Lexical Summary Arubboth: Windows, floodgates Original Word: אֲרֻבּוֹת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Aruboth Plural of 'arubbah; Arubboth, a place in Palestine -- Aruboth. see HEBREW 'arubbah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom arab Definition a place in Pal. NASB Translation Arubboth (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֲרֻבּוֺת proper name, of a location (= אֲרָב? compare Klo on the passage) 1 Kings 4:10 בָּאֲרֻבּוֺת. Topical Lexicon Geographic and Historical Setting Arubboth is named once in the Old Testament, within Solomon’s list of twelve administrative districts (1 Kings 4:10). The verse reads in the Berean Standard Bible, “Ben-hesed, in Arubboth (Socoh and all the land of Hepher were his).” The district lay somewhere between the Shephelah and the southern reaches of the Sharon or Coastal Plain. Socoh appears elsewhere in Scripture as a town in the low hill country of Judah (1 Samuel 17:1; 2 Chronicles 11:7), while “the land of Hepher” recalls the inheritance of the Manassite clan of Hepher (Joshua 17:2). Taken together, the notice points to a region on the western slopes of Judah extending northward toward Manasseh’s territory. Though the precise boundaries are uncertain, the inclusion of both Socoh and Hepher suggests a sizeable tract of fertile agrarian land that could sustain the generous daily provisions described in 1 Kings 4:22–23. Administrative Significance under Solomon Solomon’s appointment of “Ben-hesed” over Arubboth reflects a deliberate strategy of delegation. Twelve officers, each responsible for one month of royal supply, collectively guaranteed a continuous flow of goods to the court (1 Kings 4:7). Arubboth’s placement within this system demonstrates the kingdom’s unity: Judahite Socoh and Manassite Hepher were managed together, illustrating how the king knit tribal regions into a single economic network. The prosperity of the period—“Judah and Israel lived in safety…every man under his vine and fig tree” (1 Kings 4:25)—depended on such effective oversight. Economic Resources The low hills and coastal plain offered grain, wine, olives, figs, and pasture for livestock. These staples aligned with Solomon’s stated consumption in 1 Kings 4:22–23: fine flour, meal, cattle, sheep, and game. By furnishing one-twelfth of the annual quota, Arubboth’s farms and ranches contributed to the well-ordered abundance that the chronicler of Kings attributes to Solomon’s God-given wisdom (1 Kings 4:29-34). Theological Themes 1. Covenant Fulfillment: The secure life of the populace (1 Kings 4:25) echoes Deuteronomy 12:7, where peace in the land is promised to obedient Israel. Arubboth’s productivity forms part of that broader covenantal blessing. Archaeological and Geographical Notes While Arubboth’s exact site remains unidentified, candidate tells and wadi systems in the southern Sharon and western Shephelah have produced Iron Age pottery consistent with tenth-century B.C. occupation. Surveys near modern-day Sokho (Khirbet Shuweikeh) and the valleys draining toward the Yarkon River offer the most promising loci. Ministry Applications • Leadership: Solomon’s appointment of trustworthy governors encourages modern Christian leaders to delegate wisely, recognizing that God-honoring administration is a spiritual discipline. Cross-References for Further Study 1 Kings 4:1-28; 2 Chronicles 9:26-28 – overview of Solomon’s administration Joshua 17:2; Numbers 26:33 – background on Hepher 1 Samuel 17:1; 2 Chronicles 11:7 – references to Socoh Deuteronomy 1:13-15; Acts 6:3-4 – biblical principles of delegated leadership Forms and Transliterations בָּֽאֲרֻבּ֑וֹת בארבות bā’ărubbōwṯ bā·’ă·rub·bō·wṯ baarubBotLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Kings 4:10 HEB: בֶּן־ חֶ֖סֶד בָּֽאֲרֻבּ֑וֹת ל֥וֹ שֹׂכֹ֖ה NAS: Ben-hesed, in Arubboth (Socoh KJV: The son of Hesed, in Aruboth; to him [pertained] Sochoh, INT: Ben-hesed Arubboth (Socoh all 1 Occurrence |
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