SOLOMON’S AUTHORITY, WISDOM, AND RICHES Solomon started his reign by encountering God, the King of kings, who chose him to reign on His people; like a steward who gets back to his Master before starting his job, to fulfill his will. He offered burnt offerings and peace offerings to proclaim his love and thanksgiving for the One who chose him; and raised prayers day and night. And when God appeared to him, he asked Him nothing other than to be granted the heavenly wisdom. Now he began his task by setting what was like a council of ministers (or secretaries) to work through them. His kingdom has extended according to the divine promises to the father Patriarchs, Abraham in particular; And he had favor in the sight of the kings all around him. His era was characterized by peace and prosperity; he entered into huge enterprises, and has got an exalted fame concerning his wisdom and literate productivity, including writing 3000 proverbs, 1005 songs, and some holy books by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit ; beside great works in the fields of Botany, Zoology, and Ichthyology. AndHe built, as well, the temple of the Lord. 1- Solomon’s council of ministers 1 - 20 2- The financial ordinance of the state 21 - 28 3- Solomon’s exalted fame 29 – 34 1- SOLOMON’S COUNCIL OF MINISTERS: (1 0 – 20) Solomon set what is like a council of ministers (secretaries), to carry out the affairs of the state under his supervision, beside 12 governors over all Israel (7). The council of ministers were formed of the following officials: https://coptic-treasures.com/ Azariah the son of Zadok, the priest, as the senior secretary. Elihoreph and Ahijah, as secretaries of the general affairs of the state. Jehoshaphat; responsible for the historical records concerning the royal events. Benaiah, over the army to defend the nation. Zadok and Abiathar the priests; responsible for the religious issues, and keeping the law of God. Azariah the son of Nathan; as the head over the 12 governors. Zabod, the personal secretary and special counselor of the king. Ahishar; over the household, and special needs of the royal wing. :Adoniram; as the general manager of the working force. Solomon’s wisdom was obvious in establishing an elaborate system for the state on all aspects. And it is to be noticed that no priority was given to the military side, the way it has been in the days of his father David. “So king Solomon was king over all Israel” (1) Not, like his father David who started his reign as king over Judea alone, for as long as seven and a half years. “And these were his officials: Azariah the son of Zadok the priest” (2) ‘Azariah’ or ‘Azariahu’, a Hebrew word meaning (helped by Jehovah), brother of ‘Ahimaaz’. According to some, he could not be a grandson of Zadok the high priest, the Supporter of Solomon, but another Zadok. The word ‘priest’ (hakoheen) here, as it came in the Chaldean version, is also equivalent to (prince). It is obvious that there were priests in the council of ministers, who https://coptic-treasures.com/ beside doing their religious task, they did their role as friends and counselors of the king; the way it was with some prophets and priests in the later eras. According to some, being put on the top of the list refers to his position as the head of the council of ministers, beside being the high priest (1 Chronicles 6: 10). And the word ‘priest’ in the text refers to ‘Azariah’, himself, and not to ‘Zadok’. “Elihoreph and Ahijah the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat, the son of Ahilud, the recorder” (2) ‘Elihoreph’ a Hebrew word, probably means (God grants the fruitful autumn). ‘Ahijah’, a Hebrew name, means (brother or friend of Jehovah); And ‘Shisha’ probably the same “Seraiah’ in 2 Samuel 8: 17, and Sheva in 2 Samuel 20: 25), also called ‘Shusha’, (1 Chronicles 18: 16), an Aramic name, means (the sun). They were both “scribes’, like (General secretaries of State), of the most prominent among his counselors; whose responsibilities were publishing the kings laws, writing down his messages, and probably taking care of his finances (1 kings 12: 10). In the days of David, there was only one scribe; but now with the great extension of the kingdom, came the need for a special department of secretaries. ‘Jehoshaphat’, a Hebrew word, means (Jehovah judges), the son of ‘Ahilud’, who supported David (2 Samuel 8: 16; 20: 24); responsible for recording the history of the royal events, and for reminding the king of the past events, to benefit in his judgment of the contemporary