“The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore; they ate, they drank and they were happy. And Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These countries brought tribute and were Solomon’s subjects all his life.“ 1 Kings 4:20-21 NIV
When I read a Bible passage that includes dimensions, weights, and volumes, they’re not typically expressed in English units like feet, pounds, and gallons. I’ve made a habit of converting the Biblical units to English units in order to gain a better understanding of what is written. The information learned from taking this extra step oftentimes proves staggering and adds so much to the story.
King Solomon ruled over Israel for many years. He had twelve district governors, and they had to supply the royal household with all its provisions for a month each.
Here is the grocery list of what King Solomon received EVERY SINGLE DAY:
–the finest flour, 30 cors (11,000 pounds)
–meal, 60 cors (22,000 pounds)
–stall-fed cattle, 10
–pasture-fed cattle, 20
–sheep and goats, 100
–deer, gazelles, roebucks, and choice fowl, unspecified
No mention is made of the vegetables and fruit, but it’s easy to imagine the quantities. Solomon also owned 4,000 stalls for chariot horses and 12,000 horses, and barley and straw were provided for them.
It makes one wonder how many people did King Solomon’s household feed? We often read in the Bible that a king invited someone to join him at his table to eat. I’m guessing the royal table must have been pretty big.
There has never been nor will there ever be another leader equal to him. A lesson taught in this example is that God viewed Solomon favorably, and He rewarded him with great provisions and a peaceful kingdom for a number of years.
God’s provision is a marvelous thing. Have you thanked Him today for what He has done for you?
Prayer: Thank you, God, for your great provision. Amen