1 Reis 4

1 Reis 4

Morgan - These were the golden days of the monarchy. For awhile the people had rest from war, and the king gave himself up to the careful organization of his kingdom. He ruled with the understanding heart which he had received from Jehovah, and the system of government as set forth in this chapter is remarkable. The king was supreme, but he gathered around him a company of officers of state, each having his own department, for which he was responsible. The words which we emphasize pictorially set forth the peace and prosperity which characterized the period. Such a time is always one of peril to a nation. It is under circumstances of adversity, when a strain is put upon life, that man is most likely to realize and practise his dependence upon God. Circumstances of ease, when demands upon life are not severe, are always calculated to produce evil results, spiritually and morally. In saying that, have we not almost inadvertently revealed the secret of the peril? Life is not intended for ease, if by ease is meant anything approaching indolence. Days of prosperity should never be days when service ceases. Life is so rich potentially, that there is always room for fuller realization, and all enrichment should but create opportunities for more complete development. That was the meaning of the garden of Eden with its work, before man sinned. That will be the meaning of the Kingdom of God when fully established .on earth, not laziness, but strenuous activity in.the fulness of strength. Luxury, producing languor, destroys. Abundance, inspiring endeavour, makes for permanence. 1 Kings 4:26 Solomon had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen. KJV 1 Kings 4:26 And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. (MASSORETIC TEXT HAS "40,000") NET 1 Kings 4:26 Solomon had 4,000 stalls for his chariot horses and 12,000 horses. CSB 1 Kings 4:26 Solomon had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen. ESV 1 Kings 4:26 Solomon also had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen. NIV 1 Kings 4:26 Solomon had four thousand stalls for chariot horses, and twelve thousand horses. NLT 1 Kings 4:26 Solomon had 4,000 stalls for his chariot horses, and he had 12,000 horses. NRS 1 Kings 4:26 Solomon also had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. NJB 1 Kings 5:6 And Solomon had four thousand stalls of horses for his chariots and twelve thousand cavalrymen. NAB 1 Kings 5:6 Solomon had four thousand stalls for his twelve thousand chariot horses. YLT 1 Kings 4:26 And Solomon hath forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. GWN 1 Kings 4:26 Solomon had stalls for 40,000 chariot horses. He also had 12,000 chariot soldiers. BBE 1 Kings 4:26 And Solomon had four thousand boxed-off spaces for horses for his carriages, and twelve thousand horsemen. RSV 1 Kings 4:26 Solomon also had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. NKJ 1 Kings 4:26 Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. ASV 1 Kings 4:26 And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. DBY 1 Kings 4:26 And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. NIRV 1 Kings 4:26 Solomon had 4,000 spaces where he kept his chariot horses. He had a total of 12,000 horses. RWB 1 Kings 4:26 And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. WEB 1 Kings 4:26 And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. stalls: 1Ki 10:25,26 De 17:16 2Sa 8:4 2Ch 1:14 2Ch 9:25 Ps 20:7 Related Passages: Deuteronomy 17:16-17+ “Moreover, he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor shall he cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, since the LORD has said to you, ‘You shall never again return that way.’ “He shall not multiply wives for himself, or else his heart will turn away; nor shall he greatly increase silver and gold for himself. Deuteronomy 17:18-20+ (DID THIS CONTRIBUTE TO THE PATHOGENESIS OF SOLOMON'S DECLINE AND EVENTUAL DOWNFALL? SOLOMON HAD "HEART DISEASE"!) 18 "Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. 19 "And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes, 20 that his heart may not be lifted up above his countrymen and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or the left; in order that he and his sons may continue long in his kingdom in the midst of Israel. 1 Kings 10:28 Also Solomon’s import of horses was from Egypt and Kue, and the king’s merchants procured them from Kue for a price. 2 Chronicles 9:25 Now Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots and 12,000 horsemen, and he stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 1 Kings 10:26-29 Now Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen; and he had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, and he stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 27 The king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and he made cedars as plentiful as sycamore trees that are in the lowland. 28 Also Solomon’s import of horses was from Egypt and Kue, and the king’s merchants procured them from Kue for a price. 29 A chariot was imported from Egypt for 600 shekels of silver, and a horse for 150; and by the same means they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of the Arameans. 2 Chronicles 1:14-17 Solomon amassed chariots and horsemen. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, and he stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem. 15 The king made silver and gold as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars as plentiful as sycamores in the lowland. 16 Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue; the king’s traders procured them from Kue for a price. 17 They imported chariots from Egypt for 600 shekels of silver apiece and horses for 150 apiece, and by the same means they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram. Psalm 20:7 Some boast in chariots and some in horses, But we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God. 1 Kings 10:26-29 Now Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen; and he had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, and he stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 27 The king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and he made cedars as plentiful as sycamore trees that are in the lowland. 28 Also Solomon’s import of horses was from Egypt and Kue, and the king’s merchants procured them from Kue for a price. 29 A chariot was imported from Egypt for 600 shekels of silver, and a horse for 150; and by the same means they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of the Arameans. 40,000 Stalls on Left/4000 Stalls on Right SOLOMON'S EQUINE MULTIPLICATION Solomon had 40,000 stalls (marbeq) of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen - 2 Chronicles 9:25 has 4000 stalls so many suggest this was a copyist's error in 1Ki 4:26. Either way this is a whole lot of horses to feed and keep groomed (spoken by a dad who had one horse riding daughter which was a very expensive hobby!) Of course, regardless of the exact number, 4000 or 40000 is some major equine multiplication and surely represents disobedience to God's warning in Deuteronomy 17:16+ which says of a king of Israel “Moreover, he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor shall he cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, since the LORD has said to you, ‘You shall never again return that way.' Solomon was storing up for himself trouble in the future, as he would experience God's immutable sowing and reaping principle! Hosea 8:7 says "they sow the wind And they reap the whirlwind." The whirlwind was coming for Solomon! THOUGHT - One has to ask if this horse stall scenario is another clue suggesting Solomon is drifting from his early devotion to Jehovah? Spiritual drifting is usually not abrupt, but is subtle and often difficult to recognize! How many "stalls" (metaphorically speaking) do you have beloved? See Backsliding and Backsliding-Quotes, Devotionals, Illustrations. Warren