Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 1 · 1 Kings · Chapter 4
CHAP. IIII.
HAving shewed a proof of Solomons wisedome in the case of the two Harlots in the former Chapter, this is spent in shewing his riches and glory, his gift of wisdom being further amplified also, that it might appear to be so done unto him, as the Lord had there promised. For to his Kingly glory pertained this, that he reigned over all Israel, v. 1. and had so many noble Princes under him, v. 2, 3, &c. the multitude of his subjects, v. 20. the extent of his dominion, v. 21. and the large provision spent daily in his court, v. 22, 23. together with the great multitude of his chariots, and horses, v. 26. 2 Chron. 1. 14. Touching his riches, what here is omitted, is shewed 2 Chron. 1. 15. they were so great, that gold and silver were as plentifull as stones in the street in his dayes. Lastly, that his wisedome might the more appear, it is extolled v. 29, 30. above the wisedome of all the wise of the East and of the Egyptians, &c. And for a further proof, it is shewed v. 32. his great number of proverbs and songs, and discourses of the nature of all things are meationed.
And Solomon was King over all Israel.] That is, there being no division of Iudah V. 1.from the rest, as had been in Davids time; nor conspiratours to trouble his universall reigne.
These are the Princes which he had, Azariah the sonne of Zadok the Preist.] V. 2.Here because no office is ascribed to Azariah, as is to all that are named after him, some have thought that the word Preist is to bee understood of him, as if it had some have thought that the word Preist is to bee understood of him, as if it had been said, Azariah the Preist the sonne of Zadok holding him to have been the Dyonisius.Kings houshould Chaplaine, and this reading is followed by Lyra, Versio aldina, & Regia; and in 8 manuscripts, as saith Francis Lucas. But both the Vulg. lat. Pagnin, and Vatablus joyne it to Zadok thus, Zadok Sacerdotis. Iunius rendreth Iunius.the word translated Priest, president; and saith, that he was the son of some other Zadok, and not of the Priest Zadok. Tostatus and Cajetan think that he was one of the Kings scribes, and therefore referre the word scribes both to him, and to the other two named next after him. But I hold with P. Martyr that he was not P. Martyr.one of his Scribes, for David had but one; and therefore if Solomon had two, it is not to be thought that he had more, and the verse wherein he is named, is distinguished from that wherein the other two are named. Moreover the word foreign doth plainly shew that he was his Preist, for so it most commonly signifieth; and not a president, as Iunius would have it: and this is plaine also, because his father was a Preist; neither can I see any reason why he should say that it was some other Zadok, seeing we read of none of this name before, but the high Preist only: yet with the Hebrew Expositour it is to be held that he was not his immediate sonne, but the sonne of his sonne Ahimaaz. He would have a peculiar Priest saith Martyr, to offer prayers dayly for him, and when he came before the Lord in publick to offer his sacrifices by themselves, and not amongst those of the people.
Elihoreph, and Ahijah the sonnes of Sisa Scribes.] What the Scribes office was, V. 3.see before 2 Sam. 20. 25. where Sejah is said to be Davids scribe, whom Martyr thinketh to be the same with this Sisa; and if so, his sonnes continued in the same office in Solomons time. Touching the offices of Iehosaphat also, and of Benajah who are named next; see 2 Sam. 20. 25. But whereas Zadok and Abiathar are said to be Preists, when as Abiathar was at the beginning of Solomons reign put down from the Preisthood; occasion is given hereby of divers conjectures, some thinking that he served still upon request made to the King as an ordinary Priest, some that he at sometimes executed the office of the high Preist when he was unclean; as R. L. Ben Gerson: some that he was another man of the same name, as Kimhi. Others that he is so called still, and had onelyonly the title, but executed not the office; and this last I think with Martyr to be most probable. For if he had been imployed P. Martyr.as an ordinary Preist, why should he be named with the high Preist Zadok more then any of the rest? and if in the case of uncleanesse happening at any time unto Zadok, he executed the high Preists office; why was there not one provided from the beginning in the like case to doe the like: and touching another of the same name, it is a meer conjecture.
