{"id":61319,"date":"2018-07-09T17:44:09","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:44:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-291\/"},"modified":"2023-03-19T08:15:40","modified_gmt":"2023-03-19T06:15:40","slug":"wall-291","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-291\/","title":{"rendered":"chapter-Prophets-I Kings-4"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"291","date":"20261011","book":"I Kings","chapter":"4","chapter_main_number":"291","books_group":"Prophets","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"61252","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"JPS Audio Bible - I Kings Chapter 4 ","post_title":"JPS Audio Bible - I Kings Chapter 4","slug":"jps-audio-bible-i-kings-chapter-4","old_id":"61252","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34686,"post_title":"Soundcloud","slug":"soundcloud","old_id":"34686","first_name":"","last_name":"","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34656,"alt":"","title":"491","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","width":300,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"291","type_929":"4","show_author_image":true,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"JPS Audio Bible","tile_main_caption":"I Kings Chapter 4","tile_main_caption_size":"2","tile_sub_caption":"Hear the daily chapter","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/929-bible\/JPS_Audio_Bible_I_Kings_Chapter_4","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Kings","chapter":"4","chapter_main_number":"291","date":"20261011","wall_id":"291"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"113588","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Take Your Pick: Sand, Stars, Dust ","post_title":"Take Your Pick: Sand, Stars, Dust","slug":"take-your-pick-sand-stars-dust","old_id":"113588","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":62571,"post_title":"Yaakov Bieler","slug":"yaakov-bieler","old_id":"62571","first_name":"Yaakov ","last_name":"Bieler ","description":"Rabbi Yaakov Bieler has been involved in Jewish education and the synagogue Rabbinate in New York, NY and Silver Spring, MD since being ordained by Yeshiva University in 1974. He has lectured and written extensively on Modern Orthodoxy, and blogs daily at https:\/\/yaakovbieler.wordpress.com ","short_description":"Rabbi Yaakov Bieler has been involved in Jewish education and the synagogue Rabbinate in New York, NY and Silver Spring, MD since being ordained by Yeshiva University. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":62572,"alt":"","title":"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","width":141,"height":180,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler-141x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":141,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","medium-width":141,"medium-height":180,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","medium_large-width":141,"medium_large-height":180,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","large-width":141,"large-height":180,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","1536x1536-width":141,"1536x1536-height":180,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","2048x2048-width":141,"2048x2048-height":180,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","post_full_size-width":141,"post_full_size-height":180,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","home_baner-width":141,"home_baner-height":180}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"291","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Three very different metaphors of proliferation\u00a0\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

This chapter lists the members of Solomon\u2019s administration, before stating finally that the Jewish people enjoyed fecundity, happiness, and peace at this point of David\u2019s son\u2019s rule: \u201cJudah and Israel were as numerous as the sands of the sea; they ate and drank and were content\u201d (verse 20).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Three metaphors are used in the Tanach to describe the proliferation of the Jewish nation: as numerous as the stars, the sands on the seashore (both from Gen. 22:17) and, as the dust of the earth (Gen. 28:14). Kli Yakar on Genesis 22:17 explains that the determination of which of these three phrases pertains, depends upon the manner in which the Jewish people deserve to be viewed based upon their actions:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    \r\n\t
  1. Stars<\/span><\/em>: During times of peace and personal success.<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>It is reminiscent of Micah 4:4: \" But every man shall sit under his grapevine or fig tree with no one to disturb him.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  2. Sand<\/span><\/em>: When various nations seek to destroy the Jews, but are unable to do so.<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>Just as the sand on the seashore repels attempts of the ocean to inundate the land, so too all the initiatives to destroy the Jews will prove unsuccessful.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  3. Dust<\/span><\/em>: A description of when the Jews are downtrodden and under the oppression of others. Nevertheless, God promises that they will be fruitful and multiply.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

    But the Midrash (Yalkut Shimoni, #176), suggests other ideas when considering the symbolism of these terms. Particularly with respect to the interpretations of \u201csand\u201d and \u201cdust,\u201d a different picture emerges, one of Jews positively interacting with non-Jews and vice versa:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Sand<\/span><\/em>: Jews are \u201csand\u201d to non-Jews\u2019 \u201clime,\u201d \u2026 If you do not mix sand with lime, the substance produced (<\/span>cement\/mortar<\/span><\/i>,) will not last. So too, if Israel is not present, idolaters will not survive\u2026<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Dust<\/span><\/em>: If there is no \u201cdust,\u201d the world cannot exist re the trees and crops. Similarly, if there were no Jews, then the idolaters would be unable to exist\u2026<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    The idea of a symbiotic relationship between Jews and non-Jews calls to mind the following aggadic statement:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Rabbi Yoc\u1e25anan said: Woe unto the nations of the world that lost something and do not know what they lost. When the Temple was standing, the seventy bulls sacrificed on the altar during the festival of Sukkot atoned for them. And now that the Temple is destroyed, who atones for them? (Sukkah 55b).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    The Midrash, however, goes further, and posits that the non-Jewish world, despite the animus it has displayed towards the Jews throughout history, nevertheless \u201cneeds\u201d them in various ways. Would that each side could respect the other, rather than engaging in mutual demonization.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":91632,"alt":"","title":"ps147-starry-night","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps147-starry-night.jpg","width":1920,"height":994,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps147-starry-night-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps147-starry-night-300x155.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":155,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps147-starry-night-768x398.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":398,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps147-starry-night-1024x530.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":530,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps147-starry-night.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":795,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps147-starry-night.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":994,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps147-starry-night-1200x621.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":621,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps147-starry-night-811x420.jpg","home_baner-width":811,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Take Your Pick: Sand, Stars, Dust","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Three very different metaphors of proliferation\u00a0","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":91632,"alt":"","title":"ps147-starry-night","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps147-starry-night.jpg","width":1920,"height":994,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps147-starry-night-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps147-starry-night-300x155.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":155,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps147-starry-night-768x398.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":398,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps147-starry-night-1024x530.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":530,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps147-starry-night.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":795,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps147-starry-night.