ones. He served both David and Solomon (2 Samuel 8: 16-18), as the official Historian. “Benaiah the son of jehoiadah over the army; Zadok and Abiathar the priests” (4) https://coptic-treasures.com/ ‘Benaiah’, a Hebrew word means (built by Johovah), supported Solomon to establish his throne (1 kings 1: 8); famed for his courage and valor on several occasions (2 Samuel 22: 20-23). Became the commander of the army after Joab; responsible for defending the nation, caring for the provision of weapons, chariots, and horses, for the general discipline and movements of the armed forces, beside his responsibility of securing and protecting the royal palaces. ‘Zadok’ and ‘Abiathar’ the priests. responsible for the religious affairs and keeping the law of God. Zadok, a Hebrew name, means (true, faithful, and righteous), the son of ‘Ahitob’, a descendant of ‘Eleazar’, the son of “Aaron’.(1 Chronocles 24: 3). He was most probably the young man who came to David in Hebron, together with the rulers of Israel, to turn Saul’s kingdom to David (1 Chronicles 12: 27-28). Together with Abiathar the son of ‘Ehimelech’, they joined David in his escape from Jerusalem, carried the ark of the Lord, before the king commanded them to return with the ark to the capital until the end of the conflict (2 Samuel 15: 24-29). After the death of Absalom, the king asked them to help convince the elders of Judah to bring him back to the throne (2 Samuel 19: 11). How could the name of ‘Abiathar’ as a high priest come together with Zadok, when he was ordered by king Solomon to stay in his fields at Anathoth (1 kings 2: 27)? It could be explained by the fact that Solomon removed him from practicing his priestly work, but did not deprive him of the honor and title of priesthood. According to some scholars, Zadok has been the high priest, and Abiathar has been his deputy; the way it will be later with ‘Annas’ and ‘Caiaphas’ at the time of the lord Jesus Christ. The prevailing view was that Zadok was appointed by king Saul as the high priest, while Abiathar was appointed by king David; and that Solomon, for political reasons chose to have the two of them together. ‘Abiathar’, a Hebrew word, means (father of goodness) or (father of superiority). The Lord Christ referred to him, saying. “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him, how he went into the https://coptic-treasures.com/ house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest and ate the showbread which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?” (Mark 2: 26). He remained faithful to David when his son Absalom rebelled against him, but joined forces with Joab and Shemei when his son Adonijah rebelled against him, and tried to take the throne by force. “Azariah the son of Nathan over the officers; Zabud the son of Nathan, a priest and the king’s friend” (5) Azariahu was appointed by Solomon as a general Steward and head of the 12 governors (7). It is not known whether he was the son of Nathan the prophet, a supporter of king Solomon, or of Nathan the son of David; yet the title (over the officers) here, (cohen) or (kohen) were given to all the sons of David (2 Samuel 8: 18); which makes it more probable that he was the son of Nathan, the son of David (2 Samuel 5: 14), rather than being the son of Nathan the prophet. ‘Zabud’ the son of Nathan Zabod is a Hebrew name, means (talented), the personal secretary and counselors of the king’s private affairs. “Ahishar over the household; and Adiniran the son of Abda over the labor force” (6) ‘Ahishar’, a Hebrew word, means (brother of the upright man), over the household, to care for its affairs, for those of the royal wing in particular. The importance of that post was apparent in what was mentioned in 2 kings 18: 18, when the Assyrian king sent a huge army to Jerusalem and its commander called for the king, who sent to him instead ‘Eliakim’ who was over the household, whose name came before the scribe and the recorder; namely the king considered him his senior deputy to carry out the debate in such serious issues that touched the wellbeing of the nation. That was also apparent in what came in Isaiah 22: 15- 25. https://coptic-treasures.com/ ‘Adoniram’, or ‘Adoram’ (2 Samuel 20: 24; I Chronicles 12: 18), or ‘Hadoram’ (2 Chronicles 10: 18), the son of ‘Abda’, over the labor force, the general manager of the royal projects. He remained in his post until the days of Rehoboam, who sent him to those who rebelled against him, to be stoned to death (1 kings 12: 18; 2 Chronicles 10: 18), “And Solomon