So men of all nations came to listen to Solomon's wisdom, sent by all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom. So men of all nationsThis phrase highlights the universal appeal and recognition of Solomon's wisdom. The Hebrew word for "nations" is "goyim," which often refers to Gentile nations or peoples outside of Israel. This indicates that Solomon's wisdom transcended cultural and national boundaries, drawing people from diverse backgrounds. Historically, this reflects the period of peace and prosperity during Solomon's reign, where Israel was a center of learning and culture, attracting international attention. came to listen
The act of coming to listen suggests a deliberate and intentional journey, emphasizing the value and rarity of Solomon's wisdom. The Hebrew verb "shama" means to hear or listen, but it also implies understanding and obedience. This suggests that those who came were not merely curious but were seeking to gain insight and apply Solomon's wisdom to their own lives and governance. to Solomon’s wisdom
Solomon's wisdom is a central theme in the narrative of his reign. The Hebrew word for wisdom, "chokmah," encompasses not only knowledge but also practical application, discernment, and skill in living. Solomon's wisdom was a divine gift, as seen in 1 Kings 3:12, where God grants him a wise and discerning heart. This wisdom was not just intellectual but deeply spiritual, rooted in the fear of the Lord. sent by all the kings of the earth
This phrase underscores the widespread recognition and respect for Solomon's wisdom among the rulers of the world. The Hebrew word for "sent," "shalach," implies a formal and purposeful dispatch, indicating that these kings valued Solomon's insights enough to send emissaries. This reflects the diplomatic and political influence Solomon wielded, as his wisdom was seen as a valuable resource for governance and leadership. who had heard of his wisdom
The fame of Solomon's wisdom had spread far and wide, as indicated by the phrase "had heard." The Hebrew word "shama" is used again, emphasizing the reputation and renown that preceded Solomon. This hearing led to action, as the kings of the earth sought to benefit from Solomon's God-given insight. It highlights the power of testimony and reputation in the ancient world, where news traveled through word of mouth and the accounts of travelers and traders. Persons / Places / Events 1. SolomonThe son of King David and Bathsheba, Solomon was the third king of Israel. Known for his wisdom, wealth, and building projects, he is a central figure in this passage. 2. Men of all nationsThis phrase refers to people from various countries and cultures who traveled to hear Solomon's wisdom, indicating the widespread fame of his understanding and insight. 3. Kings of the earthThese are the rulers of various nations who sent their representatives to learn from Solomon, acknowledging his unparalleled wisdom. Teaching Points The Source of True WisdomSolomon's wisdom was a gift from God, reminding us that true wisdom comes from seeking God and His guidance in our lives. The Influence of Godly WisdomSolomon's wisdom drew people from all nations, illustrating how godly wisdom can have a profound impact and influence beyond our immediate surroundings. The Pursuit of WisdomJust as people sought Solomon's wisdom, we should actively seek wisdom through prayer, study of Scripture, and learning from godly counsel. The Responsibility of WisdomWith great wisdom comes the responsibility to use it for God's glory and the benefit of others, as Solomon did in his early reign. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Solomon's wisdom reflect the fulfillment of God's promise to him in 1 Kings 3:12-13, and what does this teach us about God's faithfulness? 2. In what ways can we seek and apply godly wisdom in our daily lives, and how can this influence those around us? 3. How does the global recognition of Solomon's wisdom challenge us to consider the impact of our own lives and testimonies? 4. What are some practical steps we can take to ensure that we are using the wisdom God gives us for His glory and the good of others? 5. How does the pursuit of wisdom in Proverbs 1:1-7 relate to the New Testament teachings on wisdom, particularly in the life and teachings of Jesus? Connections to Other Scriptures 1 Kings 3:12-13This passage describes God's promise to Solomon, granting him unparalleled wisdom and understanding, which sets the stage for the events in 1 Kings 4:34. Proverbs 1:1-7These verses introduce the Book of Proverbs, traditionally attributed to Solomon, highlighting the value of wisdom and understanding. Matthew 12:42Jesus refers to the Queen of Sheba's visit to Solomon, emphasizing the greatness of Solomon's wisdom and foreshadowing the greater wisdom found in Christ. People Abda, Abel, Abiathar, Abinadab, Adoniram, Ahiah, Ahijah, Ahilud, Ahimaaz, Ahinadab, Ahishar, Amorites, Argob, Asher, Azariah, Baana, Baanah, Basmath, Ben, Benaiah, Benjamin, Calcol, Chalcol, Dan, Darda, Dekar, Elah, Elihoreph, Elon, Ethan, Geber, Hanan, Heman, Hepher, Hesed, Hur, Hushai, Iddo, Issachar, Jair, Jehoiada, Jehoshaphat, Jezreel, Mahol, Manasseh, Naphtali, Nathan, Og, Paruah, Shimei, Shisha, Sihon, Solomon, Taphath, Uri, Zabud, ZadokPlaces Abel-meholah, Argob, Arubboth, Bashan, Bealoth, Beersheba, Beth-shan, Beth-shemesh, Dan, Egypt, Elonbeth-hanan, Euphrates River, Gaza, Gilead, Hepher, Jerusalem, Jezreel, Jokmeam, Lebanon, Mahanaim, Makaz, Megiddo, Naphath-dor, Ramoth-gilead, Shaalbim, Socoh, Taanach, Tiphsah, ZarethanTopics Ear, Kings, Listen, Nation, Peoples, Solomon, Solomon's, WisdomDictionary of Bible Themes 1 Kings 4:29-34 3050 Holy Spirit, wisdom
5366 king
8367 wisdom, importance of 1 Kings 4:32-34 5387 leisure, pastimes Library The Great Gain of Godliness
'And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, all the days of Solomon. 26. And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. 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. 28. Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries brought they unto the place where the officers were, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureWhether He who Raises the Unworthy to Orders Commits a Sin?