And Azariah the sonne of Nathan was over those that attended upon the King.] V. 5.that is, those of his houshold, but whether he were the sonne of Nathan the Prophet, or of Nathan the Kings brother is uncertain, but most think, that he was the prophet Nathans son, with whom Solomon had been brought up, and therefore he favoure him so much, as to preferre him before others, that were about him. And Zabud the sonne of Nathan the Priest, the kings friend. This man also is by the most held to be the sonne of Nathan the prophet, by his familiarity with Solomon in his youth, with whom he was brought up in his fathers house, attaining to this friendship; whereas he is called a priest, it is not to be understood, as if he were of the tribe of Levi, but as other princes are sometimes called by this name foreign, which signifieth a priest or prince, 2 Sam. 9. 4. as Iunius divideth the chapter, but according to the common dividing, 2 Sam. 8. 18.
Ahishar was over his house, and Adoniram the son of Abda over the tribute.] V. 6.Of Adoram, who was over the tribute in Davids time see before, 2 Sam. 20. 24.
And Solomon had 12. Princes over all Israel, who made provision for the King V. 7.and his house, every one a monethmonth in the year.] These twelve were so seated, as may be gathered from the description of their countries here following, as that each one of them might most conveniently furnish the King from his countrey with provision for his monethmonth, and it was aboundance which was spent in his court every monethmonth, as will afterwards appear v. 22, 23. so as that there was need to gather it from all parts of his kingdom. But it is not to be thought, saith Martyr, that this provision was taken up without paying a just price therefore, P. Martyr.seeing if otherwise the people had been exacted upon, they would have groaned under the burden where as now they are said to have bin eating and drinking and rejoycing, v. 20. If any man shall wonder, how such aboundance of provision should be spent daily in Solomon's court, it is to be understood that he had not onelyonly his houshold servants to maintain, but many men for the warres, and to defend his kingdome; and the retinue of wives and concubines with their attendants, was excessive. Whereas two amongst these Princes are said to have married two of Solomons daughters, it is to be understood as spoken by anticipation, because hee could not yet have daughters marriageable being himself so young, but it is meant, that afterwards when they were grown up, they took them for their wives.
Iudah and Israel were many as the sand upon the sea shore.] This is spoken hyperbolically V. 20.to set forth their excessive number to the greater glory of their King, to whom it is a glory to have a multitude of subjects.
Solomon reigned over all kingdomes from the river to the land of the Philistines, V. 21.and to the border of Egypt.] By this river Iunius understandeth Euphrates, from whence to the Philistines land which lay South, seemeth to be the latitude of the countrey; or if Palestine lay West, the longitude: and then the latitude was from Egypt South, to mount Libanus, North. P. Martyr.
And the provision for Solomons house for one day, was 30. Cores of fine flowre, and V. 22.60. Cores of bread. corn.] A Core was 10. Ephaes or bushels, but according to Budaeus, an Ephah was a bushel and a peck, according to others, a bushell wanting H. B. Patriarks travels.a pottle. If it be taken for a bushell and a Core was 10. then 30. Cores amounted to 300. bushels, and 60 to 600. all together 900. And forasmuch as an Ephah contained 10. Omers, and an Omer was allowed for one person for a day, when they were sed with Manna and nothing else, but with other meat, as now they were Exod. 16. 