Ben-geber in Ramoth-gilead (the villages of Jair son of Manasseh in Gilead belonged to him, as well as the region of Argob in Bashan with its sixty great cities with walls and bronze bars); Ben-geberThe name "Ben-geber" translates to "son of Geber," indicating a lineage or heritage that is significant in the context of Israel's tribal and familial structures. In Hebrew, "Geber" can mean "man" or "strong man," suggesting that Ben-geber may have been recognized for his strength or leadership qualities. This highlights the importance of family lineage and the passing down of roles and responsibilities within the tribes of Israel. Ramoth-gilead
This location is historically significant as a city of refuge and a Levitical city. Situated in the territory of Gad, Ramoth-gilead was strategically important and often contested in biblical history. Its mention here underscores the administrative organization of Solomon's kingdom, where key cities were governed by trusted officials. The city's role as a refuge also symbolizes God's provision of safety and justice for His people. the settlements of Jair son of Manasseh in Gilead
Jair was a descendant of Manasseh, one of Joseph's sons, and his settlements in Gilead reflect the fulfillment of God's promise to the tribes of Israel regarding their inheritance. The reference to Jair's settlements emphasizes the continuity of God's covenant with Israel and the importance of maintaining tribal territories as part of their divine heritage. the region of Argob in Bashan
Argob was a fertile and prosperous region known for its fortified cities. Bashan, in the northern part of the Transjordan, was renowned for its rich pastures and strong cities. The mention of Argob highlights the wealth and strength of Solomon's kingdom, as well as the fulfillment of God's promise to give Israel a land flowing with milk and honey. sixty great cities with walls and bronze bars
The description of these cities as "great" with "walls and bronze bars" indicates their strength and security. In ancient times, city walls and fortified gates were essential for protection against invaders. The use of bronze, a strong and durable metal, signifies the advanced technology and resources available during Solomon's reign. This imagery reflects the prosperity and stability of Israel under Solomon's wise and God-given leadership. Persons / Places / Events 1. Ben-GeberA governor appointed by King Solomon, responsible for the region of Ramoth-gilead. 2. Ramoth-gileadA significant city in the territory of Gilead, known for its strategic and military importance. 3. Jair son of ManassehA descendant of Manasseh who had previously conquered and settled in parts of Gilead. 4. GileadA region east of the Jordan River, known for its balm and fertile land. 5. Argob in BashanA region noted for its fortified cities, characterized by strong walls and bronze bars. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty in LeadershipGod appoints leaders to govern and manage His people. Just as Solomon appointed governors, we must recognize and respect the authorities God places over us. Strategic StewardshipThe regions of Gilead and Bashan were strategically important. In our lives, we should identify and steward the resources and opportunities God has given us wisely. Legacy and InheritanceJair's legacy in Gilead reminds us of the importance of leaving a godly inheritance for future generations. Our actions today can impact our descendants. Strength in UnityThe fortified cities with walls and bronze bars symbolize strength and protection. As believers, we find strength in unity and community, fortified by our faith. Faithfulness in ServiceBen-Geber's role as a governor exemplifies faithful service. We are called to serve diligently in whatever capacity God has placed us. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the appointment of leaders like Ben-Geber reflect God's order and structure in governance? 2. In what ways can we identify and utilize the "strategic regions" or opportunities in our lives for God's glory? 3. What legacy are you building today that will impact future generations, and how can you ensure it aligns with God's will? 4. How can the concept of fortified cities inspire us to build strong spiritual defenses in our personal and communal lives? 5. Reflect on a time when you were called to serve in a specific role. How did you see God's hand in your service, and what lessons did you learn? Connections to Other Scriptures Numbers 32:41This passage provides background on Jair, son of Manasseh, who captured villages in Gilead, establishing his influence in the region. Deuteronomy 3:4-5Describes the conquest of Bashan and its fortified cities, highlighting the strength and strategic importance of the region. Joshua 13:30-31Details the inheritance of the half-tribe of Manasseh, including the lands of Bashan and Gilead, connecting to the territories overseen by Ben-Geber. 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 Argob, Bar, Bars, Bashan, Ben, Ben-geber, Brass, Brazen, Bronze, Cities, District, Gate, Geber, Gilead, Jair, Ja'ir, Large, Locks, Manasseh, Manas'seh, Pertained, Portion, Ramoth, Ramothgilead, Ramoth-gilead, Ra'moth-gil'ead, Region, Settlements, Sixty, Threescore, Towns, Villages, Wall, Walled, WallsDictionary of Bible Themes 1 Kings 4:13 4312 bronze
4831 largeness
5256 city
5316 fortress 1 Kings 4:1-25 7236 Israel, united kingdom 1 Kings 4:5-19 5434 officer 1 Kings 4:7-19 5489 rank 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 4:13 NIV1 Kings 4:13 NLT1 Kings 4:13 ESV1 Kings 4:13 NASB1 Kings 4:13 KJV
1 Kings 4:13 Commentaries
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