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":994,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps147-starry-night-1200x621.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":621,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps147-starry-night-811x420.jpg","home_baner-width":811,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Kings","chapter":"4","chapter_main_number":"291","date":"20261011","wall_id":"291"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"409","name":"Peace","old_id":"809"},{"term_id":"538","name":"Growth","old_id":"938"},{"term_id":"830","name":"Population","old_id":"1230"}]},{"order":3,"id":"113590","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Solomon\u2019s Top Guys ","post_title":"Solomon\u2019s Top Guys","slug":"solomons-top-guys","old_id":"113590","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":78133,"post_title":"Josh Blechner","slug":"josh-blechner","old_id":"78133","first_name":"Josh ","last_name":"Blechner ","description":"Josh first finished the Tanach during Yeshiva in Mevaseret Zion. He and his daughter studied the Tanach again for her bat mitzvah. Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group. When not studying for 929, Josh works as an in-house lawyer in New Jersey.","short_description":"Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group, and is an in-house attorney in New Jersey. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":78134,"alt":"","title":"josh blechner","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","width":276,"height":351,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-236x300.jpg","medium-width":236,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","medium_large-width":276,"medium_large-height":351,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","large-width":276,"large-height":351,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","1536x1536-width":276,"1536x1536-height":351,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","2048x2048-width":276,"2048x2048-height":351,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","post_full_size-width":276,"post_full_size-height":351,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","home_baner-width":276,"home_baner-height":351}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"291","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"What\u2019s wrong with this list?\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

    David was king over all of Israel, then just Judah, then all of Israel, but it never seemed like he had steady control over the many tribes. Solomon, on the other hand, sets up a sophisticated administrative state with prefects sent out to each of the tribes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    The first part of the chapter details Solomon\u2019s top officials, similar to chapter 8 of II Samuel, but something seems off in the list:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    These were his officials: Azariah son of Zadok\u2014the priest Elihoreph and Ahijah sons of Shisha\u2014scribes; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud\u2014recorder, Benaiah son of Jehoiada\u2014over the army Zadok and Abiathar\u2014priests\u2026\u201d (verses 2-4).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Why are Azariah, Zadok, and Abiathar all listed as priests? Didn\u2019t Solomon send Abiathar home in chapter 2? Radak believes that this is a different Abiathar. Abarbanel explains that both are listed because Abiathar had been the high priest. Solomon deposed him and made Zadok the high priest, but once someone serves as the high priest, they retain the honor of the office, even if they are not officially in the position anymore.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Ralbag adds that Abiathar would fill in for Zadok when the latter was unavailable to work as the high priest. Metzudat David explains that when Solomon elevated Zadok to be the high priest, Azariah took over as the military priest from Zadok. This is why he is listed in addition to Zadok and Abiathar. Metzudsat David\u2019s opinion would be a little more convincing if Azariah was the one listed with Benaiah the new chief of the army instead of with the scribes. Based on that listing, it is possible that Azariah was some sort of priest-scribe, while Zadok was the high priest, and Abiatar was demoted to military priest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":60139,"alt":"","title":"2sam8-priest","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam8-priest.jpg","width":789,"height":600,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam8-priest-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam8-priest-300x228.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":228,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam8-priest-768x584.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":584,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam8-priest.jpg","large-width":789,"large-height":600,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam8-priest.jpg","1536x1536-width":789,"1536x1536-height":600,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam8-priest.jpg","2048x2048-width":789,"2048x2048-height":600,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam8-priest.jpg","post_full_size-width":789,"post_full_size-height":600,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam8-priest-552x420.jpg","home_baner-width":552,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Solomon\u2019s 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By The Bay","tile_main_caption":"I Kings 4: Solomon's Realigned Priorities","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"With Shira Hecht-Koller and Rabbi Dr. Jeffrey Kobrin","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/L_84xGo63k0","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I 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    Brace yourself: this chapter is boring. After that dramatic story of King Solomon deciding which is the real mother (by offering to saw the baby in half!), it might be hard to equal that level of drama and suspense. But we are now on the other end of the spectrum: boring, boring, boring.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    And it turns out that is precisely what ancient Israel was hankering for. So do we. With Solomon now safely established as king and Israel\u2019s enemies militarily at bay, we get one of those endless lists of names and occupations for which the Hebrew Bible is notorious. Each and every major bureaucrat in Solomon\u2019s court, his chief counselors and his military leaders are all given their spot on the list. Then comes the twelve commissioners who were appointed to govern in each of the districts by which his kingdom was administered. As if the names weren\u2019t tedious enough, we\u2019re also treated to a description of the geographical highlights of each of the twelve regions, each now governed through an administrative structure through which the morality of Torah may be applied consistently.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Small wonder that the chapter ends with a sense of calm satisfaction: \u201cJudah and Israel were as numerous as the sands of the sea; they ate and drank and were content.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Here, at last, is the promise that might allow Israel\u2019s people to flourish: good government, rational administrative structure, wise policies based on the ethical principles that the Torah and its teachings propound. We\u2019ve already seen that Solomon intends not to discriminate between the rich and the poor, the famous and the obscure. Instead, he is offering his wisdom in the service of one equal law for all. Small wonder that Israel is content.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Government that is based on moral principles, administered rationally, and applied equally, remains the great dream of the monarchy of Israel, and still remains the dreams of contemporary democracies as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    And we, the people, we still dream of living in a time sufficiently safe, prosperous, and just that we all have access to food, drink, and the pursuit of happiness.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":61641,"alt":"","title":"1kings4-government","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-government.png","width":703,"height":368,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-government-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-government-300x157.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":157,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-government.png","medium_large-width":703,"medium_large-height":368,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-government.png","large-width":703,"large-height":368,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-government.png","1536x1536-width":703,"1536x1536-height":368,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-government.png","2048x2048-width":703,"2048x2048-height":368,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-government.png","post_full_size-width":703,"post_full_size-height":368,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-government.png","home_baner-width":703,"home_baner-height":368}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"What You Need from Government: Predictable, Organized, Fair & Just","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Still a dream for contemporary democracies\u00a0","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":61641,"alt":"","title":"1kings4-government","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-government.png","width":703,"height":368,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-government-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-government-300x157.