1 Kings 4:1-20 - Solomon's Wisdom: Political Administration

1 So king Solomon was king over all Israel. 2 And these were the princes which he had: Azariah, the son of Zadok, the priest, 3 Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha, scribes, Jehoshaphat, the son of Ahilud, writer of the chronicles; 4 Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, was over the host; and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests; 5 Azariah, the son of Nathan, was over the officers; and Zabud, the son of Nathan, was the priest and special companion of the king; 6 and Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram, the son of Abda, was over the tribute.

7 And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who maintained the king and his household. Each one of them made provision for one month in the year. 8 And these are their names: The son of Hur, in Mount Ephraim; 9 the son of Dekar, in Makaz and in Shaalbim and in Bethshemesh and in Elon and in Bethhanan; 10 the son of Hesed, in Aruboth; to him pertained Sochoh and all the land of Hepher. 11 The son of Abinadab, in all the region of Dor, who had Taphath, the daughter of Solomon, to wife; 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; 13 the son of Geber, in Ramothgilead; to him pertained the towns of Jair, the son of Manasseh, which were in Gilead; to him also pertained the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, sixty great cities with walls and brasen bars; 14 Ahinadab, the son of Iddo, in Mahanaim; 15 Ahimaaz was in Naphtali; he also took Basmath, the daughter of Solomon, to wife. 16 Baanah, the son of Hushai, was in Asher and in Aloth; 17 Jehoshaphat, the son of Paruah, in Issachar; 18 Shimei, the son of Elah, in Benjamin; 19 Geber, the son of Uri, was in the land of Gilead, in the land of Sihon, king of the Amorites, and of Og, king of Bashan; and in addition to these there was an officer over all the land.

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