This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo)) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html for more information.
In this video listen to 1 Kings Chapter 4, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Kings Chapter 4 Solomon develops a national system to run the country of Israel. It meant he didn’t have to worry about making things happen, he only had to make sure the right people were in place. He had 12 administrators.
Two features of his kingdom was his administrations daily consumption of 30 cors of fine flour. This is about 6900 litres of flour, estimated conservatively. Plus a great amount of other meats and products.
His Kingdom was peaceful the entire duration of his reign. To live in peace was an unusual thing in ancient times. This is why Solomon is a picture of Christ. He is the only one of the kings of Israel and Judah who gave peace to the entire nation the entire time he lived.
Solomon had forty thousand horses, and twelve thousand riders. This is ratio of 3.33 horses per rider. Often chariots did have 2 horses per chariot. Either way there were many horses. Earlier in scripture, in Deuteronomy 17:6 the Lord said “you shall not multiply horses to yourself.” So even in the midst of wonderous achievement, we see reason for alarm. Horses were equated with military might, and Israel was to trust the Lord, not in military power.
Earlier, King David said in Psalm 20:7 says “Some trust in horses, and some in chariots, but we will trust in the name of the Lord.” David hamstrung horses and didn’t multiply them.
Here we find it mentioned that Solomon wrote 3000 proverbs. The book of Proverbs has about 800 proverbs, but not all of them were written by Solomon. So the majority of his proverbs are no longer with us. It also mentions he wrote 1005 songs, but of his 1005 songs, we only have four, the Song of Solomon, or the Song of Songs, plus Psalms 72, 127 and 132.
Life in Israel at that time was unparalleled in the world up until then. Solomon was a picture of Christ and what will happen, when the world places itself under his rightful leadership.
Nov 4, 2021 | Message by David Alley