1Salomo war nun König über ganz Israel.2Als oberste Beamte hatte er folgende Männer eingesetzt: Asarja Ben-Zadok als Priester,3Elihoref und Ahija, die Söhne von Schischa, als Staatsschreiber, Joschafat Ben-Ahilud als Kanzler,4Benaja Ben-Jojada als Heerführer, Zadok und Abjatar als Priester,5Asarja Ben-Natan als Vorsteher der Vögte, den Priester Sabud Ben-Natan als Freund des Königs,6Ahischar als Palastverwalter und Adoniram Ben-Abda als Beauftragter für die Zwangsarbeit.7Salomo hatte Israel in zwölf Bezirke eingeteilt, die von Vögten verwaltet wurden. Diese hatten reihum je einen Monat lang die Versorgung des königlichen Hofs zu übernehmen.8Hier sind ihre Namen: Ben-Hur für das Bergland von Efraïm;9Ben-Deker für das Gebiet der Städte Makaz, Schaalbim, Bet-Schemesch, Ajalon und Bet-Hanan;10Ben-Hesed für die Stadt Arubbot, das Gebiet von Socho und das ganze Land Hefer;11Ben-Abinadab – seine Frau war Salomos Tochter Tafat – für das Hügelland von Dor;12Baana Ben-Ahilud für Taanach und Megiddo, das ganze Gebiet um Bet-Schean in der Nähe von Zaretan, unterhalb von Jesreel, von Bet-Schean bis Abel-Mehola gegenüber von Jokneam;13Ben-Geber für die Stadt Ramot in Gilead, für die Zeltdörfer Jaïr Ben-Manasses in Gilead und das Gebiet von Argob in Baschan mit 60 großen Städten, die allesamt Mauern mit Torriegeln aus Bronze hatten;14Ahinadab Ben-Iddo für das Gebiet um Mahanajim;15Ahimaaz – seine Frau war Salomos Tochter Basemat – für das Stammesgebiet von Naftali;16Baana Ben-Huschai für das Stammesgebiet von Ascher und das Gebiet um Bealot;17Joschafat Ben-Paruach für das Stammesgebiet von Issachar;18Schimi Ben-Ela für das Stammesgebiet von Benjamin;19Geber Ben-Uri für das Gebiet von Sihon, dem König der Amoriter, und Og, dem König von Baschan im Land Gilead. Für das Land Juda war nur ein Vogt zuständig.20Das Volk von Juda und Israel war zahlreich wie der Sand am Meer. Es hatte zu essen und zu trinken und war glücklich.
1So King Solomon ruled over the whole nation of Israel.2Here are the names of his chief officials. Azariah was the priest. He was the son of Zadok.3Elihoreph and Ahijah were secretaries. They were the sons of Shisha. Jehoshaphat kept the records. He was the son of Ahilud.4Benaiah was the commander-in-chief. He was the son of Jehoiada. Zadok and Abiathar were priests.5Azariah was in charge of the local governors. He was the son of Nathan. Zabud was a priest. He was also the king’s adviser. He was the son of Nathan.6Ahishar was in charge of the palace. Adoniram was in charge of those who were forced to work for the king. He was the son of Abda.7Solomon had 12 local governors over the whole land of Israel. They provided supplies for the king and the royal family. Each governor had to provide supplies for one month out of each year.8Here are their names and areas. Ben-Hur’s area was the hill country of Ephraim.9Ben-Deker’s area was Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh and Elon Bethhanan.10Ben-Hesed’s area was Arubboth. Sokoh and the whole land of Hepher were included in his area.11Ben-Abinadab’s area was Naphoth Dor. He married Solomon’s daughter Taphath.12Baana’s area was Taanach, Megiddo and the whole territory of Beth Shan. Beth Shan was next to Zarethan below Jezreel. Baana’s area reached from Beth Shan all the way to Abel Meholah. It also went across to Jokmeam. Baana was the son of Ahilud.13Ben-Geber’s area was Ramoth Gilead. The settlements of Jair, the son of Manasseh, were included in his area in Gilead. The area of Argob in Bashan was also included. That area had 60 large cities that had high walls around them. The city gates were made secure with heavy bronze bars.14Ahinadab’s area was Mahanaim. He was the son of Iddo.15Ahimaaz’s area was Naphtali. He had married Basemath. She was Solomon’s daughter.16Baana’s area was Asher and Aloth. He was the son of Hushai.17Jehoshaphat’s area was Issachar. He was the son of Paruah.18Shimei’s area was Benjamin. He was the son of Ela.19Geber’s area was Gilead. He was the only governor over the area. He was the son of Uri. Gilead had been the country of Sihon and Og. Sihon had been king of the Amorites. Og had been king of Bashan.
Solomon’s daily supplies
20There were many people in Judah and Israel. In fact, they were as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. They ate, drank and were happy.21Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River Euphrates to the land of the Philistines. He ruled as far as the border of Egypt. All those countries brought the gifts he required them to bring him. And Solomon ruled over those countries for his whole life.22Here are the supplies Solomon required every day. 4.5 tonnes of the finest flour 9 tonnes of meal23ten oxen that had been fed by hand 20 oxen that had been fed on grasslands 100 sheep and goats deer, antelopes and roebucks the finest birds24Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms that were west of the River Euphrates. He ruled from Tiphsah all the way to Gaza. And he had peace and rest on every side.25While Solomon was king, Judah and Israel lived in safety. They were secure from Dan all the way to Beersheba. Everyone had their own vine and their own fig tree.26Solomon had 4,000 spaces where he kept his chariot horses. He had a total of 12,000 horses.27The local governors provided supplies for King Solomon. They provided them for all who ate at the king’s table. Each governor provided supplies for one month every year. The governors made sure the king had everything he needed.28They also brought barley and straw for the chariot horses and the other horses. Each of the governors brought the amounts required of them. They brought them to the proper places.
God makes Solomon very wise
29God made Solomon very wise. His understanding couldn’t even be measured. It was like the sand on the seashore. People can’t measure that either.30Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the east. It was greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.31Solomon was wiser than anyone else. He was wiser than Ethan, the Ezrahite. He was wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda. They were the sons of Mahol. Solomon became famous in all the nations around him.32He spoke 3,000 proverbs. He wrote 1,005 songs.33He spoke about plants. He knew everything about them, from the cedar trees in Lebanon to the hyssop plants that grow out of walls. He spoke about animals and birds. He also spoke about reptiles and fish.34The kings of all the world’s nations heard about how wise Solomon was. So they sent their people to listen to him.