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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>1 Kings 4:20 The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore, and they were eating and drinking and rejoicing.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/1_kings/4-20.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/10/11_1Ki_04_20.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="1 Kings 4:20 - Solomon's Wealth" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore, and they were eating and drinking and rejoicing." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script> <script src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/biblehub.js' type='text/javascript'></script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/1_kings/4-20.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/1_kings/4-20.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/1_kings/">1 Kings</a> > <a href="/1_kings/4.htm">Chapter 4</a> > Verse 20</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/1_kings/4-19.htm" title="1 Kings 4:19">◄</a> 1 Kings 4:20 <a href="/1_kings/4-21.htm" title="1 Kings 4:21">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Hebrew </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/1_kings/4.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/1_kings/4.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore; they ate, they drank and they were happy.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/1_kings/4.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They were very contented, with plenty to eat and drink.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/1_kings/4.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Judah and Israel were as many as the sand by the sea. They ate and drank and were happy.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/1_kings/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore, and they were eating and drinking and rejoicing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/1_kings/4.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Judah and Israel <i>were</i> many, as the sand which <i>is</i> by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/1_kings/4.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Judah and Israel <i>were</i> as numerous as the sand by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and rejoicing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/1_kings/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Judah and Israel <i>were</i> as numerous as the sand that is on the seashore in abundance; <i>they</i> were eating, drinking, and rejoicing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/1_kings/4.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand that is on the seashore in abundance; they were eating and drinking and rejoicing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/1_kings/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Judah and Israel <i>were</i> as numerous as the sand that is on the seashore in abundance; <i>they</i> were eating and drinking and rejoicing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/1_kings/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Judah and Israel <i>were</i> as numerous as the sand that is on the seashore in abundance; <i>they</i> were eating and drinking and being glad.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/1_kings/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />[The people of] Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand that is in abundance by the sea; they were eating and drinking and rejoicing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/1_kings/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand by the sea; they were eating, drinking, and rejoicing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/1_kings/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand by the sea; they were eating, drinking, and rejoicing. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/1_kings/4.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Judah and Israel were many as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and making merry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/1_kings/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />There were so many people living in Judah and Israel while Solomon was king that they seemed like grains of sand on a beach. Everyone had enough to eat and drink, and they were happy. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/1_kings/4.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and making merry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/1_kings/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They ate and drank and lived happily. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/1_kings/4.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore; they ate and drank, and were happy. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/1_kings/4.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Judah and Israel became as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They enjoyed abundance, and ate, drank, and rejoiced regularly. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/1_kings/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore, and they were eating and drinking and rejoicing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/1_kings/4.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The people of Judah and Israel were as innumerable as the sand on the seashore; they had plenty to eat and drink and were happy.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/1_kings/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Judah and Israel were many as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and making merry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/1_kings/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/1_kings/4.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Judah and Israel were numerous as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and making merry. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/1_kings/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Judah and Israel [are] many, as the sand that [is] by the sea for multitude, eating and drinking and rejoicing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/1_kings/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Judah and Israel are many, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude, eating and drinking and rejoicing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/1_kings/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Judah and Israel many as the sand which is by the sea for multitude, eating and drinking and rejoicing.