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":157,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-government.png","medium_large-width":703,"medium_large-height":368,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-government.png","large-width":703,"large-height":368,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-government.png","1536x1536-width":703,"1536x1536-height":368,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-government.png","2048x2048-width":703,"2048x2048-height":368,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-government.png","post_full_size-width":703,"post_full_size-height":368,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-government.png","home_baner-width":703,"home_baner-height":368}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Kings","chapter":"4","chapter_main_number":"291","date":"20261011","wall_id":"291"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"409","name":"Peace","old_id":"809"},{"term_id":"423","name":"Politics","old_id":"823"},{"term_id":"843","name":"Safety","old_id":"1243"},{"term_id":"871","name":"Government","old_id":"1271"}]},{"order":6,"id":"61483","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Solomon Rezones ","post_title":"Solomon Rezones","slug":"solomon-rezones","old_id":"61483","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33692,"post_title":"Alex Israel","slug":"33692-2","old_id":"33692","first_name":"Alex","last_name":"Israel","description":"Alex Israel teaches Tanakh at the Pardes Institute, Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi and Matan, Jerusalem. 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    The chapter moves on to the demarcation of the twelve administrative regions through which Solomon finances the country. The number twelve is striking in that it recalls the classic tribal division that we have been accustomed to throughout Jewish history, from Exodus through to the period of Judges. When we examine the list of districts, however, we discern that the geographical regions do not match specific tribes. In fact, only five regions (Mount Ephraim, Naphtali, Asher, Issachar, and Benjamin) correspond to tribal identities. It appears that Solomon has remodeled tribal borders and generated new regional boundaries.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    What is Solomon's objective in altering the ancient tribal divisions?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      \r\n\t
    1. Expanded territory \u2014 One theory views the new division as a response to the capture and settlement of new areas, previously unpopulated by Israel. Population shift requires the drawing of new civic lines. Some of these new areas, such as the region of Dor, with its lucrative port, were small, but generated significant revenue; this region was capable of competing financially with provinces much larger in area and population. Solomon, understanding the new economic realities of Israel, restructures his country accordingly.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
    2. A new national agenda \u2014 Some suggest that we are witnessing an attempt to modernize the kingdom and discard the ancient tribal division. The tribal period of the Judges has come to a close. Now, with one king and a united nation, the tribal identities seem archaic and superfluous. Solomon retains five tribal units, but creates seven new regions that muddle and modernize the traditional boundaries.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

      But rezoning the country has its hazards. Notwithstanding Solomon's intent, historic identities endure; ethnic statuses remain intact. A significant and troubling detail is that the tribe of Judah is not specified in this list of tax colonies. Some suggest that this omission is evidence that Solomon's own tribe is fully absolved of its tax burden.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      Solomon's changes are most severe for the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, as they suffer from a more invasive subdivision, and hence a disproportionate tax burden. This uneven policy is possibly deliberate, intended to weaken the tribes of Joseph, who represent a potential source of opposition to the king, but this strategy has a devastating ripple effect in later years. The act that eventually tears Solomon's kingdom apart after his death is a demand for a reduction of the crushing tax burden, and the epicenter of the revolt is the tribes of Joseph (1 Kings 11:27-28).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      Alex Israel, 1 Kings: Torn in Two<\/em>, Maggid Books, 2013, A Fresh National Agenda\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":61437,"alt":"","title":"alex israel - kings 1","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1.jpg","width":1020,"height":1304,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1-235x300.jpg","medium-width":235,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1-768x982.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":982,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1-801x1024.jpg","large-width":801,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1.jpg","1536x1536-width":1020,"1536x1536-height":1304,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1.jpg","2048x2048-width":1020,"2048x2048-height":1304,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1-939x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":939,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1-329x420.jpg","home_baner-width":329,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Excerpts from: 1 Kings - Torn in Two","tile_main_caption":"Solomon Rezones","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Modernization, expansionism, rational restructuring - or gerrymandering?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":61437,"alt":"","title":"alex israel - kings 1","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1.jpg","width":1020,"height":1304,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1-235x300.jpg","medium-width":235,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1-768x982.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":982,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1-801x1024.jpg","large-width":801,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1.jpg","1536x1536-width":1020,"1536x1536-height":1304,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1.jpg","2048x2048-width":1020,"2048x2048-height":1304,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1-939x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":939,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1-329x420.jpg","home_baner-width":329,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Kings","chapter":"4","chapter_main_number":"291","date":"20261011","wall_id":"291"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"430","name":"Land of Israel","old_id":"830"},{"term_id":"792","name":"Tribes","old_id":"1192"},{"term_id":"835","name":"King","old_id":"1235"},{"term_id":"838","name":"Solomon","old_id":"1238"}]},{"order":7,"id":"61646","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Eating, Drinking and Being Happy ","post_title":"Eating, Drinking and Being Happy","slug":"eating-drinking-and-being-happy","old_id":"61646","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":56290,"post_title":"Sandra Cohen","slug":"sandra-cohen","old_id":"56290","first_name":"Sandra ","last_name":"Cohen","description":"Rabbi Sandra Cohen teaches, provides pastoral care, and works in mental health outreach. She and her husband live in Denver, Colorado. ","short_description":"Rabbi Sandra Cohen teaches, provides pastoral care, and works in mental health outreach.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":56293,"alt":"","title":"Sandra Cohen","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Sandra-Cohen.jpg","width":279,"height":303,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Sandra-Cohen-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Sandra-Cohen-276x300.jpg","medium-width":276,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Sandra-Cohen.jpg","medium_large-width":279,"medium_large-height":303,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Sandra-Cohen.jpg","large-width":279,"large-height":303,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Sandra-Cohen.jpg","1536x1536-width":279,"1536x1536-height":303,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Sandra-Cohen.jpg","2048x2048-width":279,"2048x2048-height":303,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Sandra-Cohen.jpg","post_full_size-width":279,"post_full_size-height":303,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Sandra-Cohen.jpg","home_baner-width":279,"home_baner-height":303}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"291","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"This is the moment we\u2019ve all been waiting for\u00a0","post_main_content_content":"

