📖WEB · 1 Kings 4:9
What does 1 Kings 4:9 mean?
"Ben Deker, in Makaz, in Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh, and Elon Beth Hanan;"
— 1 Kings 4:9 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the men subject to forced labor.
Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household. Each man had to make provision for a month in the year.
These are their names: Ben Hur, in the hill country of Ephraim;
Ben Deker, in Makaz, in Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh, and Elon Beth Hanan;
Ben Hesed, in Arubboth (Socoh and all the land of Hepher belonged to him);
Ben Abinadab, in all the height of Dor (he had Taphath, Solomon’s daughter, as wife);
Baana the son of Ahilud, in Taanach and Megiddo, and all Beth Shean which is beside Zarethan, beneath Jezreel, from Beth Shean to Abel Meholah, as far as beyond Jokmeam;
Explanation
This verse comes from a list in 1 Kings 4:7-19 that names twelve officers Solomon appointed over Israel, each responsible for supplying food and provisions for the king's household for one month out of the year. Verse 9 simply identifies one of these officers, a man named Ben-Deker, and specifies the district under his charge: the towns of Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Sh
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