had twelve governors over all Israel who provided food for the king and his household, each one made provision for one month of the year” (7) Solomon adopted a system of governorates, putting a governor on each of the twelve governorate, whose main job was to provide the royal household with its food needs (27), and to collect taxes to spend on the king’s projects (22-23), on the huge army (28, 26), and on building the temple; although king David has already prepared an abundance of building materials and possibilities. It is to be noticed that no governor was appointed on the portion of Judah, as a kind of privilege to the royal tribe, The twelve governors were not rulers under the king (chamberlains), to carry out the state affairs, but their main responsibility was to collect the taxes, which was not in cash but rather as a portion of the crops. Solomon’s buildings, the expenses of his household, with the multitude of elite visitors, his great generosity, the luxury of his attires and those of the members of his royal court, have all been on the expense of the people; the enormity of which caused some kind of grumbling; warned against by the prophet Samuel when the people demanded a king like the nations around them (1 Samuel 17, 15; 8: 12); and realized by Solomon himself. Those governors, because of the nature of their work, had some kind of authority; And here are their names: https://coptic-treasures.com/ “Ben Hur, in the mountains of Ephraim” (8) It is befitting of us here to say that, together with his wisdom, and his abilities of discipline and ordinance, Solomon was characterized by a spirit of humility; Several of Solomon’s officers were previously appointed by his father David; and Solomon, without arrogance or haughtiness, did not disregard his father’s wisdom and experience, and kept a great number of them. Many children wrongly assume that their strong personality is shown by an utter change of what they have inherited from their parents. So many rulers do with what they inherit of their predecessors. The successful son or ruler is he who mixes his wisdom with humility, and does not despise the work of his predecessors. Solomon, appointed as well many of the sons of the priests and prophets, for, after his father the prophet and priest, he inherited his trust in the men of God, and his faith in God’s blessing in ordaining all issues. “Ben Hur”: In upper Egypt and in Syria, men are referred to, not by their names but as “the son of …”. According to some, those governors were young men who were appointed in their positions for their fathers’ sakes. The province of ‘Ben Hur’ was in the mountains of Ephraim, extending from Jerusalem northwards to ‘Jezreel, a fertile land, given the name ‘Samaria’ in the New Testament. “Ben-Deker, in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh, and Elon Beth Hanan” (9) ‘Ben Deker’ a Hebrew word, means (a side). https://coptic-treasures.com/ ‘Shaalbim’, a Hebrew word, probably means (foxes), given to a province in Ephraim, through which king Saul passed, after leaving ‘Shalisha’ behind, searching for the lost donkeys of his father (1 Samuel 9: 4). And ‘Elon Beth Hanan’, probably was in the land of the tribe of ‘Dan’. “Ben-Hesed’, in Arubboth; to him belonged Socoh and all the land of Hepher” (10) ‘Nen-Hesed’, a Hebrew word, means (mercy, grace). ‘’Arubboth’, a Hebre word, means (energies), its location nowadays is at ‘Araba’, west of ‘Dothan’, and ‘Genin’ in the kingdom of Jordan. ‘Socoh’ or ‘Soko’, a Hebrew word, means (longings); called nowadays ‘Kherbet- Showeka’, where the Valley of ‘Shor’ bends westwards, to be called ‘Valley of ‘Sant’, (of Acacia), nine miles from ‘Beth-Gebrin’. ‘Hepher’, a Hebrew word, means (a pit or a well), a town west of the River Jordan (Joshua 12: 17); a province close to ‘Sokoh’, which, according to some is ‘Bishar’ Hill, on the Valley of ‘Hawareth’ in the plains of ‘Sharon’; And to others, it is nowadays ‘Mashhad’ in Judah. “Ben-Abinadab in all the regions of Dor; he had ‘Taphath’, the daughter of Solomon as wife” (11) ‘Abinadab’, a Hebrew word, means (the father is generous). It was the custom of some rulers of the East to make strong family relationships with the prominent people of the nation, through giving them girls of the royal household in marriage. So did Solomon, who gave, ‘Abinadab, most probably his cousin, ‘Taphath’ his daughter in marriage. ‘Dor’, a Canaanite word, means (A dwelling place), eight miles north of Caesarea, whose king was defeated by Joshua (Joshua 12: 2, 23) within the