Read Verse Keyword Strong's
Prev

1 Kings 4:7

Next

And 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.

And Solomon {H8010} had twelve {H8147}{H6240} officers {H5324} over all Israel {H3478}, which provided victuals {H3557} for the king {H4428} and his household {H1004}: each man {H259} his month {H2320} in a year {H8141} made provision {H3557}.

Shlomo had twelve officers over all Isra'el who were in charge of providing food and supplies for the king and his household; each one was in charge of provisions for one month out of the year.

Solomon had twelve governors over all Israel to provide food for the king and his household. Each one would arrange provisions for one month of the year,

And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided victuals for the king and his household: each man had to make provision for a month in the year.

Commentary

1 Kings 4:7 introduces us to a key aspect of King Solomon's administrative genius and the immense scale of his kingdom during its golden age. This verse details the establishment of a sophisticated system designed to sustain the vast royal household.

Context

Following God's granting of wisdom and riches to Solomon, his reign is characterized by unprecedented prosperity and peace. To manage the resources of a rapidly expanding and opulent kingdom, Solomon implemented a highly organized bureaucracy. This verse describes the backbone of his logistical support: twelve chief officers. These officers were strategically placed "over all Israel," indicating a unified kingdom under Solomon's direct and efficient control, stretching from Dan to Beersheba (1 Kings 4:25).

Key Themes

  • Solomon's Administrative Wisdom: This system demonstrates Solomon's practical wisdom in governance, ensuring the smooth operation and sustenance of his extensive court. It highlights his ability to organize and delegate effectively.
  • Royal Provision and Sustenance: The primary duty of these officers was to provide "victuals" (food and supplies) for the king and his household. The rotating monthly duty ensured a continuous and fresh supply, reflecting the immense daily needs of the royal family, numerous officials, servants, and even animals mentioned in subsequent verses (1 Kings 4:22-23).
  • National Unity and Organization: The fact that these officers covered "all Israel" underscores the centralized nature of Solomon's kingdom. Each region bore its share of responsibility, contributing to the central government's needs, which was a form of taxation in kind.
  • Prosperity and Blessing: The very existence and smooth operation of such a large-scale provision system are testaments to the immense wealth and stability that characterized Solomon's reign, a direct fulfillment of God's promises.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV term "victuals" is an archaic word for food or provisions. It simply refers to the necessary supplies for daily living. The phrase "each man his month in a year made provision" clearly indicates a systematic, rotational responsibility, ensuring that no single region or officer was unduly burdened throughout the entire year, a fair and equitable approach to resource collection.

Practical Application

This verse, while describing ancient governance, offers timeless principles. It underscores the importance of good organization, planning, and shared responsibility in any large endeavor, whether a nation, a business, or even a family. Just as Solomon meticulously planned for the needs of his household, so too are we called to exercise wisdom and diligence in managing our resources and responsibilities. The principle of orderly provision and contribution for the common good remains relevant today, reflecting God's nature as a God of order and provision.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Chronicles 27:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ Now the children of Israel after their number, [to wit], the chief fathers and captains of thousands and hundreds, and their officers that served the king in any matter of the courses, which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year, of every course [were] twenty and four thousand.

  • 1 Chronicles 27:15 (2 votes)

    The twelfth [captain] for the twelfth month [was] Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel: and in his course [were] twenty and four thousand.