Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in charge of the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in charge of the army;Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, was a prominent figure in King Solomon's administration. He was known for his loyalty and bravery, having previously served under King David. Benaiah's role as the commander of the army signifies his high status and trustworthiness. His leadership in the military was crucial during a time when Israel was establishing itself as a powerful kingdom. Benaiah's exploits, such as his defeat of the two sons of Ariel of Moab and his killing of a lion in a pit on a snowy day, are recorded in 2 Samuel 23:20-23, highlighting his valor and skill. His appointment reflects the continuity of David's legacy through Solomon's reign, as Benaiah was a key supporter during Solomon's ascension to the throne ( 1 Kings 1:38-39). This continuity is significant in maintaining stability and fulfilling God's promise to David regarding his dynasty ( 2 Samuel 7:12-16). Zadok and Abiathar were priests;
Zadok and Abiathar served as priests during the early part of Solomon's reign, representing the religious leadership of Israel. Zadok, a descendant of Aaron through Eleazar, was a faithful priest who supported Solomon during the struggle for the throne against Adonijah (1 Kings 1:8). His loyalty was rewarded with a prominent position in Solomon's administration. Abiathar, on the other hand, was a descendant of Eli and had served David faithfully. However, his support for Adonijah's claim to the throne led to his eventual removal from the priesthood (1 Kings 2:26-27). This fulfilled the prophecy against the house of Eli (1 Samuel 2:31-35), demonstrating God's sovereignty and the importance of faithfulness to His chosen leaders. The dual mention of Zadok and Abiathar highlights the transitional period in Israel's priesthood, where God's purposes were being worked out through the political and religious shifts of the time. Persons / Places / Events 1. Benaiah son of JehoiadaA valiant warrior and loyal supporter of King Solomon, Benaiah was appointed as the commander of the army. His loyalty and military prowess were crucial during Solomon's consolidation of power. 2. ZadokA priest from the line of Eleazar, Zadok remained loyal to King David and later to Solomon. He played a significant role in the religious leadership of Israel and was instrumental in anointing Solomon as king. 3. AbiatharA priest from the line of Ithamar, Abiathar initially supported Adonijah's claim to the throne but later was removed from his priestly duties by Solomon. His account is a reminder of the consequences of political alliances. 4. The ArmyUnder Benaiah's leadership, the army was a key institution in maintaining Solomon's rule and ensuring the security of the kingdom. 5. PriesthoodThe dual mention of Zadok and Abiathar highlights the importance of religious leadership and the transition of priestly authority during Solomon's reign. Teaching Points Loyalty and LeadershipBenaiah's and Zadok's loyalty to Solomon and David exemplifies the importance of steadfastness and integrity in leadership roles. Christians are called to be loyal to God's purposes and to those He places in authority. Consequences of ChoicesAbiathar's removal from the priesthood serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of aligning with the wrong causes. Believers should seek God's guidance in their decisions and alliances. Role of Spiritual LeadershipThe mention of priests alongside military leaders underscores the balance between spiritual and temporal authority. Christians should recognize the importance of spiritual leadership in guiding communities and nations. God's Sovereignty in LeadershipThe appointments and removals in Solomon's administration reflect God's sovereign hand in establishing and deposing leaders. Trust in God's ultimate plan and timing is essential for believers. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Benaiah's role as commander of the army reflect the qualities God values in leadership? Consider other biblical leaders who demonstrated similar qualities. 2. What lessons can we learn from Zadok's loyalty to David and Solomon about maintaining faithfulness in our spiritual commitments? 3. In what ways does Abiathar's account warn us about the potential pitfalls of political alliances? How can we apply this to our own decision-making processes? 4. How does the balance of military and spiritual leadership in Solomon's administration inform our understanding of the relationship between church and state today? 5. Reflect on a time when you had to make a difficult choice about whom to support or follow. How did you seek God's guidance, and what was the outcome? How does this relate to the experiences of the individuals in 1 Kings 4:4? Connections to Other Scriptures 1 Chronicles 27:5-6Provides additional context about Benaiah's role and his previous accomplishments under King David, emphasizing his valor and leadership. 1 Samuel 2:35Relates to the prophecy about a faithful priest, which is fulfilled in Zadok's loyalty and service, contrasting with Abiathar's eventual fall from grace. 2 Samuel 15:24-29Describes the loyalty of Zadok and Abiathar during Absalom's rebellion, showcasing their initial unity and support for David. 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 Abiathar, Abi'athar, Army, Benaiah, Benai'ah, Chief, Command, Commander, Host, Jehoiada, Jehoi'ada, Priests, ZadokDictionary of Bible Themes 1 Kings 4:1-25 7236 Israel, united kingdom 1 Kings 4:2-5 5433 occupations 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 4:4 NIV1 Kings 4:4 NLT1 Kings 4:4 ESV1 Kings 4:4 NASB1 Kings 4:4 KJV
1 Kings 4:4 Commentaries
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