1 Kings 4: 1 – 34
Smorgasbord
4 So King Solomon was king over all Israel. 2 And these were his officials: Azariah the son of Zadok, the priest; 3 Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder; 4 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, over the army; Zadok and Abiathar, the priests; 5 Azariah the son of Nathan, over the officers; Zabud the son of Nathan, a priest and the king’s friend; 6 Ahishar, over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda, over the labor force. 7 And Solomon had twelve governors over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household; each one made provision for one month of the year. 8 These are their names: Ben-Hur, in the mountains of Ephraim; 9 Ben-Deker, in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh, and Elon Beth Hanan; 10 Ben-Hesed, in Arubboth; to him belonged Sochoh and all the land of Hepher; 11 Ben-Abinadab, in all the regions of Dor; he had Taphath the daughter of Solomon as wife; 12 Baana the son of Ahilud, in Taanach, Megiddo, and all Beth Shean, which is beside Zaretan below Jezreel, from Beth Shean to Abel Meholah, as far as the other side of Jokneam; 13 Ben-Geber, in Ramoth Gilead; to him belonged the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, in Gilead; to him also belonged the region of Argob in Bashan—sixty large cities with walls and bronze gate-bars; 14 Ahinadab the son of Iddo, in Mahanaim; 15 Ahimaaz, in Naphtali; he also took Basemath the daughter of Solomon as wife; 16 Baanah the son of Hushai, in Asher and Aloth; 17 Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar; 18 Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin; 19 Geber the son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, in the country of Sihon king of the Amorites, and of Og king of Bashan. He was the only governor who was in the land. 20 Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and rejoicing. 21 So Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life. 22 Now Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty kors of fine flour, sixty kors of meal, 23 ten fatted oxen, twenty oxen from the pastures, and one hundred sheep, besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fatted fowl. 24 For he had dominion over all the region on this side of the River from Tiphsah even to Gaza, namely over all the kings on this side of the River; and he had peace on every side all around him. 25 And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, each man under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan as far as Beersheba, all the days of Solomon. 26 Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. 27 And these governors, each man in his month, provided food for King Solomon and for all who came to King Solomon’s table. There was no lack in their supply. 28 They also brought barley and straw to the proper place, for the horses and steeds, each man according to his charge. 29 And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore. 30 Thus Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 For he was wiser than all men—than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol; and his fame was in all the surrounding nations. 32 He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand and five. 33 Also he spoke of trees, from the cedar tree of Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall; he spoke also of animals, of birds, of creeping things, and of fish. 34 And men of all nations, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom, came to hear the wisdom of Solomon.
Smorgasbord is a type of Scandinavian meal, originating in Sweden, served buffet-style with multiple hot and cold dishes of various foods on a table.
Smorgasbord became internationally known at the 1939 New York World's Fair when it was offered at the Swedish Pavilion's "Three Crowns Restaurant". It is typically a celebratory meal and guests can help themselves from a range of dishes laid out for their choice. In a restaurant the term refers to a buffet-style table laid out with many small dishes from which, for a fixed amount of money, one is allowed to choose as many as one wishes.
A traditional Swedish smorgasbord consists of both hot and cold dishes. Bread, butter, and cheese are always part of the smorgasbord. It is customary to begin with the cold fish dishes which are generally various forms of herring, salmon, and eel. After eating the first portion, people usually continue with the second course (other cold dishes) and round off with hot dishes.
In Pennsylvania, smorgasbords are popular Pennsylvania Dutch-style buffets that are often associated with Amish-made meals. We are extremely blessed to live in the Philadelphia area which is not very far from a popular area called Lancaster. For Christians we look forwarded to travel there as various groups to take in a live Christian performance at a theatre called Sight n Sound. To make the day even more special we stop before the show or afterwards at a popular Smorgasbord restaurant. How about these various food options to satisfy your palate?
The breakfast buffet includes scrambled eggs, omelets, quiche, sausage, ham, scrapple, bacon, pancakes, French toast, mush, puddings, oatmeal, waffles, biscuits, fruit, cereal, baked goods, hot and cold beverages, juices and much more!
If you come for a lunch check out the 46 salad bar items, 3 soups, 8 homemade breads & rolls, 4 cheeses, 8 meats, 14 vegetables, 10 cold desserts, 3 hot desserts, 8 pies, 6 cakes, sundae bar & of course many hot and cold beverages.
Daily Grill Features Angus Burgers, Beef Brisket, Grilled Hot Dogs, Marinated Chicken Breasts, Real Homemade Corn Fritters, Potato Cakes, Pizza and Kielbasa.