https://coptic-treasures.com/ portion of ‘Asher’, then given to Manasseh (Joshua 17: 11). There are some remains of ‘Dor’, north of ‘Tantor’. ‘Taphath’, a Hebrew word, means (a drop). “Baana the son of Ahilud, in Taannach, Magiddo, and all Beth Shean, which is beside Zaretan below Jezreel, from Beth Shean to Abel Meholah, as far as the other side of Jokaneam” (12) “Baana’, a Hebrew word, means (son of anguish), was a governor on the southern province in the Valley of ‘Jezreel’, from ‘Magiddo to the Jordan; he was probably brother of ‘Jehoshaphath’ the recorder. ‘Taanach’, a Canaanite word, means (A sandy land), on the frontier of ‘Issachar’, but was given to Manasseh (Joshua 17: 11; 1 Chronicles 7: 29), then to the Levites (Joshua 21: 15). And failing to drive the Canaanites out of it, Manasseh put a tax on them (Judges 1: 27). It is probably ‘Aner’ (1 Chronicles 6: 70). ‘Taanach’ hill is the location of the old town, between the lowland on the southern side of the plains of ‘Jezreel’, five miles south east of the old ‘Magiddo’. ‘Magiddo’ or ‘’Magedon’, a town of Manasseh, within the portion of ‘Issachar’; was called ‘Armageddon’ (Revelation 16: 16), namely, (The hill of Mageddon). Nowadays is replaced by ‘Hill of Motasallem’, about twenty miles south east of Haifa, at the southern extremity of the mountain ranges that end by Mount Carmel in the North. There, some inscriptions were discovered that reveal the culture of the Canaanite civilization; and excavations revealed a tunnel leading to a spring of water, indicating their engineering abilities; as well as stables including 450 mangers, probably going back to the days of either Solomon or Ahab. ‘Beth Shean’, a Hebrew word means (house of tranquility), a town five miles west of the River Jordan; which, after the captivation it came to be the main city among the Decapolis (the ten cities) , called ‘Scithopolis’, in its place nowadays, ‘Hill of Hesn’, close to ‘Bisan’; with its remains of temples, courts, amphitheaters, https://coptic-treasures.com/ horse racing courses, etc. that refer to its past greatness; Beside some ancient Egyptian remains, like a statue of Siti 1, and Ramses !!. ‘Zaretan’, a village north of ‘Jezreel’, between ‘Beth Shean’ and ‘Adam’ (Joshua 3: 16) in the land of Manasseh, within the lowland of ‘Gor’ of Jordan, close to ‘Sokoth’. It was also called ‘Aerda’ (Judges 7: 22); According to some, it is replaced nowadays by ‘Sartabah’ horn, and to others by ‘Selekhat Hill’, and to a third party, by ‘Saidia Hills’. ‘Abel Meholah’, Hebrew word, means (dancing pasture), probably was located in the Valley of Jordan, where the prophet Elisha dwelt (1 kings 19: 16). According to St. Jerome, it was ten Roman miles south of ‘Bisan’; most probably close to ‘Abi-Sefri’ Hill, where the Valley of ‘Maleh’ meet the Valley of ‘Helwah’. ‘Jokaneam’, a Hebrew word, means (Let the people arise), a passage on the Jordan, close to Beth-Shean. “Ben-Geber in Ramoth Gilead, to him belonged the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh in Gilead, to him also belonged the region of Argob in Bashan – sixty large cities with walls and bronze gate-bars” (13) ‘Geber’ means (man or hero) ‘Ramoth Gilead’, a Hebrew word, means (Heights of Gilead), one of the most famous cities of ‘Gad’, east of the Jordan; given to the Levites, as a city of refuge (Deuteronomy 4: 43; Joshua 20: 8); also called ‘Ramah’ (2 Chronicles 22: 6); probably replaced nowadays by ‘Tel-Ramith’ Hooot ‘Jair’, a Hebrew word, means (villages, or camps of Jair), towns with no walls, north-west of Bashan, in the province of ‘Agob’, which was taken over by ‘Jair’ from the tribe of Manasseh; sometimes refer to the eastern lands in the Jordan Valley, or to Canaan, west of the River; and other times, more widely, to the whole highland east of the River. The same name often refers to several regions of land (1 Chronicles 1: 21-23; Numbers 32-40, 41; 1 kings 4: 13). https://coptic-treasures.com/ ‘Argob’, a Hebrew word, means (a lump of mud), located on the frontier of ‘Gashor’ and ‘Maaka’; has been among the possession of ‘Og’, in the days the Israelites entered into Canaan. This province, at that time, including 60 fortified towns, was taken over by ‘Jair’ from the tribe of Manasseh; hence called after the name of ‘Jair’. ‘Bashaan’, a Hebrew word, means (a paved land), located east of the Jordan, between the towns of ‘harmon’ and Gilead (Numbers 21: 33), included ‘Horan’, ‘Golan’, and ‘Lagaa’, all of volcanic rocks and dirt, of high fertility, and with plenty of water; its eastern