and these were their names: Ben-hur in the hill country of Ephraim; These were their namesThis phrase introduces a list of officials appointed by King Solomon to oversee various regions of his kingdom. The naming of individuals in the Bible often signifies their importance and role in God's unfolding plan. In ancient Israel, names were not just identifiers but carried deep meanings and often reflected the character or destiny of the person. The listing of names here underscores the organized and structured nature of Solomon's administration, reflecting wisdom and order, which are gifts from God. Ben-hur
The name "Ben-hur" translates to "son of Hur." In Hebrew, "Ben" means "son," and "Hur" can mean "noble" or "free." This name may indicate a lineage of nobility or freedom, suggesting that Ben-hur was a person of significant standing or heritage. The mention of his name in the context of Solomon's officials highlights the importance of heritage and family lineage in ancient Israelite society. It also reflects the biblical theme of God using individuals from various backgrounds to fulfill His purposes. in the hill country of Ephraim
The hill country of Ephraim was a significant region in ancient Israel, known for its fertile land and strategic location. Ephraim was one of the tribes of Israel, descended from Joseph's son Ephraim, and it held a prominent place in the history of Israel. The allocation of this region to Ben-hur indicates the trust and responsibility placed upon him by Solomon. The hill country was not only agriculturally important but also held spiritual significance, as it was near Shiloh, where the Tabernacle was located before the temple was built in Jerusalem. This highlights the intertwining of political, economic, and spiritual aspects in the governance of Israel, reflecting the holistic approach of Solomon's reign under God's guidance. Persons / Places / Events 1. Ben-hurOne of the twelve officials appointed by King Solomon to provide provisions for the king and his household. Each official was responsible for one month of the year. 2. Hill Country of EphraimA region in the central part of ancient Israel, known for its rugged terrain and significant historical and spiritual importance. It was part of the tribal inheritance of Ephraim, one of the sons of Joseph. 3. King SolomonThe son of King David, known for his wisdom, wealth, and building projects, including the Temple in Jerusalem. Solomon's reign is often seen as a time of peace and prosperity for Israel. 4. Provisioning SystemA system established by Solomon to ensure a steady supply of resources for the royal household, demonstrating his administrative wisdom and the prosperity of his reign. 5. Tribal InheritanceThe division of the land among the tribes of Israel, which was a fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham and his descendants. Teaching Points God's Provision and OrderSolomon's system of provisioning reflects God's desire for order and provision in our lives. We can trust that God has a plan for our needs. Stewardship and ResponsibilityBen-hur's role as an official reminds us of the importance of stewardship and fulfilling our responsibilities faithfully, whether in leadership or daily tasks. Significance of PlaceThe hill country of Ephraim, with its historical and spiritual significance, teaches us to value the places God has placed us and to seek His purpose in our current location. Legacy and InheritanceThe tribal inheritance of Ephraim points to the spiritual legacy we leave behind. We are called to invest in the next generation and pass on our faith. Wisdom in AdministrationSolomon's administrative wisdom is a model for us to seek God's guidance in managing our resources and responsibilities effectively. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the role of Ben-hur as an official under Solomon's reign illustrate the importance of faithful stewardship in our own lives? 2. In what ways can we see God's provision and order in the systems and structures around us today? 3. How can the historical and spiritual significance of the hill country of Ephraim inspire us to find purpose in our current place or situation? 4. What lessons can we learn from the tribal inheritance of Ephraim about leaving a spiritual legacy for future generations? 5. How can Solomon's wisdom in administration guide us in seeking God's wisdom for managing our personal and professional responsibilities? Connections to Other Scriptures 1 Kings 4:7Provides context for the appointment of the twelve officials, showing Solomon's organizational skills and the structure of his administration. Genesis 48:13-20Describes the blessing of Ephraim by Jacob, highlighting the significance of the tribe and its inheritance. Deuteronomy 33:13-17Moses' blessing over the tribe of Joseph, which includes Ephraim, emphasizing the tribe's strength and prosperity. 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 Ben, Ben-hur, Ephraim, E'phraim, Hill, Hill-country, Hur, Mount, NamesDictionary of Bible Themes 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 4:8 NIV1 Kings 4:8 NLT1 Kings 4:8 ESV1 Kings 4:8 NASB1 Kings 4:8 KJV
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