Of course, the most desired sit-down meal is the ‘Dinner Feature’. Here you still can get 46 salad bar items, 3 soups, 8 homemade breads & rolls, 4 cheeses, 8 meats, 14 vegetables, 10 cold desserts, 3 hot desserts, 8 pies, 6 cakes, sundae bar & many beverages.
Grill Features New York Strip Steak, Delmonico Steak, Smoked Pork Chops, Chopped Tender Steak, Prime Rib, Carved Ham, Marinated Pork Loins, Beef Brisket, Marinated Chicken Breast, Chicken Livers w/wo Onions, Ribs, Pierogies, Kielbasa, , Pizza, Salmon, Fry, Beef Brisket, Veal Patties, Country Sausage, Chicken Fajitas
Vegetable Stir and Baked Potatoes.
Salmon, Tuna, Mahi-Mahi, Cod, Oyster Stew, Cajun Catfish
What is really neat is that you just go in and grab a plate and take or order anything you want. After you consumed the food you just leave the plate where you are sitting (someone comes and takes your used plate) and go up and grab another plate to obtain more delicious items.
Today we are going to come across an Israeli Smorgasbord developed during the days of Salomon. This might just get your mouth watering to go out and get something to eat.
The splendor of Solomon’s reign is now brought out by reference to the wisdom of his administrative appointments, and concluding with a picture of the general prosperity of the land. The description includes both the appointment of his chief officers (4.2-6), and of his district fiscal governors (4.7-21), together with the nature of their tasks.
4 So King Solomon was king over all Israel.
Solomon now reigned in glory over all Israel. The details that follow are not, however, to be signifying the situation at the beginning of his reign. As ever the account is not chronological but topical. It will be noted, for example, that some of the officials were married to Solomon’s daughters. It is true, of course that they might have been appointed before they did marry them, and that the daughters may only have been twelve years of age with their husbands as older men, but nevertheless at least a few years would appear to be required. When Solomon came to the throne he may have been anywhere between, say, sixteen to twenty-two.
2 And these were his officials: Azariah the son of Zadok, the priest; 3 Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder; 4 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, over the army; Zadok and Abiathar, the priests; 5 Azariah the son of Nathan, over the officers; Zabud the son of Nathan, a priest and the king’s friend; 6 Ahishar, over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda, over the labor force.
We have here a list of the chief in Solomon’s administration. First comes Azariah, the son of Zadok as Priest who probably served as Prime minister.
‘Elihoreph.’ The name could mean ‘God of Autumn’ (the God Who provides through harvest. Ahijah (Yah is my brother’) was a relatively common Hebrew name.
‘Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, (was) the recorder.’ This was as he had been under David (2 Samuel 8.16). The recorder is ‘he who causes to be heard’. Thus he was responsible for disseminating the king’s will vocally among the people and ensuring that it was responded to. He may also have recorded the day to day events related to the king.
‘And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host.’ As we know he had been commander of David’s bodyguard and had taken over the position of commander-in-chief from Joab.
‘And Zadok and Abiathar were priests.’ These were both official High Priests, the former, descended from Aaron through Eliezer, appointed, probably by Saul, over the Tabernacle, and later presiding at the Sacred Tent in Jerusalem, the latter by David, for he was descended from Aaron through Ihamar and was the only surviving son of the previous High Priest slain by Saul at Nob, and had fled with the Ephod to David, and would for a time have been High Priest in Ziklag, then in Hebron, and then in Gibeon. The High Priesthood was for life, so that once appointed a man remained High Priest until death even though he had been relieved of his duties as Abiathar had been (2.35).
‘And Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers.’ He was probably Solomon’s nephew, being the son of his brother Nathan (2 Samuel 5.14). He presumably had responsibility over the district ‘officers’ mentioned below.
‘And Zabud the son of Nathan was priest, and the king’s friend.’ Another nephew of Solomon’s, Zabud (‘bestowed’) was the king’s chief adviser.
‘Ahishar was over the household.’ Solomon’s household was huge, as what follows indicates. Ahishar therefore had responsibility for overseeing the whole of Solomon’s house.
‘Adoniram the son of Abda was over the men subject to taskwork.’ This may be the same man as the one who was appointed by David (2 Samuel 20.24) and survived up to the beginning of Rehoboam’s reign (12.18). At one time he had ‘five hundred and fifty’ slave-masters (9.23). Enforced labor was a necessary part of being a great king, for it was the only means by which large building projects could go forward. The worst aspect of this kind of servitude was limited to ‘foreigners’ but the need became so great that native Israelites were also drafted, although in their case on a part time basis, and it was this, and their treatment while involved, as much as anything else that resulted in the disaffection that caused the later division of the kingdom.
