1-2. King Solomon was off to a good start ruling Israel.These were the leaders in his government:
2-6. Azariah son of Zadok—the priest;Elihoreph and Ahijah, sons of Shisha—secretaries;Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud—historian;Benaiah son of Jehoiada—commander of the army;Zadok and Abiathar—priests;Azariah son of Nathan—in charge of the regional managers;Zabud son of Nathan—priest and friend to the king;Ahishar—manager of the palace;Adoniram son of Abda—manager of the slave labor.
20-21. Judah and Israel were densely populated—like sand on an ocean beach! All their needs were met; they ate and drank and were happy. Solomon was sovereign over all the kingdoms from the River Euphrates in the east to the country of the Philistines in the west, all the way to the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and were vassals of Solomon all his life.
22-23. One day’s food supply for Solomon’s household was:185 bushels of fine flour375 bushels of meal10 grain-fed cattle20 range cattle100 sheepand miscellaneous deer, gazelles, roebucks, and choice fowl.