      Back in Genesis 22, after Isaac is not sacrificed atop Mount Moriah, God reassures Abraham that the whole ordeal was not in vain. God\u2019s angel explains that because Abraham, and, presumably Isaac, was willing to obey God\u2019s initial command to offer Isaac up as a sacrifice, God would bless not just Abraham and his son, but their descendants. Isaac might be an only child (by Sarah, at least), the sole inheritor of the covenant, but that was just temporary. The angel reassures them that the Holy One, who gives such blessings, \u201cwill bless you and make your descendants as many as the stars of heaven and the sand on the shores of the sea.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      When, in Exodus 1, Jacob and his sons came to Egypt, they were seventy in total. There, the Israelites multiplied, scaring Pharaoh and the ruling class. When, some 400 years later they prepared to leave Egypt, their number had grown; there were \u201cabout six hundred thousand men on foot, aside from the children,\u201d (Exodus 12:37), plus the women and the \u201cerev rav,\u201d the mixed multitude, non-Jews who joined them on their journey.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      But it is not until now, under King Solomon\u2019s rule, that we are told that God\u2019s people achieve the promise given to Abraham and Isaac. At the end of our chapter we are told that Judah and Israel \u201cwere as numerous as the sands of the sea.\u201d This, it seems, is what Jewish history has been aiming for; not King David\u2019s time, but his son Solomon\u2019s time.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      And the culmination of this chapter revels in this blessing. Now that the children of Israel, or, as the text has it, \u201cJudah and Israel\u201d are like the sands of the sea \u2014 what is it like?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      Well, it is beyond what one might have imagined. In the book of Deuteronomy, the Israelites are told that when they enter the land, they will \u201ceat and be satisfied and bless the LORD your God who over the good land God has given you\u201d (Deut 8:10). This verse forms the basis for the Birkat HaMazon, the blessing Jews say after eating. And so, here, at the end of our chapter, the people are in the land, eating and drinking.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      There is no reference to bensching (Birkat HaMazon) here. Not surprising, perhaps, given that the rabbis and their blessings are still centuries away. But the chapter does end on a note of blessing nevertheless. The people of Judah and Israel eat and drink. But they are not just satisfied, as Deuteronomy would have it. They are happy. And for those who have been following this stiff-necked people in their adventures from Abraham through slavery and redemption, through the dessert and into the Promised Land, the idea that they are not just content, but joyful is a joyous surprising idea indeed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":44288,"alt":"","title":"shutterstock_693458353","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shutterstock_693458353.jpg","width":5760,"height":3840,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shutterstock_693458353-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shutterstock_693458353-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shutterstock_693458353-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shutterstock_693458353-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shutterstock_693458353.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shutterstock_693458353.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1365,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shutterstock_693458353-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shutterstock_693458353-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Eating, 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and positions reveal all\u00a0","post_main_content_content":"

      Our chapter is not only a list of ministers and local governors in King Solomon's administration. Our chapter is also a very important window onto the political methods that King Solomon chose to use in order to govern his wealthy kingdom peacefully and successfully.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      King Solomon preferred a small government. His abundant country did very well with eleven ministers only.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      The ministers came from the families that were most loyal to the King. One of them was Prophet Nathan's family. Prophet Nathan supported Bathsheba's efforts to give the crown to her son Prince Solomon and not to Prince Adonijah, son of Haggith. In return, Nathan's two sons were appointed ministers in King Solomon' government. Zabud son of Nathan was companion of King Solomon (\"the hand of the king\") and Azariah son of Nathan was in charge of the prefects. The loyal servants of King David \u2013 Commander Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Recorder Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud and Priests Zadok and Abiathar \u2013 were appointed ministers in King Solomon's government as well. Also appointed was minister Priest Azariah son of Minister Zadok. Two prefects were Baana (brother of Minister Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud) and Baana (son of Hushi companion of King David). Two other prefects were the husbands of two of Solomon's daughters. So it all remains in the family.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      A prefect of Judah \u2013 King Solomon's tribe \u2013 is not mentioned. It seems that the royal family's tribe had extra rights, was free of taxes and had no need for local governor to collect taxes that it did not pay. 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She has been sharing her passion for Jewish texts of all kinds for over 15 years, with students of all ages. Sarah\u2019s essays have been published in a variety of internet and print media, including Times of Israel, Kveller, Jewish Action, OU Life, The Lehrhaus, TorahMusings, and more. Sarah lives in Cleveland with her husband and four children, but is privileged to learn online with students all over the world through www.TorahTutors.org and www.WebYeshiva.org. \r\n\r\n","short_description":"Sarah Rudolph is a freelance Jewish educator, writer, and editor.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34251,"alt":"","title":"Sarah R","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R.jpg","width":2824,"height":4246,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R-200x300.jpg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R-681x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":681,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R-681x1024.jpg","large-width":681,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R.jpg","1536x1536-width":1022,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R.jpg","2048x2048-width":1362,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R-798x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":798,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R-279x420.jpg","home_baner-width":279,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"291","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Is it possible to cease to be a priest?\u00a0","post_main_content_content":"

      Once Solomon\u2019s kingdom has been firmly established, the prophet lists his officials \u2013 including \u201cZadok and Abiathar\u2014priests\u201d (4:4). If we\u2019ve been paying attention, we should be surprised at this listing, as Solomon had already quite emphatically demoted Abiathar (2: 26) and replaced him with Zadok (ibid. 35), neatly fulfilling God\u2019s earlier decree to Eli, Abiathar\u2019s ancestor (ibid. 27). What is Abiathar still doing in office, alongside his replacement?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      Radak offers a logical explanation: This is not the same Abiathar. The Chomat Anach agrees: \u201cHow is it possible,\u201d after Solomon banished Abiathar from his position, \u201cthat he would be with Zadok?\u201d It must be some guy with the same name, from another priestly family.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      Chomat Anach\u2019s phrasing offers a subtle insight into not just his and Radak\u2019s perspective, but also the opposing view \u2013 that it\u2019s the same Abiathar, serving in some assistant or substitute capacity.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      \u201cHow is it possible\u201d not that he would still be serving as priest, but \u201cthat he would be with Zadok\u201d? Perhaps he could in theory comprehend the notion of serving in a lesser role after demotion \u2013 but at least for Chomat Anach, the real obstacle seems to be \u201cwith Zadok.\u201d How could someone who was removed from his position possibly stomach serving under his replacement? If it were a stranger \u2013 maybe. But \u201cwith Zadok\u201d? What an insult! How could it be?