7 And Solomon had twelve governors over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household; each one made provision for one month of the year.
Solomon also divided up Israel (excluding Judah) into twelve regions over whom he placed district ‘tax collectors or governors’ (literally ‘those appointed’). One of their major responsibilities was that of collecting the king’s taxes, mainly in the form of produce, and in each case, it included ensuring that sufficient provisions were made available to the king’s vast household for one moon period out of twelve. But this would undoubtedly also have required the official to exercise control in other spheres, for they would not act directly themselves, delegating the main collection to others, and would require a wide authority to carry out what would not have been something welcomed by the Israelites. They were learning what having a king really involved.
8 These are their names: Ben-Hur, in the mountains of Ephraim; 9 Ben-Deker, in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh, and Elon Beth Hanan; 10 Ben-Hesed, in Arubboth; to him belonged Sochoh and all the land of Hepher; 11 Ben-Abinadab, in all the regions of Dor; he had Taphath the daughter of Solomon as wife; 12 Baana the son of Ahilud, in Taanach, Megiddo, and all Beth Shean, which is beside Zaretan below Jezreel, from Beth Shean to Abel Meholah, as far as the other side of Jokneam; 13 Ben-Geber, in Ramoth Gilead; to him belonged the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, in Gilead; to him also belonged the region of Argob in Bashan—sixty large cities with walls and bronze gate-bars; 14 Ahinadab the son of Iddo, in Mahanaim; 15 Ahimaaz, in Naphtali; he also took Basemath the daughter of Solomon as wife; 16 Baanah the son of Hushai, in Asher and Aloth; 17 Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar; 18 Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin; 19 Geber the son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, in the country of Sihon king of the Amorites, and of Og king of Bashan. He was the only governor who was in the land.
The list commences with the hill country of Ephraim, which being situated where it was, and being the land first settled by the Israelites (if we ignore Judah) in comparatively virgin territory, was the most secure and prominent area among the northern tribes, and this is then followed by six areas mainly designated in terms of Canaanite cities, after which come areas named after tribes which had clearly not been so affected by having Canaanite cities among them, and had maintained their prominence and independence in the face of all the changes that had taken place, and were seen as administratively capable. Thus Ephraim, Naphtali, Asher, Issachar and Benjamin were seen as still compact enough, and independent enough, to form their own units, whereas other areas were more fragmented and had to take in the Canaanite towns and be run from them.
Transjordan had three ‘appointed officers’, but the division was not simply based on tribal boundaries. The first was stationed in Ramoth-gilead, which was in the upper territory of Gad, and the district covered the northern part of the country, including the area allocated to the half tribe of Manasseh. The second was in Mahanaim, from where Ish-bosheth had ruled Israel, and where David had established himself during Absalom’s rebellion. This was also located in the territory of Gad and covered the central section of Transjordan. The third covered the larger southern area and gathered up all parts not covered by the other two, the area being described as ‘the land of Gilead’ and was so complex an area that it had to be explained in terms that sound as if it contained the whole of Transjordan, with the result that it had to be explained that he was the only officer in that particular area.
The remaining nine appointed officers were set over nine regions west of the Jordan Rift Valley, partly on the basis of principle cities or other regional descriptions, and partly on the basis of tribal designation. Thus, we have the well-known ‘hill country of Ephraim, followed by designations in terms of leading cities in different central areas, and finalized by designations in terms of the principle independently surviving northern tribes such as Naphtali, Asher and Issachar, and in terms of Benjamin.
20 Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and rejoicing.
Our Holy Spirit emphasizes the prosperity of all Judah and Israel under Solomon’s rule. They multiplied in numbers, and they continually ate, drank and made merry. And this despite the burden of Solomon’s taxation. It was a time of peace and great prosperity for all.
21 So Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.
Meanwhile Solomon ruled over a wide area, thanks mainly to the previous activities of David, which overall had been forced on him. He ruled over an area from the Euphrates to the border of Egypt.
There is a lesson for us all in this in that it demonstrates that of we are to make the most of our lives we must ensure they are administered properly. It is not enough to allow our lives to drift on. We need to organize them to the best advantage so that we can make the best use of our time and money, with a view to being pleasing to the Lord.
22 Now Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty kors of fine flour, sixty kors of meal, 23 ten fatted oxen, twenty oxen from the pastures, and one hundred sheep, besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fatted fowl.
