The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 73

EXPOSITION. CHAPTER IV. 1-19. much stress, however, must not be laid on this consideration, e.s the girls of the East SOLOMON'S ST.I.TE AND COU"BT OFFICIALS.- marry early, and these may well have been The account of Solomon's marriage and given to officers much their seniors, who had entry upon his religious e.b.d judiciolll! func- long been in office, and who had merited trnm is appropriately followed by a descrip- this distinction (cf. Josh. xv. 16; 1 Sam. xvii. t10n of his court, of the great functionaries 25 ; xviii.17) by the important services they oJ the realm, of hie royal state and magni- had rendered to the State. Ewe.Id sees in ficence, and, le.etly, of hie varied and unpre- these lists unmistakeable evidence of compila- cedented wisdom. It mlll!t not be supposed, tion from the public archives. But see Intro- however, from the occurrence of the lists in duction, sect. vi. If the historians of Israel this particular place, that they necessarily were the prophets, nothing is more natural represent the appointments of the early part than that they should record such details of of Solomon's reign. The mention of two the Augustan age of their race. of the married daughters of the king (vers. Ver. 1.-So King Solomon was king over 11, 15) has been generally thought to prove all Israel [All later kings ruled but a part that the record belongs to a much later of the land of Israel, as also did David at period, and it certainly affords a powerful first.] preBumption in favour of a later date. Too Ver, 2.--And these were the princes [i.e., OH, IV, 1-19.] THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 6'1