36.fed, half so much would suffice, there could not be sewer then 20. fed with an Ephah, and with 900. Ephaes then were fed eighteen thousand at the least, which sheweth the greatnesse of Solomons court. Lyra makes these measures a great Lyra.deal lesse, that it may seem the more credible, saying, that a core was but 30. measures, and that a measure was but a little quantity, seeing Ruth carryed away from Boaz his threshing floor 6. measures of barley. And Sallianus, who acknowledgeth Sallianus.that a Core containeth 10. Ephahs, addeth, or 30. measures, saying that a measure sufficed a day for one person, and therefore 90. cores being 2700. measures, there were no more persons fed with this provision but 2700. But it being granted, that a Core contained 10. Ephaes, not 3. but 20. persons might well be fed with an Ephah and other meat together, seeing it is plain, that an Ephah was 10. Omers, and then the whole number must needs be 18000. at the least, as was said before. Now in these large daily expences of provision, it is not to be thought, as Martyr P. Martyr.saith, that Solomon sinned by excesse, for it is spoken to his commendation and the setting forth of his glory; and God by his example would teach that the riches of this world are at his disposing; and when it seemeth good unto him, he can extraordinarily inrich his servants; and naturall men will not be taught this but by example; for when in the primitive Church christians were poore, the heathen said sorely their God was a weak and poore God, because otherwise he would have inriched them. And that in all this expence there was no excesse may be gathered, because there is no mention made amongst all his provisions of wine, which amongst those that exceed is wont to be most plentifull. Other great Princes are noted in histories to have been unreasonably profuse in their feastings, as Lucius Verus a Romman the sonne of Marchs Antoninus, who spent at one feast 6000 Sestertii, and one Sestertium was 7 pound 16 shillings 3 pence, which Antoninus hearing said, that the common wealth of Rome should susteine great losse if another such feast were made. Caligula would have his bread guilded to spend the more, and M. Antonius contended with Cleopatra, in prodigall spending upon a banquet.
For he reigned over every place beyond the river from Thizpah to Azzah, &c.] V. 24.Here the extent of Solomons kingdome is set forth in other termes then before, v. 21. for there it was bounded by the river at one end, and the Philistines countrey at the other, but thereby was meant onelyonly the kingdomes inhabited by Iudah and Israel in the land of Canaan, here the whole length is set forth beyond the river Iordan also, where not onelyonly Israelites but other nations inhabited to Azza or Gaza, which was of the Philistines, and this Thizpah saith Ierom, lay Eastward, and Azzah Hieronym. de loc…s H…br. Iunius. Chron. 9. 26.Westward; although Tostatus saith, North and South. Thizpah, saith Junius is otherwise by historians called Taphach lying at the river Euphrates, being since called Amphipolis. Plin. lib. 5. nat. hist. c. 24. so that hereby we may gather his kingdome to have been exceeding great. The Hebrewes, saith Pellican, will have by Pellican.these two the uttermost parts of the world meant, holding that Solomon reigned over all countries of the whole world. This indeed is true touching Christ, who was by Solomon figured out, but his limits were not so large, and as the people of Israel then enjoyed peace, which is set forth in the next words.
Iudah and Israel dwelt safely every one under his own vine and figtree from Dan to V. 25.Beersheba.] so by Christ commeth to all the subjects of his kingdome the greatest peace of all, the peace of conscience and everlasting rest. For the limits here named, Dan lay farthest North of all the land of Israel, and Beersheba farthest South.Junius. V. 26. See also ch. 10. 26.
And Solomon had 40000 stables of horses, and 12000 horses.] 2 Chron. 1. 14. it is said, he had 1400 Chariots, and 12000 horsemen. It is to be understood, that many of the horses before spoken of were for these chariots, and the rest for others of his retinue to ride upon. 2 Chron. 9. 25, It is said, that Solomon had 4000. stables of horses, here 40000. This difference may thus be reconciled, here the partitions in the stables are to be understood, there standing in one but one horse, as is the manner in the stables of many great persons; there the whole stables, whereof every one contained 10. such partititions, so Lyra and Iunius. If any man shall ask what Solomon did with so many horses, it is answered, that he used some of them Lyra.for the defence of his kingdome, some for carriages and some for his servants to Iunius. Pellican.ride upon; they being placed for these ends in severall parts of the kingdom.
