Ahimaaz in Naphtali (he had married Basemath, a daughter of Solomon); AhimaazThe name "Ahimaaz" is of Hebrew origin, meaning "my brother is rage" or "brother of anger." In the context of 1 Kings 4, Ahimaaz is one of the twelve officials appointed by King Solomon to provide provisions for the king and his household. This role signifies a position of trust and responsibility, indicating that Ahimaaz was a man of integrity and capability. Historically, the appointment of officials like Ahimaaz reflects the administrative sophistication of Solomon's reign, which was marked by peace and prosperity. in Naphtali
Naphtali was one of the twelve tribes of Israel, located in the northern part of the kingdom. The region was known for its fertile land and strategic location, which made it an important area for trade and agriculture. By appointing Ahimaaz in Naphtali, Solomon ensured that this vital region was under the supervision of a trusted official. This decision highlights Solomon's wisdom in governance, as he strategically placed capable leaders in key areas to maintain stability and prosperity throughout his kingdom. (he had married Basemath, Solomon’s daughter)
The mention of Ahimaaz's marriage to Basemath, Solomon's daughter, underscores the practice of forming political alliances through marriage. In ancient times, such marriages were common among royalty and nobility to strengthen political ties and ensure loyalty. Basemath's marriage to Ahimaaz not only solidified his position but also integrated him into the royal family, further securing his loyalty to Solomon. This alliance reflects the broader biblical theme of family and covenant relationships, which are central to God's plan for His people. The marriage also illustrates the blessings of wisdom and discernment in leadership, as Solomon's strategic alliances contributed to the peace and prosperity of his reign. Persons / Places / Events 1. AhimaazA prominent official in King Solomon's administration, Ahimaaz was appointed as a regional governor over the territory of Naphtali. His marriage to Basemath, Solomon's daughter, signifies a political alliance and integration into the royal family. 2. NaphtaliOne of the twelve tribes of Israel, located in the northern part of the kingdom. This region was known for its fertile land and strategic importance. 3. BasemathThe daughter of King Solomon, Basemath's marriage to Ahimaaz highlights the practice of using marriage to strengthen political ties and alliances within the kingdom. 4. SolomonThe third king of Israel, known for his wisdom, wealth, and extensive building projects, including the Temple in Jerusalem. Solomon's reign is marked by peace and prosperity, and his administrative organization is detailed in 1 Kings 4. Teaching Points The Importance of Godly LeadershipAhimaaz's role as a governor under Solomon's reign illustrates the importance of wise and godly leadership in maintaining peace and prosperity. Leaders today can learn from the organizational structure and delegation of responsibilities seen in Solomon's administration. Marriage as a Covenant and AllianceThe marriage between Ahimaaz and Basemath serves as a reminder of the dual role of marriage as both a personal covenant and a means of forming alliances. In a Christian context, marriage should be viewed as a sacred covenant that also strengthens community and family ties. Integration and Unity in the Body of ChristJust as Solomon's officials were integrated into his administration, believers are called to be united and work together within the body of Christ. Each member has a role to play in the church's mission and ministry. The Role of Heritage and LegacyThe mention of Naphtali and the historical connections to Jacob's sons remind us of the importance of heritage and legacy. Believers are encouraged to honor their spiritual heritage and pass on a legacy of faith to future generations. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the appointment of Ahimaaz as a governor reflect Solomon's wisdom in administration, and what can we learn from this about leadership in our own lives? 2. In what ways does the marriage between Ahimaaz and Basemath illustrate the role of marriage in forming alliances and strengthening community ties? 3. How can the organizational structure of Solomon's kingdom serve as a model for effective leadership and delegation within the church today? 4. What significance does the tribe of Naphtali hold in the broader account of Israel's history, and how can understanding our spiritual heritage impact our faith journey? 5. How can we, as members of the body of Christ, ensure that we are effectively integrated and contributing to the mission and ministry of the church? Connections to Other Scriptures 1 Kings 4:7-19This passage provides a broader context for Solomon's administrative structure, listing the twelve officials who governed different regions of Israel. It highlights the organization and efficiency of Solomon's reign. 2 Samuel 23:34This verse mentions another Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, who was a priest and a loyal supporter of King David. This connection may indicate a tradition of loyalty and service within the family. Genesis 30:8The tribe of Naphtali is named after one of Jacob's sons, born to Rachel's maidservant Bilhah. This connection underscores the historical and tribal significance of the region governed by Ahimaaz. People Abda, Abel, Abiathar, Abinadab, Adoniram, Ahiah, Ahijah, Ahilud, Ahimaaz, Ahinadab, Ahishar, Amorites, Argob, Asher, Azariah, Baana, Baanah, Basmath, Ben, Benaiah, Benjamin, Calcol, Chalcol, Dan, Darda, Dekar, Elah, Elihoreph, Elon, Ethan, Geber, Hanan, Heman, Hepher, Hesed, Hur, Hushai, Iddo, Issachar, Jair, Jehoiada, Jehoshaphat, Jezreel, Mahol, Manasseh, Naphtali, Nathan, Og, Paruah, Shimei, Shisha, Sihon, Solomon, Taphath, Uri, Zabud, ZadokPlaces Abel-meholah, Argob, Arubboth, Bashan, Bealoth, Beersheba, Beth-shan, Beth-shemesh, Dan, Egypt, Elonbeth-hanan, Euphrates River, Gaza, Gilead, Hepher, Jerusalem, Jezreel, Jokmeam, Lebanon, Mahanaim, Makaz, Megiddo, Naphath-dor, Ramoth-gilead, Shaalbim, Socoh, Taanach, Tiphsah, ZarethanTopics Ahimaaz, Ahi'ma-az, Basemath, Bas'emath, Basmath, Daughter, Married, Naphtali, Naph'tali, Nephtali, Solomon, WifeDictionary of Bible Themes 1 Kings 4:1-25 7236 Israel, united kingdom 1 Kings 4:5-19 5434 officer 1 Kings 4:7-19 5489 rank Library The Great Gain of Godliness
'And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, all the days of Solomon. 26. And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. 27. And those officers provided victual for king Solomon, and for all that came unto king Solomon's table, every man in his month: they lacked nothing. 28. Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries brought they unto the place where the officers were, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureWhether He who Raises the Unworthy to Orders Commits a Sin?
