Solomon’s Twelve Officers

The text explains the arrangement before naming the men: twelve governors serve all Israel, each supplying the king's household for one month of the year. Provision is organized as a recurring public duty.

S⁷olomon had twelve governors over all Israel to provide food for the king and his household. Each one would arrange provisions for one month of the year, ⁸and these were their names:

The first group of governors is named with its towns and regions. The list moves across the land, showing how Solomon's rule is carried by defined territorial assignments.

⁹Ben-deker in Makaz, in Shaalbim, in Beth-shemesh, and in Elon-beth-hanan; ¹⁰Ben-hesed in Arubboth (Socoh and all the land of Hepher belonged to him); ¹¹Ben-abinadab in Naphath-dor (Taphath, a daughter of Solomon, was his wife); ¹²Baana son of Ahilud in Taanach, in Megiddo, and in all of Beth-shean next to Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah and on past Jokmeam; ¹³Ben-geber in Ramoth-gilead (the villages of Jair son of Manasseh in Gilead belonged to him, as well as the region of Argob in Bashan with its sixty great cities with walls and bronze bars); ¹⁴Ahinadab son of Iddo in Mahanaim;

The remaining governors are named, again with their districts, including ties by marriage and regions east of the Jordan. The list completes the kingdom-wide pattern of delegated service.

¹⁵Ahimaaz in Naphtali (he had married Basemath, a daughter of Solomon); ¹⁶Baana son of Hushai in Asher and in Aloth; ¹⁷Jehoshaphat son of Paruah in Issachar; ¹⁸Shimei son of Ela in Benjamin; ¹⁹Geber son of Uri in the land of Gilead, including the territories of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan.