: “Blessed be the Lord forevermore. Amen and amen” (Psa. 89:5252Blessed be the Lord for evermore. Amen, and Amen. (Psalm 89:52)).
Such are the instructions of wisdom by the mouth of these two men of God, one showing the system of the law which ends in the curse and the darkness of death, the other the system of grace based upon the person of the True David and ending in eternal glory. The first proclaims the end of the old man, the second the endless reign of the new man.
What then must have been the wisdom of Solomon to surpass that of these two wise men?