Solomon's Wisdom: Political Administration

1 Solomon was king over all Israel.

1 So king Solomon was king over all Israel.

1 Now King Solomon was king over all Israel.

1 King Solomon ruled over Israel,(A)

1 And so King Solomon ruled over all of Israel.

2 His high officials were as follows: The priest: Azariah son of Zadok,

2 And these were the princes which he had; Azariah the son of Zadok the priest,

2 These were his officials: Azariah the son of Zadok was (A)the priest;

2 and these were his officials:(B)Azariah son of Zadok, priest;

2 Here's a list of his officials: Zadok's son Azariah was priest,

3 the court secretaries: Elihoreph and Ahijah, sons of Shisha In charge of the records: Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud.

3 Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder.

3 Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha were secretaries; (B)Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder;

3 Elihoreph and Ahijah the sons of Shisha, secretaries;Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud, court historian;

3 Shisha's sons Elihoreph and Ahijah were his secretaries, Ahilud's son Jehoshaphat was recorder,

4 Commander of the army: Benaiah son of Jehoiada. Priests: Zadok and Abiathar.

4 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:

4 and (C)Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the army; and Zadok and (D)Abiathar were priests;

4 Benaiah son of Jehoiada, in charge of the army;Zadok and Abiathar, priests;

4 Jehoiada's son Benaiah commanded the army, Zadok and Abiathar served as priests,

5 Chief of the district governors: Azariah son of Nathan Royal Adviser: the priest Zabud son of Nathan.

5 And Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers: and Zabud the son of Nathan was principal officer, and the king's friend:

5 and Azariah the son of Nathan was over (E)the deputies; and Zabud the son of Nathan, a priest, was the king’s friend;

5 Azariah son of Nathan, in charge of the deputies;Zabud son of Nathan, a priest and adviser to the king;

5 Nathan's son Azariah supervised the governors, Nathan's son Zabud the priest was the king's counselor,

6 In charge of the palace servants: Ahishar In charge of the forced labor: Adoniram son of Abda.

6 And Ahishar was over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute.

6 and Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the men subject to forced labor.

6 Ahishar, in charge of the palace;and Adoniram son of Abda, in charge of forced labor.

6 Ahishar supervised palace matters, and Abda's son Adoniram supervised conscripted labor.

7 Solomon appointed twelve men as district governors in Israel. They provided food from their districts for the king and his household, each man being responsible for one month out of the year.

7 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.

7 Solomon had twelve deputies over all Israel, who (a)provided for the king and his household; each man had to (b)provide for a month in the year.

7 Solomon had 12 deputies for all Israel. They provided food for the king and his household; each one made provision for one month out of the year.(C)

7 Solomon also appointed twelve governors over all of Israel, each of whom were responsible for providing one month's food provisions to the king and to his administration during each year.

8 The following are the names of these twelve officers and the districts they were in charge of: Benhur: the mountains of Ephraim,

8 And these are their names: The son of Hur, in mount Ephraim:

8 These are their names: Ben-hur, in the (F)hill country of Ephraim;

8 These were their names:Ben-hur, in the hill country of Ephraim;

8 Here's a list of their names: Ben-hur from the hill country of Ephraim;

9 Bendeker: the cities of Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh, Elon, and Beth Hanan,

9 The son of Dekar, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Bethshemesh, and Elonbethhanan:

9 Ben-deker in Makaz and (G)Shaalbim and (H)Beth-shemesh and Elonbeth-hanan;

9 Ben-deker, in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth-shemesh, and Elon-beth-hanan;

9 Ben-deker in Makaz, Shaalbim and Beth-shemesh and Elonbeth-hanan;

10 Benhesed: the cities of Arubboth and Socoh and all the territory of Hepher,

10 The son of Hesed, in Aruboth; to him pertained Sochoh, and all the land of Hepher:

10 Ben-hesed, in Arubboth ((I)Socoh was his and all the land of (J)Hepher);

10 Ben-hesed, in Arubboth (he had Socoh and the whole land of Hepher);

10 Ben-hesed served in Arubboth (where he supervised Socoh and all of the territory of Hepher);

11 Benabinadab, who was married to Solomon's daughter Taphath: the whole region of Dor.

11 The son of Abinadab, in all the region of Dor; which had Taphath the daughter of Solomon to wife:

11 Ben-abinadab, in all (c)the (K)height of Dor (Taphath the daughter of Solomon was his wife);

11 Ben-abinadab, in all Naphath-dor (Taphath daughter of Solomon was his wife);

11 Ben-abinadab supervised the Dor heights (Solomon's daughter Taphath was his wife);

12 Baana son of Ahilud: the cities of Taanach, Megiddo, and all the region near Beth Shan, near the town of Zarethan, south of the town of Jezreel, as far as the city of Abel Meholah and the city of Jokmeam.