But God gave Solomon very much wisdome and understanding, and largenesse of V. 29.heart, as the sand upon the sea shore.] Some, saith Martyr, will have the largenesse of Solomons heart compared to the sea-shore, because as that comprehends innumerable P. Martyr.grains of sand, so his heart comprehended innumerable notions of all sorts; others, because the most vast sea is terminated with the shore, so all knowledge was contained within the heart of Solomon. But he saith, that the comparison is made in respect of the largenesse of the sea shore, it being a spacious plain, that compasseth the sea round about. I think, that nothing else is meant, but that as the sea-shore abounds with innumerable sands, so did his heart abound with all kindes of knowledge, none that lived abounding herein like unto him, which is further expressed in the comparisons and declarations here following, as no place abounds with sands like the sea-shore: Thus also Pellican, who applying this to Pellican.the true Solomon Christ Iesus, saith, it was aboundantly verified in him, because in in him were hid all the treasures of wisdome.
And the wisdome of Solomon excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East, and of V. 20.the Egyptians.] By the wise men of the East are meant the Magitians, Chaldeans and Astrologers, and all that were the finders out of the nature of things: for to attain this knowledge many travailed farre, as Pythagoras, Empedocles, Demuritus, Plato, &c. And to shew that the East was the place, where wise men, who were seen into greatest secrets, were, it is said Matth. 2. that when Christ was born there came wise men out of the East. For the wise men of Egypt here also were Magitians, whom Pharaoh called for, to do by their skill such wonders as Moses did. These were greatly seen into the secrets of nature, and if there were any skill in picture-making aptly to represent things, they had it. But Solomon excelled all these, as being of more exquisite understanding, then they, as Daniel afterwards excelled the Chaldeans of the king of Babylon, and herein chiefly he excelled them all, because his knowledge was joyned with the knowledge of the true God, and with the fear of him, as theirs was not. Thus farre Pellican. He was wiser, saith Lyra, then the men of the East, who studied the course of the stars Lyra. P. Martyr.and then the Egyptians, who studied Philosophy. Martyr in speaking of this comparison saith, that the wise men of the East did first finde out the course of the stars, for which and other rare knowledge they were most famous, and that Abraham and Iob and his friends had this skill, but afterwards they degenerated into the study of evill arts, south-saints, divinations and execrations, for which the Israelites were reproved by Esay in these words, They have filled themselves more then the children of the east, with vain sciences, &c. Some because Solomon is compared unto them, not considering this distinction of times have held Solomon to have been such, as they were since, viz. one that knew and exercised these evill arts, and Exorcismes, and Iosephus followeth this opinion, telling a story of one Eleazarus, who before Vespasian the Emperour putting a ring with a certain root therein to the nostrils of a man possessed, drave out the evill spirit. But forasmuch as God gave unto Solomon his wisedome, it cannot be, that he should exercise it in such evill arts as are by him condemned. And for the effect wrought by a root, it was by collusion of the evill spirit with that exorcist.
Also, hee was wiser then any man, yea then Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman and Chalcol, and Darda the sonnes of Mahol, &c.] This, saith Martyr, is to V. 31.be restreined to the men of those times, or rather in respect of his knowledge in things naturall. But for this see before, ch. 3. 12. Touching the wise men here named, they were Israelites, who because some of them were inspired of God were wiser then any of other nations. Of Ethan it is spoken Psal. 89. as endited, by him. And of Heman Psal. 88. who is also called there the Ezrahite; it seemeth that they were chief singers, and inditers of Psalms to the praise of God, being of the sonnes of Chorah of the tribe of Levi, and therefore they had a most excellent spirit of wisdome in them, and such as they, were also the other two their brethren. And it is most probable, that all these foure were the sonnes of one man, although it may seem that Ethan was not, because he alone is here called the Ezrahite, for so is Heman also called, Psalm 88. many therefore hold Mahol to have bin otherwise called the Ezrahite, having the name Mahol from Chorus a dance, as the word signifieth, because he instructed his daughters in musick and dancing. Thus P. Martyr. Pellican.Martyr and R. L. Ben Gerison, but Pellican writeth thus; the Hebrews say that these four were the sonnes of Serah the sonne of Iudah, others by them understand Adam Abraham, Moses, and David, but upon what ground I cannot see; and for Heman; one of these four he is reckoned up …s a Levite, 1 Chron. 25. 4. and therefore Lyra followeth this opinion also, that they were Levites and Singers in the Lyra. Junius.house of God. Yet Iunius is for the other, that they were all the sonnes of Zerah, whom Iudah had by Thamar, because 1 Chron. 2. 6. four bearing these names …e reckoned up in enumerating the sonnes of Zarah or Zerah, from whom might come the name Ezrahite, but for Darda there is Dorah, and it was so long agoe since they lived, that it is not likely that they should be meant but some living about the time of Solomon, and famous then for divine wisdome; wherein it is certain that Ethan and Heman excelled both by the Psalmes which were of their inditing, and because one of them is expressely said to be a seer, 1 Chron. 25. 5. wherefore I hold with them rather, that take them to be Levites.
