Limitless Word
Ben-deker in Makaz and Shaalbim, and Beth-shemesh, and Elonbeth-hanan;
1 Kings 4:9 · New American Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB Ben Deker, in Makaz, in Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh, and Elon Beth Hanan;
  • KJV The son of Dekar, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Bethshemesh, and Elonbethhanan:
  • BSB Ben-deker in Makaz, in Shaalbim, in Beth-shemesh, and in Elon-beth-hanan;
  • NKJV Ben-Deker, in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh, and Elon Beth Hanan;
  • NLT Ben-deker, in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth-shemesh, and Elon-bethhanan.

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

Ben Deker administers a district of several towns in the western lowlands. The detail continues the picture of an organized kingdom.

Overview

The second officer oversees a cluster of towns including Shaalbim and Beth Shemesh in the Shephelah region. Listing specific localities anchors the administration in real geography and shows comprehensive coverage of the land. The careful record reflects the good order of Solomon's well-governed realm.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 5

  • 1 Sam 6:12The cows took the straight way by the way to Beth Shemesh. They went along the highway, lowing as they went, and didn’t turn aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them to the border of Beth Shemesh.
  • Judg 1:35but the Amorites would dwell in Mount Heres, in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim. Yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became subject to forced labor.
  • 1 Sam 6:20The men of Beth Shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before Yahweh, this holy God? To whom shall he go up from us?”
  • Josh 19:42Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah,
  • Josh 21:16Ain with its suburbs, Juttah with its suburbs, and Beth Shemesh with its suburbs: nine cities out of those two tribes.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (12)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — 1 Kings videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on 1 Kings 4:9YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on 1 KingsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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 4:9 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

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.