Objection 1: It would seem that he who raises the unworthy to orders commits no sin. For a bishop needs assistants appointed to the lesser offices. But he would be unable to find them in sufficient number, if he were to require of them such qualifications as the saints enumerate. Therefore if he raise some who are not qualified, he would seem to be excusable. Objection 2: Further, the Church needs not only ministers for the dispensation of things spiritual, but also for the supervision of temporalities. …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Whether Vengeance Should be Taken on those who have Sinned Involuntarily?
Objection 1: It seems that vengeance should be taken on those who have sinned involuntarily. For the will of one man does not follow from the will of another. Yet one man is punished for another, according to Ex. 20:5, "I am . . . God . . . jealous, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation." Thus for the sin of Cham, his son Chanaan was curse (Gn. 9:25) and for the sin of Giezi, his descendants were struck with leprosy (4 Kings 5). Again the blood …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Stedfastness in the Old Paths.
"Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls."--Jer. vi. 16. Reverence for the old paths is a chief Christian duty. We look to the future indeed with hope; yet this need not stand in the way of our dwelling on the past days of the Church with affection and deference. This is the feeling of our own Church, as continually expressed in the Prayer Book;--not to slight what has gone before, …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII Adam and Zaretan, Joshua 3
I suspect a double error in some maps, while they place these two towns in Perea; much more, while they place them at so little a distance. We do not deny, indeed, that the city Adam was in Perea; but Zaretan was not so. Of Adam is mention, Joshua 3:16; where discourse is had of the cutting-off, or cutting in two, the waters of Jordan, that they might afford a passage to Israel; The waters rose up upon a heap afar off in Adam. For the textual reading "In Adam," the marginal hath "From Adam." You …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica The Fact of the Redeemer's Return was Typified in the Lives of Joseph and Solomon.
In the Old Testament there are numerous references to the Second Coming of Christ, references both direct and typical, but in every instance it was His return to the earth which was in view. The secret coming of Christ into the air, to catch up the saints to Himself, was an event quite unknown to the Old Testament prophets, an event kept secret until revealed by God to the apostle Paul who, when writing to the Corinthians upon this particular aspect of our subject, said, "Behold, I show you a mystery …
Arthur W. Pink—The Redeemer's Return Perhaps There is no Book Within the Whole Canon of Scripture So Perplexing and Anomalous...
Perhaps there is no book within the whole canon of Scripture so perplexing and anomalous, at first sight, as that entitled "Ecclesiastes." Its terrible hopelessness, its bold expression of those difficulties with which man is surrounded on every side, the apparent fruitlessness of its quest after good, the unsatisfactory character, from a Christian standpoint, of its conclusion: all these points have made it, at one and the same time, an enigma to the superficial student of the Word, and the arsenal …
F. C. Jennings—Old Groans and New Songs The Care of the Soul Urged as the one Thing Needful
Luke 10:42 -- "But one thing is needful." It was the amiable character of our blessed Redeemer, that "he went about doing good," this great motive, which animated all his actions, brought him to the house of his friend Lazarus, at Bethany, and directed his behavior there. Though it was a season of recess from public labor, our Lord brought the sentiments and the pious cares of a preacher of righteousness into the parlor of a friend; and there his doctrine dropped as the rain, and distilled as the …
George Whitefield—Selected Sermons of George Whitefield The Spiced Wine of My Pomegranate;
OR, THE COMMUNION OF COMMUNICATION. I would cause Thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate."--Song of Solomon viii. 2.And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace."--John i. 16. THE SPICED WINE OF MY POMEGRANATE. THE immovable basis of communion having been laid of old in the eternal union which subsisted between Christ and His elect, it only needed a fitting occasion to manifest itself in active development. The Lord Jesus had for ever delighted Himself with the …
Charles Hadden Spurgeon—Till He Come A vision of Judgement and Cleansing
'And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. 2. And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? 3. Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the Angel. 4. And He answered and spake unto those that stood before Him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him He said, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The Historical Books.
1. In the Pentateuch we have the establishment of the Theocracy, with the preparatory and accompanying history pertaining to it. The province of the historical books is to unfold its practiced working, and to show how, under the divine superintendence and guidance, it accomplished the end for which it was given. They contain, therefore, primarily, a history of God's dealings with the covenant people under the economy which he had imposed upon them. They look at the course of human events on the …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible The Poetical Books (Including Also Ecclesiastes and Canticles).
1. The Hebrews reckon but three books as poetical, namely: Job, Psalms, and Proverbs, which are distinguished from the rest by a stricter rhythm--the rhythm not of feet, but of clauses (see below, No. 3)--and a peculiar system of accentuation. It is obvious to every reader that the poetry of the Old Testament, in the usual sense of the word, is not restricted to these three books. But they are called poetical in a special and technical sense. In any natural classification of the books of the …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 1 Kings 4:34 NIV1 Kings 4:34 NLT1 Kings 4:34 ESV1 Kings 4:34 NASB1 Kings 4:34 KJV
1 Kings 4:34 Commentaries
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