1 Kings 4

Solomon’s Vast Wisdom

Not only did Solomon have the wisdom to deal with a dispute between two prostitutes running a small brothel (3:16-27), but he possessed the wisdom to perform the most essential task of any ruler—the appointment and administration. 


The Cabinet (1-6)

As king over all of Israel (1), Solomon’s cabinet included:  

  • Azariah - the priest, “ha-kohen,” likely another way of saying the chief-of-state or prime minister (2)

  • Elihoreph and Ahijah - chief press officers

  • Jehoshaphat - executive administrator (3)

  • Benaiah - chief commander of the military

  • Zadok and Abiathar - priests (4)

  • Azariah - administrator over the twelve governors of the tribes

  • Zabud - chief legal counselor (5)

  • Ahishar - chief-of-staff

  • Adoniram - chief of the slave-labor force (6)


Tax Districts (7-19)

Solomon divided Israel up into twelve tax districts and had each district pay taxes to his administration one month out of the year (7). Solomon placed one governor (Azariah) over the twelve district governors, who did the collecting of the taxes each month in the order listed:

  • Benhur (8)

  • Ben-deker (9)

  • Ben-hesed (10)

  • Ben-abinadab (11)

  • Baana (12)

  • Ben-geber (13)

  • Ahinadab (14)

  • Ahimaaz (15)

  • Baana (16)

  • Jehoshaphat (17)

  • Shimei (18)

  • Geber (19)

It is likely that this heavy taxation system eventually split the kingdom after Solomon’s death. So, while Solomon was wise in its organization, he may have reached too far for too much, sowing the seeds for the kingdom’s division (12:1-15).


The Prosperity (20-25)

Even though the taxes levied were heavy, the people were numerous—too many to account for accurately—and they were enjoying great prosperity (20). The kingdom over which Solomon ruled was vast—in the north all the way to a city at a crossing point on the Euphrates named Tiphsah, on the west all but the Philistine settlements, to the south as far as Egypt, including Gaza, the farthest city to be taxed (21-24). Even though Solomon’s provisions were massive, peace and security reigned in every corner of his kingdom, everyone owning their own home, so to speak, and everyone eating from their own vine and fig tree (25).  


The Peace Officers (26-28)

Israel was no longer an infantry army; its peace was maintained by a huge cavalry and chariot force (26). The breeding and preserving of Solomon’s military force created an enormous tax burden for the governors, but it is noted as fulfilling all that was required (27-28). The point is made in the text: the tax burden was heavy, but the prosperity was ample to pay it. 


Solomon’s Wisdom Described (29-34)

Solomon was wise, and the author illustrates his wisdom by comparison and contrast:

  • His breadth of wisdom was more vast than the sand of the seashore (29).

  • His height of wisdom exceeded all of those from the east known for being wise, even when one puts them all together.

  • His weight of wisdom exceeded the scientific brilliance of Egypt (30).

  • His depth of wisdom exceeded the best minds in Israel when put together. 

  • His length of wisdom was recognized and honored in the civilized world (31).

His works were numerous:

  • 3,000 proverbs—fewer than a third have been preserved (a portion of Proverbs)

  • 1,005 songs—only three remain recorded (Song of Solomon, Psalms 72 and 127) (32)

  • Innumerable lectures on his botanical studies

  • Innumerable lectures on his zoological studies (33)

All of these works posture the reader to comprehend the sixth comparison used to describe his wisdom. 

  • Finally, his vastness of wisdom was so far-reaching that his palace became a classroom for the civilized nations to hear him teach of what he had learned in leadership, government, and science. His breadth of wisdom was staggering (34).

Psalm 88:10-18

The Need for Yahweh to Deliver

Psalms 88 and 89 need to be read together as a conclusion to Book III. In Psalm 88, our persistent need for deliverance is expressed; in 89, the divine resources are revealed, which are available to meet that persistent need. 

Where Is Yahweh in My Despair?

Psalm 88 is a “Lament Psalm” and is without question the most melancholy psalm of all 150. It is a Psalm written in utter despair. I place the writing of this Psalm at the time when Korah challenged the leadership of Moses and he and his company were swallowed by the earth. It would seem one of the “sons of Korah” at that season penned this Psalm of despair and then years later, Heman edited and published this Psalm as an instructional Psalm (Maskil) to teach Israel how to pray when they were in desperate need of Yahweh's deliverance following some great rebellion. Heman (author of Psalm 88) and Ethan (author of Psalm 89) were each referred to as “the Ezrahite.” It would seem both wrote twin Psalms, the first defining the result of rebellion and the cry for deliverance (88), the second defining the promise to David regarding his dynasty and the peril his dynasty fell into because of rebellion (89). Psalm 88 is left in despair; Psalm 89 reveals the bright hope of Messiah but then ends with the humiliation of David's dynasty as it had also fallen into rebellion and then captivity. It would seem that both Psalms (88-89) are written and the re-written during the time of Judah's captivity to express the devastating result of rebellion and the hope in God's steadfast love, even when it seems rebellion has made everything seem hopeless. 

This Psalm is written in three basic sections:

  1. The expectation of the pit (1-7)

  2. The encounter in the pit (8-12)

  3. The exclusion from the pit (13-18)

Purpose: To show us how to pray when we have rebelled and our life seems to be suffocating in a perpetual state of helplessness.