Solomon’s extensive daily portion underscores the unmatched prosperity Israel enjoyed under his wise and influential leadership.
Solomon’s daily provision for his royal court is detailed in 1 Kings 4 with the statement that he received ten fat oxen, twenty pasture-fed oxen, a hundred sheep besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened fowl (v.23). This extensive list of animals and game highlights the tremendous scale of King Solomon’s household and realm during his reign from 971 BC to 931 BC. Solomon was the third king of Israel, following his father David; under Solomon’s leadership, Israel experienced profound growth in national influence, a thriving economy, and an unusually long season of unity and stability.
By stating that Solomon’s court regularly consumed ten fat oxen, twenty pasture-fed oxen, and a hundred sheep, Scripture points to the abundance that characterized his rule. The added mention of deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened fowl illustrates not just a supply of staple meat, but also special fare indicating wealth and luxury in the royal household. This was a time in Israel’s history when, according to 1 Kings 4:25, every person lived in safety, every man under his vine and his fig tree, portraying a society at peace both internally and externally.
The prosperity depicted in Solomon’s provisions points to the blessings that came when Israel aligned with God’s ways. Solomon’s name is often associated with wisdom, since Scripture describes him as a king who asked God for discernment above all else (1 Kings 3:9). While his resources were vast, it is the spiritual principles contained in his requests—seeking God’s wisdom first—that reverberate throughout this verse and the broader story of his kingship.
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1 Kings 4:23 meaning
Solomon’s daily provision for his royal court is detailed in 1 Kings 4 with the statement that he received ten fat oxen, twenty pasture-fed oxen, a hundred sheep besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened fowl (v.23). This extensive list of animals and game highlights the tremendous scale of King Solomon’s household and realm during his reign from 971 BC to 931 BC. Solomon was the third king of Israel, following his father David; under Solomon’s leadership, Israel experienced profound growth in national influence, a thriving economy, and an unusually long season of unity and stability.
By stating that Solomon’s court regularly consumed ten fat oxen, twenty pasture-fed oxen, and a hundred sheep, Scripture points to the abundance that characterized his rule. The added mention of deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened fowl illustrates not just a supply of staple meat, but also special fare indicating wealth and luxury in the royal household. This was a time in Israel’s history when, according to 1 Kings 4:25, every person lived in safety, every man under his vine and his fig tree, portraying a society at peace both internally and externally.
The prosperity depicted in Solomon’s provisions points to the blessings that came when Israel aligned with God’s ways. Solomon’s name is often associated with wisdom, since Scripture describes him as a king who asked God for discernment above all else (1 Kings 3:9). While his resources were vast, it is the spiritual principles contained in his requests—seeking God’s wisdom first—that reverberate throughout this verse and the broader story of his kingship.