He spake 3000 proverbs, and his songs were 5000.] Lyra observeth that in all the V. 32. Lyra.book of the proverbs there 915 verses, and sometimes 2 verses or more make but one proveth, therefore all that he spake, are not recorded. He uttered them at divers times and in divers places, but wrot them not, onelyonly others that were about him wrot them, as memorable sayings; and afterwards the cheife and more sacred of them were gathered together, the rest being left out, and the like is to be held touching his verses or songs: so likewise Iunius who thinketh that all the rest were also written and kept amongst his monuments, as is intimated chap. 11. 41. but afterwards Junius.they perished; as Lyra thinketh in the time of the Babylonian captivity under Nebuchadnezzar. For 5000 songs in the Greek, and Vulg. lat. the Hebrew P. Martyr.verity hath it 1005. and Martyr hath observed, that in the book of songs called a song of songs, which only is now extant there are but 117 verses, and for his sentences or wise sayings, which are here said to be 3000. besides 915 verses numbred in the book of the proverbs, Ecclesiastes hath only 222. These sayings and songs of his saith he also, that were lost, were not lost without a providence; for a sparrow falleth not to the ground without the will of our heavenly father, he doubtlesse saw them to be profitable for those times, but not for ours; and the like he saith of the book of Enoch, and of the warres of the Lord, which are lost also.
And he spake of trees from the Cedar of Libanon, even to the byssop, that groweth out V. 33.of the wall, &c.] that is, saith Pellican, from the greatest unto the least, both of trees Pellican.and plants; and of all kinds of beasts, fowles, fishes and creeping things, but what he spake of them was either not written, or perished. Hee spake saith Lyra, of Lyra.their natures and qualities, and of what use they were for men. And from hence Martyr gathereth, that the study and knowledge of naturall things agreeth well P. Martyr.with divine knowledge. And for other sciences of Mathematicks, Grammar, Rhetorick, and Logick; although nothing be said hereof, yet it is not to be doubted, but that he had the knowledge of these also: forasmuch as in discourses and arguings, there is so much use of the three last; and to perfection of knowledge, the first is requisite also.
And they came from all kingdomes to heare the wisdome of Solomon, and from … V. 34.Kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdome.] The fame of his extraordinary wisdome was soon spread abroad into all parts, and hereby many desirons to learn of him came from all countries about to his court, as to a most famous schoole, and Kings that could not come in person, sent to learn of him, that their knowledge being thus improved, they might be the better able to govern and instruct their people. From whence Martyr rightly gathereth, what a good thing it is for Kings to be Note. learned, and that it is commendable to travell into forreign parts to get knowledge & learning, for thus of old they did who were desirous of wisdom; and lastly, that Solomon hid not his light under a bushell, but communicated it unto all comment, teaching all such as excell in knowledge to doe the like, remembring that saying, S… tuum nihil est nisi te scire hoc sciat alter. And to his Antitype Christ, they did also flock from all parts to heare and learne of him, and so must all such as would be indued with wisdome to salvation, to the Preachers of his Gospell. For that which is added more of the plenty of silver, &c. 2 Chron. 1. 15, 16, 17. see 1 Kings 10. 17, 18.