We started off in describing what great eating comes with going to a Smorgasbord restaurant. But in all truth, I would not enjoy this feasting if I had to eat at each day. We will see that this is exactly what Solomon and his staff were doing each day. Perhaps they were looking for their own version of ‘weight watchers’.
The size and prosperity of Solomon’s magnificent court comes out in the daily provisions required to keep them. It reflected one continual festival.
24 For he had dominion over all the region on this side of the River from Tiphsah even to Gaza, namely over all the kings on this side of the River; and he had peace on every side all around him.
Israelite ‘Dominion’ was from the Mesopotamian aspect, i.e. ‘south of the River’ which was ‘the ford’ at the Euphrates crossing, forming the north east boundary of the province. It was placed strategically on the great east-west trade route. Gaza represented the south western boundary.
25 And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, each man under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan as far as Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.
This was ever seen by Israel as a description of ideal conditions when every man was free and possessed his own fruitful land (Micah 4.4), and it would have been looked back on enviously by future centuries. This was their idea of what life should be like, a picture of freedom and security and pleasant living.
26 Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.
Israel’s safety from attack was guaranteed by their military power. Solomon had stalls containing forty ‘thousands’ of horses for his chariots, and twelve military units of horsemen (chariot drivers).
27 And these governors, each man in his month, provided food for King Solomon and for all who came to King Solomon’s table. There was no lack in their supply.
The tax officers appointed by Solomon faithfully carried out their responsibilities, providing victuals for Solomon and all who came to his table, and ensuring that no lack of provision ever occurred. Every good thing was provided.
28 They also brought barley and straw to the proper place, for the horses and steeds, each man according to his charge.
The tax officers also fulfilled the responsibility with which they had been charged and ensured that that there was sufficient barley and straw for the horses, and ‘swift steeds’ (horses for the use of messengers.
The prosperity of the kingdom always depends on faithful servants, often unsung, for we are all called on by our Lord Jesus Christ to ‘feed my sheep’. It is as we faithfully fulfil this task that the Kingly Rule of God will advance and spread. But let us once fail in this responsibility and the kingdom will suffer.
As the picture of Solomon’s magnificence grows we now learn more about the wisdom that YHWH gave him. It included wisdom which was revealed both in wise sayings, and in his careful consideration of natural things. He himself learned lessons from the wise, and expanded on them, and discovered important lessons from nature. (It was not, of course, scientific enquiry. It was to learn lessons from nature). He may well have generally encouraged the study of ‘wisdom’ in his court, and it could therefore well be that these wise men whose names are given here visited his court and admitted him to be their superior. We can compare with their ‘sudden appearance’ the sudden appearance of ‘wise women’ (although having ‘wisdom’ of a somewhat different kind) who appeared now and again during the life of David (2 Samuel 14.2; 20.16 and note 20.18 where Abel is noted for its wise people). We know of them simply because the political history required it. Otherwise we would have known nothing of them.
29 And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore. 30 Thus Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt.
Solomon’s wide breadth of knowledge impressed his contemporaries. He was a man of large mental vision and knew so much that it could be compared with the sand on the seashore.
31 For he was wiser than all men—than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol; and his fame was in all the surrounding nations.
His wisdom exceeded that of all known men who were recognized as wise men.
32 He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand and five.
He was especially famed for his proverbs (some of which we can find in Proverbs) and his songs. We would in fact have expected a son of David to be musical so that the number of songs is not difficult to understand. But, unlike David’s, they were not preserved. It is possible that they were not kept because as we will learn in future chapters of Solomon’s turning away from our Loving God Who Was the One Who gave Him all these blessings.
33 Also he spoke of trees, from the cedar tree of Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall; he spoke also of animals, of birds, of creeping things, and of fish.
Our Holy God had given Solomon not just ‘wisdom’ but also the desire to learn of all of Creation. He dove in with both feet into all kinds of things he saw about him.
34 And men of all nations, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom, came to hear the wisdom of Solomon.
The result was that visitors from far and near came to hear the wisdom of Solomon. It was a new interest, and a bright light, that had appeared in an all too mundane world. And it was from God.
The lesson we all need to take away from this chapter is that ‘God giveth and God can taketh away’. It is not given to all of us to have the wisdom of Solomon. But even Solomon’s wisdom depended on him applying his mind to what was about him. It is therefore given to us also to ‘study to show ourselves approved to God, workmen who do not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth’ (2 Timothy 2.15). The sad thing about Solomon’s wisdom was that it became so diverse that he lost sight of the fact that ‘the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil, that is understanding’ (Job 28.28). We must beware lest the same happen to us.
