Discovery Box1 Kings 4:1-7 
Context4:1 King Solomon ruled over all Israel. 4:2 These were his officials:
Azariah son of Zadok was the priest.
4:3 Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, wrote down what happened. 1
Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was in charge of the records.
4:4 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was commander of 2 the army.
Zadok and Abiathar were priests.
4:5 Azariah son of Nathan was supervisor of 3 the district governors.
Zabud son of Nathan was a priest and adviser to 4 the king.
4:6 Ahishar was supervisor of the palace. 5
Adoniram son of Abda was supervisor of 6 the work crews. 7
4:7 Solomon had twelve district governors appointed throughout Israel who acquired supplies for the king and his palace. Each was responsible for one month in the year.
1 tn Heb “were scribes”; NASB, NIV, NRSV “secretaries”; TEV, NLT “court secretaries.”
2 tn Heb “was over.”
3 tn Heb “was over.”
4 tn Heb “close associate of”; KJV, ASV, NASB “the king’s friend” (a title for an adviser, not just an acquaintance).
5 tn Heb “over the house.”
6 tn Heb “was over.”
7 sn The work crews. This Hebrew word (מַס, mas) refers to a group of laborers conscripted for royal or public service.