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      With this in mind to strengthen the question, we can more deeply appreciate the alternative answer \u2013 which the Chomat Anach himself indicates is the majority view \u2013 that somehow, <\/span>something<\/span><\/i> was compelling enough to overcome even the apparent impossibility of working \u201cwith Zadok.\u201d Indeed, Ralbag uses that very word, explaining that Abiathar was \u201ccompelled\u201d (<\/span>huchrach<\/span><\/i>), to serve whenever Zadok couldn\u2019t. What compelled him? Did Solomon make him do it, or was there some deeper force moving him to do so willingly?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      In a separate philosophical\/ethical section of his commentary, Ralbag elaborates that once one served as High Priest, \u201cthe greatness would not depart from him all his days\u201d; Abarbanel calls such departing \u201cimpossible.\u201d Abiathar had been touched by a sanctity he couldn\u2019t shake off, that permeated his being and made it impossible for him <\/span>not <\/span><\/i>to reconnect with it when called to do so \u2013 a sense of sanctity more powerful than any grudge.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      There is much we might say here about the selflessness that often accompanies passion, as dedicated individuals so often put aside petty concerns for the sake of a greater cause.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      And there is also a meta-lesson to be gained from the different perspectives of different commentators. Where one believes it would have been \u201cimpossible\u201d for Abiathar to serve along with Zadok, another sees it as \u201cimpossible\u201d that he would have refrained when called upon. These different perspectives offer a powerful reminder to us, as readers and often commentators ourselves, to use caution before determining any one reading of a text is the only one. \u201cThere are seventy faces to the Torah\u201d; the Bible is rife with possibility.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      Image: The Anointing of Solomon by Cornelis de Vos, c. 1630 \/ wikimedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":61655,"alt":"","title":"1kings4-Cornelis_de_Vos","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-Cornelis_de_Vos.jpg","width":800,"height":671,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-Cornelis_de_Vos-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-Cornelis_de_Vos-300x252.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":252,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-Cornelis_de_Vos-768x644.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":644,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-Cornelis_de_Vos.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":671,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-Cornelis_de_Vos.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":671,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-Cornelis_de_Vos.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":671,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-Cornelis_de_Vos.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":671,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-Cornelis_de_Vos-501x420.jpg","home_baner-width":501,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"The Mystery Of Abiathar And Zadok","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Is it possible to cease to be a priest?\u00a0","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":61655,"alt":"","title":"1kings4-Cornelis_de_Vos","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-Cornelis_de_Vos.jpg","width":800,"height":671,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-Cornelis_de_Vos-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-Cornelis_de_Vos-300x252.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":252,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-Cornelis_de_Vos-768x644.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":644,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-Cornelis_de_Vos.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":671,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-Cornelis_de_Vos.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":671,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-Cornelis_de_Vos.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":671,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-Cornelis_de_Vos.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":671,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-Cornelis_de_Vos-501x420.jpg","home_baner-width":501,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Kings","chapter":"4","chapter_main_number":"291","date":"20261011","wall_id":"291"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"366","name":"Commentators","old_id":"766"},{"term_id":"631","name":"Priests","old_id":"1031"}]},{"order":10,"id":"61643","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The Demographics of Israel \u2013 Then and Now ","post_title":"The Demographics Of Israel \u2013 Then And Now","slug":"the-demographics-of-israel-then-and-now","old_id":"61643","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33877,"post_title":"Marc Bregman","slug":"marc-bregman","old_id":"33877","first_name":"Marc","last_name":"Bregman","description":"Marc Bregman received his Ph.D. from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1991. He taught at the Hebrew Union College (Jerusalem), The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Schechter Institute for Judaic Studies in Jerusalem, and at the Ben-Gurion University in Beer Sheba, Israel. During 1993 he was Visiting Associate Professor at Yale University, and during 1996 he was the Stroum Professor of Jewish Studies and Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Washington in Seattle. During 2005, Bregman served as the Harry Starr Fellow in Judaica at Harvard University and was awarded a Teaching Fellowship at the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He also has served as Forchheimer Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Humanities at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He is the author of The Tanhuma-Yelammedenu Literature: Studies in the Evolution of the Versions (Gorgias Press, 2003). In 2006, Bregman was appointed the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, where he also headed the program in Jewish Studies, until 2013. Bregman retired from UNCG as of July 31, 2017. He has now returned to Jerusalem where he is continuing his research and teaching activities.","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Marc Bregman is the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies emeritus, at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro.","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33878,"alt":"Marc Bregman","title":"Marc Bregman","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","width":361,"height":488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-222x300.jpg","medium-width":222,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","medium_large-width":361,"medium_large-height":488,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","large-width":361,"large-height":488,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","1536x1536-width":361,"1536x1536-height":488,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","2048x2048-width":361,"2048x2048-height":488,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","post_full_size-width":361,"post_full_size-height":488,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-311x420.jpg","home_baner-width":311,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"291","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Numerous as the sands of the sea, and getting moreso","post_main_content_content":"

      Our chapter begins with the statement: \u201cKing Solomon was now king over all Israel\u201d (I Kings 4:1). This is followed by a listing of Solomon\u2019s officials, including his \u201ctwelve prefects governing all Israel\u201d (verses 1-19). It ends on a positive demographic note: \u201cJudah and Israel were as numerous as the sands of the sea. They ate and drank and were content\u201d (verse 20).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      Mishnah Baba Metzia 7:1 alludes to this verse in a story from Talmudic times. Rabbi Yohanan ben Matia\u2019 told his son to hire laborers and the son supplied them with food. His father said to him: My son! Even if you were to prepare for them a banquet like the one King Solomon, in his time, prepared for the people of Judah and Israel (4:20), you would not have fulfilled your obligation to the laborers, for they are the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      Elsewhere, the Talmud Bavli Baba Metzia 28a employs this verse to clarify opposing rulings on when to begin praying for rain in the Land of Israel in Rabbinic times (Mishnah Ta\u2019anit 1:3, Talmud Bavli Ta\u2019anit 6a, 10b). The anonymous ruling of the Mishnah is that praying for rain should begin on the third of the month of Marheshvan. But Rabban Gamliel rules that praying for rain should be postponed until the seventh of the same month, fifteen days after the end of the Sukkot holiday, to allow the last of the pilgrims to Jerusalem from Babylon to return safely back over the Euphrates. Babylonian Talmud Baba Metzia 28a explains that the extended postponement reflects the period of the First Temple, when the Jewish people were very numerous and widely dispersed, as it is written \u201cJudah and Israel were as numerous as the sands of the sea\u201d (I Kings 4:20). While the shorter postponement reflects the period of the Second Temple, when the Jewish people were not so widely dispersed, and therefore the pilgrims needed less time to return home after the Sukkot festival. This difference in halakhic rulings is related to the difference between the apparently innumerable Jewish population in the time of King Solomon, compared to the limited Jewish community, as suggested by what is written referring to Second Temple times: \u201cThe sum of the entire community was 42,360\u201d (Ezra 2:64).