side goes through the ‘Drewz’ mountain, the old ‘Mount Bashaan’, mentioned 60 times in the Holy Book. “Ahinadab the son of Iddo in Mahanaim” (14) ‘Ahinadab’, a Hebrew name, means (My brother is noble or generous). ‘Mahanaim’, a Hebrew word, means (two camps), a town east of the Jordan, given to the tribe of ‘Gad’ (Joshua 13: 30), and to half the tribe of Manasseh (Joshua 13: 30); was probably divided into two parts, one belonged to ‘Gad’, and the other to ‘Manasseh’. The former part was given to the sons of Marrari, as a city of refuge (Joshua 21: 38; 1 Chronicles 6: 8); north of ‘Yabok’, well-known in the days of the kings, for being where Ishbosheth the son of Saul dwelt (2 Smuel 12; 2: 8); and where David went during his escape from his son Absalom (2 Samuel 17: 24; 1 Chronicles 2: 8); probably referred to in the Song of songs (6: 13); replaced nowadays by ‘Kherbet Mehna, north of Eglon. “Ahimaz, in Nephtali, he also took Basemath the daughter of Solomon as wife” (15) ‘Ahimaz’, a Hebrew word, means (brother of disgust or of anger); according to some, he was the same ‘Ahimaz’ the son of ‘Zadok’ the high priest, who together of ‘Abiathar’, remained in Jerusalem during the rebellion of Absalom (2 Samuel https://coptic-treasures.com/ 15: 27; 17: 15-21); and was the first to inform David about the defeat of Absalom (2 Samuel 18: 19-30). ‘Basmeth’ or ‘Basma’, a Hebrew word, means (sweet fragrance) “Baanah the son of Hushai in Asher and Aloth” (16) ‘Baanah’ the son of ‘Hushai’, was probably the same ‘Hushai’ the faithful friend, and the wise counselor of David (2 Samuel 15: 32; 17: 5, etc.). ‘Asher’, a Hebrew word, means (happy or pleased) ‘Aloth’, a Hebrew word, means (a lady), located in the portion of the tribe of ‘Asher’. “Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar” (17) “Jehoshaphat’ the son of ‘Paruah’, a Hebrew word, means (Jehovah judges) “Shimei, the son of Elah in Benjamin” (18) ‘Shimei, the son of ‘Elah’, a Hebrew word, means (Jehovah’ hears), a Benjaminite hero of David. “Geber the son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, in the country of Sihon, king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan; and he was the only governor who was in the land” (19) ‘Gilead’, a Hebrew word, means (solid, or tough); a mountain region east of the Jordan, extending to the land of the Arabs, including the modern Balkaa; a rocky rough land (Deuteronomy 34: 1; 2 Samuel 2: 9). In Gilead, there was a kind of https://coptic-treasures.com/ trees that produce an acid material, called ‘Balm of Gilead’ with a medicinal effect (Jeremiah 8: 22; 46: 11), of sticky milky nature, that quickly freezes, used in treating inflammations. In the days of Alexander the Great, its weight valued was twice that of silver. ‘Geber the son of Uri’, was probably the same ‘Geber’, mentioned in verse 13. “Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand of the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and rejoicing” (20) 2- THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT OF THE STATE: (21 – 28) “So Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life” (21) Solomon’s empire. Like all the other Asian empires in the days of Persia, was formed of a number of small kingdoms ruled by their own kings, who brought annual tributes. “from the river”; namely, the kingdom extended from the River Euphrates, according to the divine promise to Abraham, to the prophet Moses, and to Joshua the son of Nun; the most important of those kingdoms has been Syria, Moab, and Emmon, located between the River Euphrates and the Mediterranean Sea coast, North of the frontier of Egypt. Bringing tributes meant paying taxes, as mentioned in 2 Samuel 2: 8, etc. ‘Tyre’, a city of great commercial fame, on the Mediterranean coast, close to Israel, its inhabitants, being traders, of peaceful tendencies, entered into no animosity against Israel. Its king ‘Hiram’, used to admire and love the person of David, the prophet and king; and, according to some, influenced by him, he came to worship the living God, and to forsake idol-worship. And when David died, he sent a delegation of princes and great rulers to pay condolence to his son https://coptic-treasures.com/ Solomon, to congratulate him for being enthroned as the new king, and to renew their covenant with him. His intention was to live in peace and love with the kings of Israel. “Now Solomon’s provisions for one day was thirty kors of fine flour, sixty kors of meal” (22) ‘Kor’, a measure like ‘homer’; was according to ‘Josephus’, equal