12 Baana the son of Ahilud; to him pertained Taanach and Megiddo, and all Bethshean, which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel, from Bethshean to Abelmeholah, even unto the place that is beyond Jokneam:

12 Baana the son of Ahilud, in (L)Taanach and Megiddo, and all (M)Beth-shean which is beside (N)Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth-shean to (O)Abel-meholah as far as the other side of (P)Jokmeam;

12 Baana son of Ahilud, in Taanach, Megiddo, and all Beth-shean which is beside Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah, as far as the other side of Jokmeam;

12 Ahilud's son Baana served Taanach, Megiddo, and all of Beth-shean near Zarethan below Jezreel, including from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah as far as the other side of Jokmeam;

13 Bengeber: the city of Ramoth in Gilead, and the villages in Gilead belonging to the clan of Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, and the region of Argob in Bashan, sixty large towns in all, fortified with walls and with bronze bars on the gates.

13 The son of Geber, in Ramothgilead; to him pertained the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead; to him also pertained the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, threescore great cities with walls and brasen bars:

13 Ben-geber, in (Q)Ramoth-gilead ((R)the towns of Jair, the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead were his: (S)the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, sixty great cities with walls and bronze bars were his);

13 Ben-geber, in Ramoth-gilead (he had the villages of Jair son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead, and he had the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, 60 great cities with walls and bronze bars);

13 Ben-geber in Ramoth-gilead, including the towns that belonged to Manasseh's descendant Jair that are in Gilead;

14 Ahinadab son of Iddo: the district of Mahanaim.

14 Ahinadab the son of Iddo had Mahanaim:

14 Ahinadab the son of Iddo, in (T)Mahanaim;

14 Ahinadab son of Iddo, in Mahanaim;

14 Iddo's son Ahinadab served in Mahanaim;

15 Ahimaaz, who was married to Basemath, another of Solomon's daughters: the territory of Naphtali.

15 Ahimaaz was in Naphtali; he also took Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wife:

15 (U)Ahimaaz, in Naphtali (he also married Basemath the daughter of Solomon);

15 Ahimaaz, in Naphtali (he also had married a daughter of Solomon—Basemath);

15 Ahimaaz served in Naphtali (he was married to Solomon's daughter Basemath);

16 Baana son of Hushai: the region of Asher and the town of Bealoth.

16 Baanah the son of Hushai was in Asher and in Aloth:

16 Baana the son of (V)Hushai, in Asher and (d)Bealoth;

16 Baana son of Hushai, in Asher and Bealoth;

16 Hushai's son Baana served in Asher and Bealoth;

17 Jehoshaphat son of Paruah: the territory of Issachar.

17 Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar:

17 Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar;

17 Jehoshaphat son of Paruah, in Issachar;

17 Paruah's son Jehoshaphat served in Issachar;

18 Shimei son of Ela: the territory of Benjamin.

18 Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin:

18 (W)Shimei the son of Ela, in Benjamin;

18 Shimei son of Ela, in Benjamin;

18 Ela's son Shimei served in Benjamin;

19 Geber son of Uri: the region of Gilead, which had been ruled by King Sihon of the Amorites and King Og of Bashan. Besides these twelve, there was one governor over all the land.

19 Geber the son of Uri was in the country of Gilead, in the country of Sihon king of the Amorites, and of Og king of Bashan; and he was the only officer which was in the land.

19 Geber the son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, (X)the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan; and he was the only deputy who was in the land.

19 Geber son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan.There was one deputy in the land of Judah.(a)

19 and Uri's son Geber served in the territory of Gilead, the territory formerly ruled by King Sihon of the Amorites and King Og of Bashan (he was the only governor over that territory).

Solomon's Provisions

20 The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore. They ate and drank and were very happy.

20 Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry.

20 (Y)Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand that is on the (e)seashore in abundance; they were eating and drinking and rejoicing.

20 Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand by the sea;(D) they were eating, drinking, and rejoicing.

20 Judah and Israel became as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They enjoyed abundance, and ate, drank, and rejoiced regularly.

Solomon's Wisdom: Prosperity

21 Solomon's kingdom included all the nations from the Euphrates River to Philistia and the Egyptian border. They paid him taxes and were subject to him all his life.

21 And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.

21 (f)(Z)Now Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms (AA)from the (g)River to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt; (AB)they brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.

21 (b)Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines and as far as the border of Egypt.(E) They offered tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.(F)

21 Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the territory of the Philistines and south to the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon throughout his lifetime.

22 The supplies Solomon needed each day were one hundred and fifty bushels of fine flour and three hundred bushels of meal.

22 And Solomon's provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal,

22 Solomon’s (h)provision for one day was thirty (i)kors of fine flour and sixty (j)kors of meal,

22 Solomon’s provisions for one day were 150 bushels(c) of fine flour and 300 bushels(d) of meal,

22 Solomon's daily provisions were 30 kors of fine flour, 60 kors of meal,

23 Also needed were ten stall-fed cattle, twenty pasture-fed cattle, and one hundred sheep, besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fowl (cuckoo).

23 Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallowdeer, and fatted fowl.

23 ten fat oxen, twenty (k)pasture-fed oxen, a hundred sheep besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened fowl.

23 10 fattened oxen, 20 range oxen, and 100 sheep, besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and pen-fed poultry,(e)(G)

23 ten fattened oxen, 20 pasture-fed cattle, 100 sheep, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks, and domestic poultry.