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      Shortly after the modern State of Israel was founded in 1948, it had a population of about one million. While presently, the population of Israel has grown to about nine million, with an annual growth rate of two percent, more than <\/span>three times the annual growth rate <\/span><\/a>of populations in the OECD and <\/span>in the USA<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":61644,"alt":"","title":"1kings4-sands","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-sands.jpg","width":768,"height":575,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-sands-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-sands-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-sands-768x575.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":575,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-sands.jpg","large-width":768,"large-height":575,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-sands.jpg","1536x1536-width":768,"1536x1536-height":575,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-sands.jpg","2048x2048-width":768,"2048x2048-height":575,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-sands.jpg","post_full_size-width":768,"post_full_size-height":575,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-sands-561x420.jpg","home_baner-width":561,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"The Demographics of Israel \u2013 Then and Now","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Numerous as the sands of the sea, and getting moreso","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":61644,"alt":"","title":"1kings4-sands","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-sands.jpg","width":768,"height":575,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-sands-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-sands-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-sands-768x575.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":575,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-sands.jpg","large-width":768,"large-height":575,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-sands.jpg","1536x1536-width":768,"1536x1536-height":575,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-sands.jpg","2048x2048-width":768,"2048x2048-height":575,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-sands.jpg","post_full_size-width":768,"post_full_size-height":575,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-sands-561x420.jpg","home_baner-width":561,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Kings","chapter":"4","chapter_main_number":"291","date":"20261011","wall_id":"291"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"415","name":"food","old_id":"815"},{"term_id":"538","name":"Growth","old_id":"938"},{"term_id":"627","name":"Talmud","old_id":"1027"},{"term_id":"830","name":"Population","old_id":"1230"}]},{"order":11,"id":"113610","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"The Tanakh Podcast-IKings4 ","post_title":"The Tanakh Podcast-IKings4","slug":"the-tanakh-podcast-ikings4","old_id":"113610","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33692,"post_title":"Alex Israel","slug":"33692-2","old_id":"33692","first_name":"Alex","last_name":"Israel","description":"Alex Israel teaches Tanakh at the Pardes Institute, Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi and Matan, Jerusalem. His first book \"I Kings - Torn in Two\" was published in 2013. See his website www.alexisrael.org, and his podcasts at https:\/\/elmad.pardes.org\/ and https:\/\/tanachstudy.com\/ \r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Alex Israel teaches Tanakh at the Pardes Institute, Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi and Matan, Jerusalem.","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33693,"alt":"","title":"alex israel","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel.jpg","width":1657,"height":2500,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-199x300.jpg","medium-width":199,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-679x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":679,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-679x1024.jpg","large-width":679,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel.jpg","1536x1536-width":1018,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel.jpg","2048x2048-width":1357,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-795x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":795,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-278x420.jpg","home_baner-width":278,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"291","type_929":"4","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"The Tanakh Podcast","tile_main_caption":"I Kings 4: Government And Taxation","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"This is seemingly a chapter about government and taxation. 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      4:2 \u201cAnd these are the names of the officials he had\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      Everything that follows in this chapter is another indication of the composite character of the Solomon narrative. First we have the story of his ascent to the throne, which is actually the last episode of the David story and manifestly written by its brilliant author. Then we are given the report of Solomon\u2019s dream-vision in which he asks for the gift of wisdom, which is followed by the folktale of Solomon\u2019s Judgement, illustrating the exercise of that wisdom. Now we are presented with two documents listing the royal bureaucracy. The first lists the members of his cabinet in the Jerusalem court, and the second the prefects overseeing the sundry regions of the country and making sure each supplies its due provision -- a form of taxation -- to the royal court. Both these sections may be old documents, though there are at least a few seemingly scrambled entries and probably some later additions.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      From: Robert Alter, The Hebrew Bible<\/em>, vol. 2: Prophets, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019, ad loc. By permission of the author.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":54890,"alt":"","title":"Alter-Cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","width":1200,"height":693,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-300x173.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":173,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-768x444.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":444,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1024x591.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":591,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":693,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":693,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1200x693.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":693,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-727x420.jpg","home_baner-width":727,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"From Robert Alter's Bible Translation and Commentary","tile_main_caption":"More Pieces Of The Solomon Puzzle","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"This time, records of cabinet members, prefects and taxation","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":54890,"alt":"","title":"Alter-Cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","width":1200,"height":693,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-300x173.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":173,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-768x444.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":444,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1024x591.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":591,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":693,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":693,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1200x693.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":693,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-727x420.jpg","home_baner-width":727,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Kings","chapter":"4","chapter_main_number":"291","date":"20261011","wall_id":"291"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"623","name":"Sources","old_id":"1023"}]},{"order":13,"id":"61648","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Parsing the Royal Entourage ","post_title":"Parsing The Royal Entourage","slug":"parsing-the-royal-entourage","old_id":"61648","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34243,"post_title":"Moshe Sokolow","slug":"moshe-sokolow","old_id":"34243","first_name":"Moshe","last_name":"Sokolow","description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University, and teaches a weekly class in parashat hashavu`a at Lincoln Square Synagogue. 