to 86 English gallons; according to the Jewish Rabbis, was equal to 44 gallons, and to others, was equal to 67 gallons. Thirty kors were equal to 33 sacs of flour; and the 60 kors were equal to 66 sacs of meal; That quantity of flour was the provision to 10,000 persons in the royal household, the royal guards, the guests, etc. “Ten fatted oxen, twenty oxen from the pastures, and one hundred sheep, besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fatted fowl” (23) “For he had dominion over all the region on this side of the River from the Tiphsah even to Gaza, namely over all the kings on this side of the River; and he had peace on every side all around him” (24) ‘Tiphsah’, a Hebrew word, means (a swamp land), a town at the extreme end of Solomon’s possessions toward the Euphrates; is ‘Theptex’, located on the western bank of the Euphrates, one of the most important passages in the middle part of the Euphrates; nowadays known as ‘Debsah’. “And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, each man under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan as far as Beersheba, all the days of Solomon” (25) They did not have to dwell in fortified cities, for fear of the attacks of enemies; but they were spread all over the place, feeding upon the fruit of their own labor. This expression used to refer to the peaceful way of life (2 kings 18: 31); and was https://coptic-treasures.com/ often used by the prophets as a symbol of the prosperity of the Messianic era (Micah 4: 4; Zechariah 3: 10). “Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twenty thousand horsemen” (16) Two or three horses used to feed from one stall. The Jewish kings, however, were forbidden by God to have a multitude of horses ( Deuteronomy 17:16). According to some the figure 40,000 was wrongly quoted, and the right one was only 4,000. “And these governors, each man in his month, provided food for king Solomon and for all who came to king Solomon’s table. There was no lack in their supply” (27) “They also brought barley and straw to the proper place, for the horses and steeds, each man according to his charge” (28) Barley mixed with straw are still the main food for the horses in the Middle East. 3- SOLOMON’S EXALTED FAME: (28 – 34) “And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore” (29) The secret of Solomon’s glory was the wisdom he received as a gift from God, more so than the riches, he experienced, to say: “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (6). And in the book of ‘Job’, it came: “Who has put wisdom in the mind? Or who has given understanding to the heart?” (Job 38: 36). https://coptic-treasures.com/ According to some, “the largeness of heart” refers to the width of knowledge, as well as to the lack of any kind of anguish; In everything he acts with courage and daring, with no fear. He used to receive everything from God with joy and pleasure; and his heart never suffered anxiety before any event or any man. The psalmist says: “I will run in the way of Your commandments; for You shall enlarge my heart” (Psalm 119: 32). He likens the largeness of heart to the sand of the seashore, as far as the multitude of wisdom and knowledge. “Thus Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt” (30) By “men of the East”, he weans the Arab tribes in the regions East of Canaan, up to the River Euphrates (Judges 6: 3; 7: 12; 8: 10; Job 1: 3; Isaiah 11: 15). And also the Chaldeans, who used to boast their knowledge in Astronomy and Astrology. And the Egyptians who were indisputably famous (Isaiah 19: 11; 31: 2; Acts 7: 22) in several branches of knowledge like architect, astrology, astronomy, sculpture, etc. beside their exceptional knowledge of botanical medicine. “For he was wiser than all men – than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol and Darda, the sons of Mahol; and his fame was in all the surrounding nations” (31) Those persons, probably contemporaries of Solomon, were famous for their wisdom, beside being musicians and composers of songs, in which Solomon has been superior to all of them. ‘Ethan the Ezrahite’: ‘Ethan’, a Hebrew word, means (holding fast) (1 Chronicles 6: 44). He was the composer of psalm 89. ‘Heman’, a Hebrew word, means (honest) (1 Chronicles 15: 17-19); he was the composer of psalm 88. https://coptic-treasures.com/ ‘Calcol’, a Hebrew word, means (short and swift). ‘Darda’ or ‘Dareh’, a Hebrew word, probably means (thorns). ‘Mahol’, a Hebrew word, means (dancing), was the father of the later mentioned three, They were all wise