Objection 1: It would seem that he who raises the unworthy to orders commits no sin. For a bishop needs assistants appointed to the lesser offices. But he would be unable to find them in sufficient number, if he were to require of them such qualifications as the saints enumerate. Therefore if he raise some who are not qualified, he would seem to be excusable. Objection 2: Further, the Church needs not only ministers for the dispensation of things spiritual, but also for the supervision of temporalities. …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Whether Vengeance Should be Taken on those who have Sinned Involuntarily?
Objection 1: It seems that vengeance should be taken on those who have sinned involuntarily. For the will of one man does not follow from the will of another. Yet one man is punished for another, according to Ex. 20:5, "I am . . . God . . . jealous, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation." Thus for the sin of Cham, his son Chanaan was curse (Gn. 9:25) and for the sin of Giezi, his descendants were struck with leprosy (4 Kings 5). Again the blood …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Stedfastness in the Old Paths.
"Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls."--Jer. vi. 16. Reverence for the old paths is a chief Christian duty. We look to the future indeed with hope; yet this need not stand in the way of our dwelling on the past days of the Church with affection and deference. This is the feeling of our own Church, as continually expressed in the Prayer Book;--not to slight what has gone before, …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII Adam and Zaretan, Joshua 3
I suspect a double error in some maps, while they place these two towns in Perea; much more, while they place them at so little a distance. We do not deny, indeed, that the city Adam was in Perea; but Zaretan was not so. Of Adam is mention, Joshua 3:16; where discourse is had of the cutting-off, or cutting in two, the waters of Jordan, that they might afford a passage to Israel; The waters rose up upon a heap afar off in Adam. For the textual reading "In Adam," the marginal hath "From Adam." You …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica The Fact of the Redeemer's Return was Typified in the Lives of Joseph and Solomon.
In the Old Testament there are numerous references to the Second Coming of Christ, references both direct and typical, but in every instance it was His return to the earth which was in view. The secret coming of Christ into the air, to catch up the saints to Himself, was an event quite unknown to the Old Testament prophets, an event kept secret until revealed by God to the apostle Paul who, when writing to the Corinthians upon this particular aspect of our subject, said, "Behold, I show you a mystery …
Arthur W. Pink—The Redeemer's Return Perhaps There is no Book Within the Whole Canon of Scripture So Perplexing and Anomalous...
Perhaps there is no book within the whole canon of Scripture so perplexing and anomalous, at first sight, as that entitled "Ecclesiastes." Its terrible hopelessness, its bold expression of those difficulties with which man is surrounded on every side, the apparent fruitlessness of its quest after good, the unsatisfactory character, from a Christian standpoint, of its conclusion: all these points have made it, at one and the same time, an enigma to the superficial student of the Word, and the arsenal …
F. C. Jennings—Old Groans and New Songs The Care of the Soul Urged as the one Thing Needful
Luke 10:42 -- "But one thing is needful." It was the amiable character of our blessed Redeemer, that "he went about doing good," this great motive, which animated all his actions, brought him to the house of his friend Lazarus, at Bethany, and directed his behavior there. Though it was a season of recess from public labor, our Lord brought the sentiments and the pious cares of a preacher of righteousness into the parlor of a friend; and there his doctrine dropped as the rain, and distilled as the …
George Whitefield—Selected Sermons of George Whitefield The Spiced Wine of My Pomegranate;
OR, THE COMMUNION OF COMMUNICATION. I would cause Thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate."--Song of Solomon viii. 2.And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace."--John i. 16. THE SPICED WINE OF MY POMEGRANATE. THE immovable basis of communion having been laid of old in the eternal union which subsisted between Christ and His elect, it only needed a fitting occasion to manifest itself in active development. The Lord Jesus had for ever delighted Himself with the …
Charles Hadden Spurgeon—Till He Come A vision of Judgement and Cleansing
'And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. 2. And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? 3. Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the Angel. 4. And He answered and spake unto those that stood before Him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him He said, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The Historical Books.
1. In the Pentateuch we have the establishment of the Theocracy, with the preparatory and accompanying history pertaining to it. The province of the historical books is to unfold its practiced working, and to show how, under the divine superintendence and guidance, it accomplished the end for which it was given. They contain, therefore, primarily, a history of God's dealings with the covenant people under the economy which he had imposed upon them. They look at the course of human events on the …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible The Poetical Books (Including Also Ecclesiastes and Canticles).
1. The Hebrews reckon but three books as poetical, namely: Job, Psalms, and Proverbs, which are distinguished from the rest by a stricter rhythm--the rhythm not of feet, but of clauses (see below, No. 3)--and a peculiar system of accentuation. It is obvious to every reader that the poetry of the Old Testament, in the usual sense of the word, is not restricted to these three books. But they are called poetical in a special and technical sense. In any natural classification of the books of the …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 1 Kings 4:15 NIV1 Kings 4:15 NLT1 Kings 4:15 ESV1 Kings 4:15 NASB1 Kings 4:15 KJV
1 Kings 4:15 Commentaries
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