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      This chapter begins with an understatement: \u201cKing Solomon was now king over all Israel\u201d (1), and concludes with hyperbole: \u201cJudah and Israel were as numerous as sands of the sea; they ate and drank and were content\u201d (20). In between, it proceeds to enumerate the members of Solomon\u2019s retinue, presenting some surprises and several questions.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      First of all, verse 3 names two people who served as scribes (<\/span>sof\u2019rim<\/span><\/em>) and one who was a recorder (<\/span>mazkir<\/span><\/em>). What, exactly, were their functions? Rashi identified the former as the court chroniclers and the latter as a registrar who insured that the king dealt with the cases that came before him in their proper sequential order.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      Verse 2 names Azariah son of Zadok as \u201cthe priest\u201d while verse 4 names Zadok and Abiathar as priests (<\/span>kohanim<\/span><\/em>). This raises two questions: (1) we know that Zadok had a son named Ahimaatz (who carried messages for the Davidic underground in 2 Samuel 17), but who is Azariah? And (2) how could Abiathar serve as a <\/span>kohen<\/span><\/em> when we were told earlier that Solomon dismissed him (2:27)? Radak identified Azariah as the son of Ahimaatz and, therefore, Zadok\u2019s grandson, since it is not unusual for biblical genealogies to conflate the two. He also opined that this Zadok cannot be the one who was dismissed by Solomon, but \u201canother priest with the same name.\u201d In fact, a look at the register of high priests in 1 Chronicles 5 indicates that from the inception of the First Temple until its destruction (spanning some ten generations), Zadok (or, Jehozadak), Ahitub, and Azariah account for half of their names.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      Verse 5 names \u201cthe king\u2019s companion,\u201d a title we encountered previously as belonging to Hushai, who served David in that capacity (2 Samuel 15:37). Radak defined the position as \u201che was with him constantly,\u201d and, perhaps, in contemporary terms he would be designated \u201cthe first friend.\u201d And finally, verse 6 identifies Adoniram who was \u201cin charge of the <\/span>mas<\/span><\/em>,\u201d which refers to the levy\/cortege that Solomon imposed on all Israel (5:27-28), and which was to be a prime cause in the splitting of the kingdom after his death (chapter 12).<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":61649,"alt":"","title":"1kings4-taxes","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-taxes.png","width":1280,"height":951,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-taxes-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-taxes-300x223.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":223,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-taxes-768x571.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":571,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-taxes-1024x761.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":761,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-taxes.png","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":951,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-taxes.png","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":951,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-taxes-1200x892.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":892,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-taxes-565x420.png","home_baner-width":565,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Parsing 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","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":39059,"alt":"","title":"samuel stern","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/samuel-stern-e1535867738995.jpeg","width":460,"height":443,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/samuel-stern-e1535867738995-150x150.jpeg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/samuel-stern-e1535867738995-300x289.jpeg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":289,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/samuel-stern-768x740.jpeg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":740,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/samuel-stern-e1535867738995.jpeg","large-width":460,"large-height":443,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/samuel-stern-e1535867738995.jpeg","1536x1536-width":460,"1536x1536-height":443,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/samuel-stern-e1535867738995.jpeg","2048x2048-width":460,"2048x2048-height":443,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/samuel-stern-e1535867738995.jpeg","post_full_size-width":460,"post_full_size-height":443,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/samuel-stern-e1535867738995-436x420.jpeg","home_baner-width":436,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"291","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Bathsheba emerges untainted by the adultery and murder for which David receives full blame\u00a0","post_main_content_content":"

      \u201cSolomon was King over all Israel\u201d, and only the third king to reign over all of Israel. For all the peace and prosperity that Israel experienced under the leadership of Solomon, I could imagine him being the greatest of Israelite leaders. His reign will be a bellwether against which all future kings of both Israel and Judah will be judged. No other king will match the wisdom of Solomon, or his wealth and the prosperity of his people. Until almost one thousand years later, under the reign of Herod, no one will match his building of the Temple in Jerusalem, an honor Solomon is chosen for that even his father David was not entitled to do.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      Solomon\u2019s mother is Bathsheba. The account in 2 Samuel 11\u201312 of how Bathsheba came to be David\u2019s wife makes clear that the circumstances are morally problematic. Yet because her character is suppressed, she emerges untainted by the adultery and murder for which David receives full blame. Bathsheba\u2019s role is intentionally minimized to focus the story on David. David bears the responsibility and the condemnation, and from this point on he is beset by problems within his family that have political implications for his reign. That is not to say Bathsheba is not important, she is instrumental in ensuring Solomon ends up on the throne and can be seen at the opening of this book as being an important advisor to her son the king. She, and by extension Solomon, are left out of David\u2019s morally disturbing decisions to focus on how Solomon can be a pious and successful king with his mother\u2019s help, as we see in this chapter.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      The text is reverent of Solomon, but never claims he is perfect. Nonetheless, his kingship will be the comparison point for later kings to determine whether they were righteous and obeyed the covenant. The chapter emphasizes that all of Israel and Judah had enough to eat and drink and were generally prosperous. Communal prosperity was rare in the time of Solomon, and so adding praise of his wisdom and virtue is reflective of the positive remembrance of the rule of Solomon.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":61659,"alt":"","title":"1kings4-chess","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-chess.jpg","width":1006,"height":1260,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-chess-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-chess-240x300.jpg","medium-width":240,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-chess-768x962.