men of the ‘Zareh’s’ family, of the tribe of ‘Judah’. “He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand and five” (32) Among those proverbs we have what came in the book of proverbs; and among the songs, beside the book of the Song of songs, we have the two psalms 72 and 127. According to St. Hyppolytus of Rome, the Song of songs is not considered among the one thousand and five songs of Solomon.. In his proverbs and songs, Solomon wrote about plants, animals, air, sea, and the healing of ailments; The church, however, through an inspiration of the Holy Spirit, chose from among them what is for the healing of the soul, lest the people would be preoccupied with the healing of their bodies, and disregard what is for their spiritual healing. “And he spoke of trees, from the cedar tree of Lebanon, even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall; he spoke also of animals, of birds, of creeping things, and of fish” (33) The wise men of the old used to have interest in plants for the sake of their medicinal benefits. The Jews used to divide the animal kingdom into four categories: Land animals, Birds, Reptiles, and Fish. And it was claimed that Solomon could talk with animals in their own languages. https://coptic-treasures.com/ Solomon could be considered as the first scientist of Nature and Physics in the world; And it is a great loss to lose all his personal works. Solomon, thus, beside being a king, has been a just judge, wise man, poet, musician, philosopher, a scientist of nature, and an author. “And men of all nations, from all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom, came to hear the wisdom of Solomon” (34) Beside the wisdom and knowledge granted to him by God, Solomon had success in his political work, that his empire got well-established, and his era was characterized by peace with the surrounding nations. He was, as well, so talented in literature, and in music, that he wrote proverbs, and composed songs which he, himself played; to become of exalted world fame in every field of knowledge. Solomon’s kingdom, as is obvious from this chapter, refers to the kingdom of the Lord Christ, according to the following aspects: * Extending from the River to the Sea (Psalm 72: 8-11), it refers to the kingdom of the Lord Christ that extends from one corner of the universe to the other; having received the nations as His inheritance, and before whom kings and princes worship (Isaiah 49: 6-7; 53: 12). * His kingdom was characterized by peace and security. * Whoever gets attached to the king, will eat, drink, and rejoice (20); a joyful kingdom that fulfills the souls of believers. * A glorious kingdom, blessed by all around it. * The Fountain of every wisdom, and the source of every perfection. https://coptic-treasures.com/ * According to what came in chapter 10, the queen of Sheba was among those who came to hear Solomon’s wisdom, and probably the greatest of them all. We actually marvel at all those great and commoners, who came from all over the world, to listen to someone reputed for his wisdom, something that we rarely see nowadays, and if we ever do, it would not be in such an amazing way. It is obvious that all of them came, not for the sake of curiosity, but for their own edification. * Solomon, here, appears as a symbol of the Lord Christ, in whom hide all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, for our edification; as according to the apostle Paul: “He came to be wisdom for us”. ------------------------- AN INSPIRATION FROM 1 KINGS 4 GRANT ME THE SPIRIT OF ORDINANCE AND UNDERSTANDING + Let me acquire You, O Wisdom of God, to become by You a wise man; Together with Solomon, grant me the spirit of ordinance; So that, by Your Spirit, I would walk with the spirit of order and not of confusion. + By Your Spirit I would enjoy an inner peace; To have harmony between the soul and all its energies and capabilities; To have harmony between the mind, the emotion, and the feeling; In me, Your Spirit would set well-disciplined inner leadership; + You granted Solomon wisdom, good ordinance, and a talent of poetry; Open up my mouth, to utter heavenly proverbs; https://coptic-treasures.com/ Let Your Holy Spirit play on the strings of my heart; To sing, together with Solomon, one thousand and five songs; Let my practical behavior be in harmony with my holy words in You; Let my words be in harmony with the exultation of my heart for You; For You are the Grantor of wisdom; the Giver of praise and joy.
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