24 Solomon ruled over all the land west of the Euphrates River, from Tiphsah on the Euphrates as far west as the city of Gaza. All the kings west of the Euphrates were subject to him. He was at peace with all the neighboring countries.

24 For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him.

24 For he had dominion over everything (l)west of the (m)River, from Tiphsah even to (AC)Gaza, (AD)over all the kings (n)west of the (o)River; and (AE)he had peace on all sides around about him.

24 for he had dominion over everything west of the Euphrates from Tiphsah to Gaza and over all the kings west of the Euphrates. He had peace on all his surrounding borders.

24 He ruled over everything west of the Euphrates River from Tiphsah to Gaza, over all of the kings west of the Euphrates River, and he enjoyed peace on all sides around him.

25 As long as he lived, the people throughout Judah and Israel lived in safety. Each family had its own grapevines and fig trees.

25 And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.

25 (AF)So Judah and Israel lived in safety, every man under his vine and his fig tree, (AG)from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.

25 Throughout Solomon’s reign, Judah and Israel lived in safety from Dan to Beer-sheba,(H) each man under his own vine and his own fig tree.(I)

25 Judah and Israel lived safely, and everyone enjoyed their own vine and fig tree from Dan to Beer-sheba through all of Solomon's life.

26 Solomon had forty thousand stalls for his chariot horses and twelve thousand cavalry horses.

26 And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.

26 (AH)Solomon had (p)40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen.

26 Solomon had 40,000(f) stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen.(J)

26 Solomon owned 40,000 stalls for the horses that drove his chariots, and he employed 12,000 men to drive them.

27 His twelve governors supplied the food King Solomon needed for all who ate in the palace. They always supplied everything needed, each one in the month assigned.

27 And those officers provided victual for king Solomon, and for all that came unto king Solomon's table, every man in his month: they lacked nothing.

27 Those deputies (q)provided for King Solomon and all who came to King Solomon’s table, each in his month; they left nothing lacking.

27 Each of those deputies for a month in turn provided food for King Solomon and for everyone who came to King Solomon’s table. They neglected nothing.

27 His officers supplied provisions for King Solomon and for everyone who visited King Solomon's palace, each in their respective month of service responsibility. Nothing ever ran out.

28 Each governor also supplied his share of barley and straw as needed for the chariot horses and the work animals.

28 Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries brought they unto the place where the officers were, every man according to his charge.

28 They also brought barley and straw for the horses and (AI)swift steeds to the place where it should be, each according to his charge.

28 Each man brought the barley and the straw for the chariot teams and the other horses(K) to the required place according to his assignment.(g)

28 They also provided barley and straw for the horses and camels to their respective locations, each consistent with their responsibilities.

Solomon's Wisdom: Literature, Zoology, Biology, Dendrology

29 God gave Solomon great wisdom and insight, and knowledge too great to be measured.

29 And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.

29 Now (AJ)God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment and breadth of (r)mind, (AK)like the sand that is on the seashore.

29 God gave Solomon wisdom, very great insight, and understanding(L) as vast as the sand on the seashore.

29 God gave Solomon wisdom and great discernment. His insights were as numerous as sand on the seashore.

30 Solomon was wiser than the wise men of the East or the wise men of Egypt.

30 And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.

30 Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all (AL)the sons of the east and (AM)all the wisdom of Egypt.

30 Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East,(M) greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.(N)

30 Solomon was wiser than any of the eastern leaders and wiser than anyone in Egypt.

31 He was the wisest of all men. He was wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, and the sons of Mahol. His fame spread throughout all the neighboring countries.

31 For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.

31 For (AN)he was wiser than all men, than (AO)Ethan the Ezrahite, Heman, (AP)Calcol and (s)Darda, the sons of Mahol; and his (t)fame was known in all the surrounding nations.

31 He was wiser than anyone(O)—wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite,(P) and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, sons of Mahol.(Q) His reputation extended to all the surrounding nations.(R)

31 He was wiser than anyone of his day wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, Heman, and wiser than Mahol's sons Calcol and Darda.

32 He wrote three thousand proverbs and more than a thousand songs.

32 And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.

32 (AQ)He also spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs were 1,005.

32 Solomon composed 3,000 proverbs,(S) and his songs numbered 1,005.(T)

32 His reputation was known throughout the surrounding nations. Solomon wrote 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs.

33 He spoke of trees and plants, from the Lebanon cedars to the hyssop that grows on walls. He talked about animals, birds, reptiles, and fish.

33 And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.

33 He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that grows on the wall; he spoke also of animals and birds and creeping things and fish.

33 He described trees, from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop growing out of the wall. He also taught about animals, birds, reptiles, and fish.

33 He described trees everything from cedars that grow in Lebanon to hyssop that grows on a garden wall. He described animals, birds, reptiles, and fish.

34 Kings all over the world heard of his wisdom and sent people to listen to the Wisdom of Solomon.

34 And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.

34 (u)Men (AR)came from all peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.

34 People came from everywhere, sent by every king on earth who had heard of his wisdom, to listen to Solomon’s wisdom.(U)

34 People came from everywhere to hear Solomon's advice. Every king on the earth heard of his wisdom.

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