And Ahishar was over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute.
Parallel translations
- WEB Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the men subject to forced labor.
- BSB Ahishar was in charge of the palace; and Adoniram son of Abda was in charge of the forced labor.
- NKJV Ahishar, over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda, over the labor force.
- NASB and Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the forced labor.
- NLT Ahishar was manager of the palace property. Adoniram son of Abda was in charge of forced labor.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Ahishar manages the royal household, and Adoniram oversees forced labor. The list notes both palace administration and large public works.
Overview
The roster concludes with officers over the household and over the labor force used for Solomon's vast building projects. The presence of a chief over forced labor hints at the burdens that would later provoke discontent and contribute to the kingdom's division (12:4). Thus even amid Solomon's glory, a seed of future strain appears in the record.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- 1 Kgs 9:15And this is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised; for to build the house of the LORD, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.
- 1 Kgs 12:18Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
- 2 Sam 20:24And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder:
- 1 Kgs 5:13–14And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.
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Christ at the center
Solomon's glory, wisdom, and temple where God's presence dwells are a shadow of the greater Son of David — 'one greater than Solomon is here' — and of the true Temple, Christ himself.
How 1 Kings 4:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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