1 King|strong="H4428" Solomon|strong="H8010" ruled|strong="H4428" over|strong="H5921" all|strong="H3605" Israel|strong="H3478".
2 These|strong="H0428" are|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0834" names of|strong="H1121" his|strong="H0834" leading|strong="H8269" officials|strong="H8269":
3 Elihoreph|strong="H0456" and|strong="H1121" Ahijah|strong="H0281", sons|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Shisha|strong="H7894", had|strong="H1121" the|strong="H2142" job of|strong="H1121" writing notes about|strong="H5608" what happened in|strong="H1121" the|strong="H2142" courts;
4 Benaiah|strong="H1141" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Jehoiada|strong="H3077" was|strong="H1121" the|strong="H5921" commander of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H5921" army|strong="H6635";
5 Azariah|strong="H5838" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Nathan|strong="H5416" was|strong="H4428" in|strong="H5921" charge|strong="H5921" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H5921" district|strong="H5324" governors;
6 Ahishar|strong="H0301" was|strong="H1004" responsible for|strong="H5921" everything in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" king’s palace|strong="H1004";
7 Israel|strong="H3478" was|strong="H1961" divided into|strong="H5921" twelve|strong="H6240" districts. Solomon|strong="H8010" chose governors to|strong="H1961" rule|strong="H4428" over|strong="H5921" each|strong="H0259" district|strong="H5324". These|strong="H3605" governors were|strong="H1961" ordered to|strong="H1961" gather food|strong="H1004" from|strong="H5921" their|strong="H3605" districts and|strong="H3478" give|strong="H1961" it|strong="H5921" to|strong="H1961" the|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" and|strong="H3478" his|strong="H3605" family|strong="H1004". Each|strong="H0259" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3605" twelve|strong="H6240" governors was|strong="H1961" responsible for|strong="H5921" giving food|strong="H1004" to|strong="H1961" the|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" one|strong="H0259" month|strong="H2320" each|strong="H0259" year|strong="H8141".
8 These|strong="H0428" are|strong="H0428" the|strong="H8034" names|strong="H8034" of|strong="H2022" the|strong="H8034" twelve governors:
9 Ben Deker was governor of Makaz|strong="H4739", Shaalbim|strong="H8169", Beth Shemesh, and|strong="H1053" Elon Bethhanan.
10 Ben Hesed was|strong="H0776" governor of|strong="H0776" Arubboth|strong="H0700", Socoh|strong="H7755", and|strong="H0776" Hepher|strong="H2660".
11 Ben Abinadab was|strong="H1961" governor of|strong="H1323" Naphoth Dor|strong="H1756". He|strong="H8010" was|strong="H1961" married|strong="H0802" to|strong="H1961" Taphath|strong="H2955", daughter|strong="H1323" of|strong="H1323" Solomon|strong="H8010".
12 Baana|strong="H1195" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Ahilud|strong="H0286" was|strong="H0834" governor of|strong="H1121" Taanach|strong="H8590" and|strong="H1121" Megiddo|strong="H4023" and|strong="H1121" all|strong="H3605" of|strong="H1121" Beth Shean next to|strong="H5704" Zarethan|strong="H6891". This|strong="H0834" was|strong="H0834" below|strong="H8478" Jezreel|strong="H3157", from|strong="H1121" Beth Shean to|strong="H5704" Abel Meholah across|strong="H5676" from|strong="H1121" Jokmeam|strong="H3361".
13 Ben Geber was|strong="H0834" governor of|strong="H1121" Ramoth|strong="H7433" Gilead|strong="H1568". He|strong="H0834" was|strong="H0834" governor of|strong="H1121" all|strong="H1419" the|strong="H0834" towns|strong="H5892" and|strong="H1121" villages of|strong="H1121" Jair|strong="H2971" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Manasseh|strong="H4519" in|strong="H1121" Gilead|strong="H1568". He|strong="H0834" was|strong="H0834" also|strong="H0834" governor of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0834" district of|strong="H1121" Argob in|strong="H1121" Bashan|strong="H1316". In|strong="H1121" this|strong="H0834" area there|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" 60 cities|strong="H5892" with|strong="H1280" big walls|strong="H2346" around them|strong="H1121". These|strong="H0834" cities|strong="H5892" also|strong="H0834" had|strong="H0834" bronze|strong="H5178" bars|strong="H1280" on the|strong="H0834" gates.
