4:1
We now get a description of the early days of Solomon’s reign. In many ways it paints a rather idyllic picture, with an apparent fulfilment of many of God’s promises. However, there are also the seeds of later failure. Solomon is presented in a positive light, with many of his organisational skills coming to the fore, but again there are the seeds of future downfall. Solomon ruled over all Israel. This period is the closest Israel came to fulfilling the Abrahamic promise, with peace, unity and prosperity.
4:2-19
We then get a list of “his chief officials”. Solomon knew how to run a government. Benaiah remains as commander of the army. Solomon split the country into twelve administrative areas, with a governor for each one. The tribal system was being overridden here. Some of the areas more or less match the tribal areas, others do not. Each area had to supply one month’s worth of the goods needed for the king and his court. Samuel in 1 Sam 8:11-18 had warned them what the cost of having a king would be, and in Solomon we see that being well and truly fulfilled. Interestingly Judah is not included in the twelve districts.
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