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":962,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-chess-818x1024.jpg","large-width":818,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-chess.jpg","1536x1536-width":1006,"1536x1536-height":1260,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-chess.jpg","2048x2048-width":1006,"2048x2048-height":1260,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-chess-958x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":958,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings4-chess-335x420.jpg","home_baner-width":335,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"The King And The Queen Mother","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Bathsheba emerges untainted by the adultery and murder for which David receives full 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King And The Queen Mother","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Kings","chapter":"4","chapter_main_number":"291","date":"20261011","wall_id":"291"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"835","name":"King","old_id":"1235"},{"term_id":"838","name":"Solomon","old_id":"1238"},{"term_id":"911","name":"Bathsheba","old_id":"1311"}]},{"order":15,"id":"61226","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Biblical Snapshots: Wisdom, Faith, Bureaucracy 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He also studied at Yeshivat Yesodei HaTorah in Moshav Zanoah. He currently lives in London with his wife, Georgia.","short_description":"Matthew Miller is passionate about Jewish Studies and the Hebrew Language","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":61342,"alt":"","title":"Matthew Miller","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Matthew-Miller.jpg","width":251,"height":310,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Matthew-Miller-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Matthew-Miller-243x300.jpg","medium-width":243,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Matthew-Miller.jpg","medium_large-width":251,"medium_large-height":310,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Matthew-Miller.jpg","large-width":251,"large-height":310,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Matthew-Miller.jpg","1536x1536-width":251,"1536x1536-height":310,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Matthew-Miller.jpg","2048x2048-width":251,"2048x2048-height":310,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Matthew-Miller.jpg","post_full_size-width":251,"post_full_size-height":310,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Matthew-Miller.jpg","home_baner-width":251,"home_baner-height":310}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"291","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Bearing meaning, or bearing ancestral memories","post_main_content_content":"

      What\u2019s in a name? Much can be said about names and naming conventions (a whole field of study, onomastics, is devoted to it). However, here we will look briefly at a couple characters in our chapter in order to highlight some key trends in naming.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      The rabbinic conception of naming places great significance in the name one is given, saying that it can even affect one\u2019s life. We read in the Talmud (Berachot 7b):<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      From where do we derive that the name affects one\u2019s life? Rabbi Eliezer said that the verse says: \u201cGo, see the works of the Lord, who has made desolations [shamot<\/em>] upon the earth\u201d (Psalms 46:9). Do not read the word as shamot<\/em>, rather as shemot<\/em>, names.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      The Maharsha interprets this text to mean that God\u2019s works are drawn down into this world through a person\u2019s name. Thus, a person\u2019s name is the basis for how his life will turn out.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      Therefore, it should come as no surprise to the reader that we read in 1 Kings 5:5 that \u201call the days of Solomon, Judah and Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba dwelt in safety, everyone under his own vine and under his own fig tree.\u201d In other words, the meaning of Solomon\u2019s name \u2018peace\u2019 was indicative of the domestic peace and tranquility that took hold in the land.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      If you\u2019re looking for a fun fact that will make you the center of attention at a cocktail party, you can tell them that this type of name (one which is aptly or peculiarly suited to its owner) is called an aptronym.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      Moreover, certain names are repeated. Arnold Ehrlich points out (2 Samuel 14:27) that already in the Bible we see people being named after deceased relatives, saying that \u201cthe Hebrews were accustomed to call their children names after their deceased ancestors and relatives...we see this, for example, with the priestly family, in which the names Ahitob, Amriya, and Zadok are repeated.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      This custom remains prevalent amongst Ashkenazi Jews to this day.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":40811,"alt":"","title":"shutterstock_1117164653","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/shutterstock_1117164653.jpg","width":3744,"height":2268,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/shutterstock_1117164653-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/shutterstock_1117164653-300x182.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":182,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/shutterstock_1117164653-768x465.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":465,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/shutterstock_1117164653-1024x620.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":620,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/shutterstock_1117164653.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":930,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/shutterstock_1117164653.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1241,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/shutterstock_1117164653-1200x727.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":727,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/shutterstock_1117164653-693x420.jpg","home_baner-width":693,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Names Have Significance","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Bearing meaning, or bearing ancestral memories","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":40811,"alt":"","title":"shutterstock_1117164653","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/shutterstock_1117164653.jpg","width":3744,"height":2268,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/shutterstock_1117164653-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/shutterstock_1117164653-300x182.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":182,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/shutterstock_1117164653-768x465.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":465,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/shutterstock_1117164653-1024x620.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":620,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/shutterstock_1117164653.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":930,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/shutterstock_1117164653.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1241,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/shutterstock_1117164653-1200x727.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":727,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/shutterstock_1117164653-693x420.jpg","home_baner-width":693,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Kings","chapter":"4","chapter_main_number":"291","date":"20261011","wall_id":"291"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"363","name":"Midrash","old_id":"763"},{"term_id":"551","name":"Names","old_id":"951"}]},{"order":17,"id":"61392","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"A Lesson on the Daily Chapter- I Kings 4 ","post_title":"A Lesson on the Daily Chapter- I Kings 4","slug":"a-lesson-on-the-daily-chapter-i-kings-4","old_id":"61392","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":40936,"post_title":"David Silber","slug":"david-silber-2","old_id":"40936","first_name":"David ","last_name":"Silber ","description":"Rabbi David Silber is the Founder and Dean of Drisha Institute for Jewish Education. 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        \r\n\t
      1. The sons of Nathan<\/em>. Two of the highest officials are sons of Nathan: the one in charge of the prefects, and the official \u201ccompanion of the king\u201d (verse 5). Are these the sons of Nathan, David\u2019s loyal and devoted prophet. Maybe.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
      2. Professional colleague (hand of the king?)<\/em>. The <\/span>re\u2019eh hamelech<\/span><\/i> \u201ccompanion of the king\u201d is not necessarily a childhood friend. It is an official position of close confidant and personal counselor. 15 chapters ago (2 Sam. 13) we met one of these, with the advice that not every close friend would have given...<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
      3. Daughters, brides<\/em>. Two of Solomon\u2019s daughters are mentioned in this chapter by name. Taphath and Basemath, who were given to two prefects as wives.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
      4. Eat, drink and be merry<\/em> (verse 20): how good it is in Solomon\u2019s kingdom!<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>","post_main_content_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"I Kings 4","tile_main_caption":"Points to Ponder","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Insights and questions for personal reflection and group discussion","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Kings","chapter":"4","chapter_main_number":"291","date":"20261011","wall_id":"291"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false}],"hide_acf":true,"home_image":false,"home_posts":false,"home_posts_title":"","posts_home":[],"static_cube_title":"","static_cube_brief":"","static_cube_color":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall\/61319"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/wall"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61319"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}