14 Ahinadab|strong="H0292" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Iddo|strong="H5714" was|strong="H1121" governor of|strong="H1121" Mahanaim|strong="H4266".
15 Ahimaaz|strong="H0290" was|strong="H1931" governor of|strong="H1323" Naphtali|strong="H5321". He|strong="H1931" was|strong="H1931" married|strong="H3947" to|strong="H0802" Basemath|strong="H1315" the|strong="H0853" daughter|strong="H1323" of|strong="H1323" Solomon|strong="H8010".
16 Baana|strong="H1195" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Hushai|strong="H2365" was|strong="H1121" governor of|strong="H1121" Asher|strong="H0836" and|strong="H1121" Aloth.
17 Jehoshaphat|strong="H3092" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Paruah|strong="H6515" was|strong="H1121" governor of|strong="H1121" Issachar|strong="H3485".
18 Shimei|strong="H8096" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Ela|strong="H0414" was|strong="H1121" governor of|strong="H1121" Benjamin|strong="H1144".
19 Geber|strong="H1398" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Uri|strong="H0221" was|strong="H0834" governor of|strong="H1121" Gilead|strong="H1568". There|strong="H0834" had|strong="H0834" been|strong="H0834" two kings|strong="H4428" in|strong="H0776" this|strong="H0834" area|strong="H0776", King|strong="H4428" Sihon|strong="H5511" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0834" Amorites|strong="H0567" and|strong="H1121" King|strong="H4428" Og|strong="H5747" of|strong="H1121" Bashan|strong="H1316", but|strong="H4428" Solomon appointed only|strong="H0259" one|strong="H0259" governor for|strong="H0776" that|strong="H0834" district.
20 In|strong="H5921" Judah|strong="H3063" and|strong="H3063" Israel|strong="H3478" there|strong="H7230" were|strong="H0834" as|strong="H0834" many|strong="H7227" people|strong="H0834" as|strong="H0834" sand|strong="H2344" on|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0834" seashore|strong="H3220". The|strong="H0834" people|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" happy|strong="H8056" and|strong="H3063" had|strong="H0834" plenty|strong="H7227" to|strong="H5921" eat|strong="H0398" and|strong="H3063" drink|strong="H8354".
21 Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines. His kingdom went as far as the border of Egypt. These countries sent gifts to Solomon, and they obeyed him all of his life.
24 Solomon ruled over all the countries west of the Euphrates River, from Tiphsah to Gaza. And Solomon had peace along all the borders of his kingdom.
25 During Solomon’s life everyone in Judah and Israel, all the way from Dan to Beersheba, lived in peace and security. The people were at peace sitting under their own fig trees and grapevines.
26 Solomon had places to keep 4000 horses for his chariots and he had 12,000 horse soldiers.
27 And each month one of the twelve district governors gave King Solomon everything he needed for all the people who ate at the king’s table.
28 The district governors also gave the king enough straw and barley for the chariot horses and the riding horses. Everyone brought this grain to the necessary places.
29 God made Solomon very wise. Solomon could understand more than you can imagine.
30 He was wiser than anyone in the East or in Egypt.
31 He was wiser than anyone on earth, even Ethan the Ezrahite and the sons of Mahol—Heman, Calcol, and Darda. King Solomon became famous in all the surrounding countries.
32 By the end of his life, he had written 3000 proverbs and 1005 songs.
33 Solomon also knew very much about nature. He taught about many different kinds of plants—everything from the great cedar trees of Lebanon to the little vines that grow out of the walls. He also taught about animals, birds, and snakes.
34 People from every nation came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom. Kings all over the world sent their people to listen to him.