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/1_kings/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Juda and Israel were innumerable, as the sand of the sea in multitude: eating and drinking, and rejoicing. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/1_kings/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Judah and Israel were innumerable, like the sand of the sea in multitude: eating and drinking, and rejoicing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/1_kings/4.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sands by the sea; they ate and drank and rejoiced.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/1_kings/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand by the sea; they ate and drank and were happy.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/1_kings/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Judah and Israel were as many in multitude as the sand which is by the sea; they ate and drank and made merry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/1_kings/4.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And Yehuda and Israel were many as the sand that is upon the shore of the sea, a multitude eating and drinking and rejoicing.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/1_kings/4.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and making merry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/1_kings/4-20.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xx9A0AxPaoQ?start=1587" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/1_kings/4.htm">Solomon's Wealth</a></span><br> <span class="reftext">20</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3063.htm" title="3063: yə·hū·ḏāh (N-proper-ms) -- From yadah; celebrated; Jehudah, the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory.">The people of Judah</a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: wə·yiś·rā·’êl (Conj-w:: N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity.">and Israel</a> <a href="/hebrew/7227.htm" title="7227: rab·bîm (Adj-mp) -- Much, many, great. By contracted from rabab; abundant."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7230.htm" title="7230: lā·rōḇ (Prep-l, Art:: N-ms) -- Multitude, abundance, greatness. From rabab; abundance.">were as numerous</a> <a href="/hebrew/2344.htm" title="2344: ka·ḥō·wl (Prep-k, Art:: N-ms) -- Sand. From chuwl; sand.">as the sand</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer- (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">on</a> <a href="/hebrew/3220.htm" title="3220: hay·yām (Art:: N-ms) -- A sea or large body of water; specifically, the Mediterranean Sea; sometimes a large river.">the seashore,</a> <a href="/hebrew/398.htm" title="398: ’ō·ḵə·lîm (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mp) -- To eat. A primitive root; to eat.">and they were eating</a> <a href="/hebrew/8354.htm" title="8354: wə·šō·ṯîm (Conj-w:: V-Qal-Prtcpl-mp) -- To drink. A primitive root; to imbibe.">and drinking</a> <a href="/hebrew/8056.htm" title="8056: ū·śə·mê·ḥîm (Conj-w:: Adj-mp) -- Glad, joyful, merry. From samach; blithe or gleeful.">and rejoicing.</a> </span><span class="reftext">21</span>And Solomon reigned over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These kingdoms offered tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/22-17.htm">Genesis 22:17</a></span><br />I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/32-12.htm">Genesis 32:12</a></span><br />But You have said, ‘I will surely make you prosper, and I will make your offspring like the sand of the sea, too numerous to count.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/1-7.htm">Exodus 1:7</a></span><br />but the Israelites were fruitful and increased rapidly; they multiplied and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/1-10.htm">Deuteronomy 1:10</a></span><br />The LORD your God has multiplied you, so that today you are as numerous as the stars in the sky.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/28-63.htm">Deuteronomy 28:63</a></span><br />Just as it pleased the LORD to make you prosper and multiply, so also it will please Him to annihilate you and destroy you. And you will be uprooted from the land you are entering to possess.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/11-4.htm">Joshua 11:4</a></span><br />So these kings came out with all their armies, a multitude as numerous as the sand on the seashore, along with a great number of horses and chariots.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/7-12.htm">Judges 7:12</a></span><br />Now the Midianites, Amalekites, and all the other people of the east had settled in the valley like a swarm of locusts, and their camels were as countless as the sand on the seashore.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/17-11.htm">2 Samuel 17:11</a></span><br />Instead, I advise that all Israel from Dan to Beersheba—a multitude like the sand on the seashore—be gathered to you, and that you yourself lead them into battle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-23.htm">1 Chronicles 27:23</a></span><br />David did not count the men aged twenty or under, because the LORD had said that He would make Israel as numerous as the stars of the sky.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/72-16.htm">Psalm 72:16</a></span><br />May there be an abundance of grain in the land; may it sway atop the hills. May its fruit trees flourish like the forests of Lebanon, the people of its cities like the grass of the field.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/10-22.htm">Isaiah 10:22</a></span><br />Though your people, O Israel, be like the sand of the sea, only a remnant will return. Destruction has been decreed, overflowing with righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/48-19.htm">Isaiah 48:19</a></span><br />Your descendants would have been as countless as the sand, and your offspring as numerous as its grains; their name would never be cut off or eliminated from My presence.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/33-22.htm">Jeremiah 33:22</a></span><br />As the hosts of heaven cannot be counted and as the sand on the seashore cannot be measured, so too will I multiply the descendants of My servant David and the Levites who minister before Me.