Bible Commentaries
1 Kings 4

Verse 5

Nathan. Probably David's son. Compare Luke 3:31 .

principle officer = priest. See Hebrew (2 Samuel 8:18 ). the king's friend, as Hushai had been David's (2 Samuel 15:37 ).

Verse 7

twelve officers. Compare David's twelve captains (lChron. 1Ki 27:2-15 ).

Verse 8

mount = hill country.

Verse 9

Elon-beth-hanan. Some codices, with three early printed editions, read "Elon-ben-hanan". Other codices read "Elon and Beth-han. an". Septuagint reads "Elon as far as Beth-hanan".

Verse 11

Dor. Compare Joshua 11:2 ; Joshua 12:23 ; Joshua 17:11 .

Verse 12

Abel-meholah. The country of Elisha (1 Kings 19:16 , 1 Kings 19:21 ). Compare Judges 7:22 .

Verse 13

Ramoth-gilead. In the tribe of Gad. Famous for Ahab's last battle (1 Kings 22:20 ). Compare Joshua 20:8 . Judges 11:29 .

region. A sharply defined border, defining the rocky rampart encircling the "Lejah" as it is called to-day.

Argob = Edrei, one of "the giant cities of Bashan". See App-23 and App-25 .

Verse 14

Mahanaim. Compare Genesis 32:2 .Joshua 13:26 .

Verse 16

Hushai. See note on 1 Kings 4:5 ,

Verse 19

he = Geber.

officer. Not the same word as in 1 Kings 4:7 .

in the land = in the land [of Bashan].

Verse 20

as the sand. Figure of speech Paroemia . App-6 . Compare Genesis 13:16 .

sea. Some codices, with Syriac, read "sea shore".

Verse 21

the river = the Euphrates. Compare Genesis 15:18 , &c.

unto = even unto. Compare 2 Chronicles 9:26 .

brought presents. Compare Psalms 72:10 , Psalms 72:11 .

Verse 22

provision. Hebrew bread, put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Species) for all kinds of food. App-6 .

Verse 24

on this side , or beyond.

safely = confidently,

Dan even to Beer-sheba. The two extremities. Compare Judges 20:1 and 1 Samuel 3:20 , &c.

Verse 26

forty thousand. In 2 Chronicles 9:25 it Isaiah 4:0 , which is much more likely to be correct. The 12,000 are the same in both places. The ancient Hebrew characters were Phoenician, and may be seen on the Moabite Stone. These were in current use till about 140 B. C, and were gradually replaced by the modern Hebrew "square" characters. Mistakes in copying occurred through the similarity of certain letters. See notes on 2 Samuel 24:10 . Jeremiah 3:8 . Ezekiel 6:4 ; Ezekiel 22:20 .

horses. A breach of Deuteronomy 17:16 . It began by breeding mules (1 Kings 1:33 , 1 Kings 1:38 , 1 Kings 1:44 ), which was a breach of Leviticus 19:19 ).

Verse 29

exceeding great = very great.

Verse 30

children = sons.

Verse 31

all men = any man.

men. Hebrew. 'adam, with Art. ( App-14 ) = any human being.

Ethan. The same four names occur among the sons of Zerah the son of Judah (1 Chronicles 2:6 ), except Dara for Darda; but compare 1 Chronicles 6:44 and 1 Chronicles 6:33 .

fame = name.

Verse 32

proverbs. Some included in the book of that name. songs. Compare Psalms 72:0 and Psalms 127:0 .

Verse 34

people = peoples. Compare 1 Kings 10:0 .