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/1-10.htm">Hosea 1:10</a></span><br />Yet the number of the Israelites will be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or counted. And it will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/9-27.htm">Romans 9:27</a></span><br />Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the Israelites is like the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry.</p><p class="hdg">as the sand</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_kings/3-8.htm">1 Kings 3:8</a></b></br> And thy servant <i>is</i> in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/13-16.htm">Genesis 13:16</a></b></br> And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, <i>then</i> shall thy seed also be numbered.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/15-5.htm">Genesis 15:5</a></b></br> And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.</p><p class="hdg">eating</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/30-16.htm">1 Samuel 30:16</a></b></br> And when he had brought him down, behold, <i>they were</i> spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_chronicles/12-39.htm">1 Chronicles 12:39</a></b></br> And there they were with David three days, eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/1-18.htm">Job 1:18</a></b></br> While he <i>was</i> yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters <i>were</i> eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/1_kings/1-25.htm">Abundance</a> <a href="/2_samuel/19-28.htm">Ate</a> <a href="/2_samuel/12-3.htm">Drank</a> <a href="/1_kings/1-25.htm">Drink</a> <a href="/1_kings/1-25.htm">Drinking</a> <a href="/1_kings/2-7.htm">Eating</a> <a href="/1_kings/4-7.htm">Food</a> <a href="/1_kings/4-13.htm">Great</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/33-29.htm">Happy</a> <a href="/1_kings/4-7.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/1_kings/1-45.htm">Joy</a> <a href="/1_kings/4-19.htm">Judah</a> <a href="/1_kings/3-3.htm">Making</a> <a href="/2_samuel/13-28.htm">Merry</a> <a href="/1_kings/3-8.htm">Multitude</a> <a href="/1_kings/3-9.htm">Numerous</a> <a href="/1_kings/1-45.htm">Rejoicing</a> <a href="/2_samuel/17-11.htm">Sand</a> <a href="/2_samuel/22-16.htm">Sea</a> <a href="/2_samuel/17-11.htm">Seashore</a> <a href="/judges/7-12.htm">Seaside</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_kings/7-47.htm">Abundance</a> <a href="/1_kings/13-19.htm">Ate</a> <a href="/1_kings/13-19.htm">Drank</a> <a href="/1_kings/13-8.htm">Drink</a> <a href="/1_kings/10-21.htm">Drinking</a> <a href="/1_kings/13-23.htm">Eating</a> <a href="/1_kings/4-22.htm">Food</a> <a href="/1_kings/4-29.htm">Great</a> <a href="/1_kings/10-8.htm">Happy</a> <a href="/1_kings/4-25.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/2_kings/11-12.htm">Joy</a> <a href="/1_kings/4-25.htm">Judah</a> <a href="/1_kings/5-4.htm">Making</a> <a href="/1_kings/21-7.htm">Merry</a> <a href="/1_kings/8-5.htm">Multitude</a> <a href="/1_kings/7-47.htm">Numerous</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/15-25.htm">Rejoicing</a> <a href="/1_kings/4-29.htm">Sand</a> <a href="/1_kings/4-29.htm">Sea</a> <a href="/1_kings/4-29.htm">Seashore</a> <a href="/matthew/13-1.htm">Seaside</a><div class="vheading2">1 Kings 4</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/4-1.htm">Solomon's princes</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/4-7.htm">His twelve officers for provision</a></span><br><span class="reftext">20. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/4-20.htm">The peace and largeness of his kingdom</a></span><br><span class="reftext">22. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/4-22.htm">His daily provision</a></span><br><span class="reftext">26. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/4-26.htm">His stable</a></span><br><span class="reftext">29. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/4-29.htm">His wisdom</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/1_kings/4.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div><b>The people of Judah and Israel</b><br />This phrase highlights the unity and collective identity of the Israelites during Solomon's reign. Historically, the tribes of Judah and Israel were often at odds, but under Solomon, they were united. This unity is significant as it reflects the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham about his descendants being numerous and blessed (<a href="/genesis/22-17.htm">Genesis 22:17</a>). The Hebrew root for "people" (עַם, 'am) emphasizes a community bound by covenant and shared heritage.<p><b>were as numerous as the sand on the seashore</b><br />This simile is a direct reference to God's promise to Abraham in <a href="/genesis/22-17.htm">Genesis 22:17</a>, where God assured Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. The phrase underscores the fulfillment of divine promises and the prosperity of Solomon's reign. Archaeologically, this period is often seen as a time of expansion and population growth in the region, aligning with the biblical narrative.<p><b>and they were eating and drinking and rejoicing</b><br />This phrase paints a picture of abundance and celebration. The Hebrew words for "eating" (אָכַל, 'akal) and "drinking" (שָׁתָה, shatah) suggest not just sustenance but feasting, indicative of peace and prosperity. "Rejoicing" (שָׂמַח, samach) conveys a deep, communal joy, often associated with religious festivals and thanksgiving to God. This reflects the blessings of Solomon's wise and prosperous rule, a time when the people experienced the peace and prosperity promised in <a href="/deuteronomy/28.htm">Deuteronomy 28:1-14</a> for obedience to God's commandments.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/1_kings/4.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(20) <span class= "bld">Were many.</span>--The description of the condition of the people here and in <a href="/1_kings/4-25.htm" title="And Judah and Israel dwelled safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.">1Kings 4:25</a>, as multiplied in numbers, and living in festivity and peace, is evidently designed to specify not only their general prosperity and wealth, but also the fact noticed in <a href="/context/1_kings/9-20.htm" title="And all the people that were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which were not of the children of Israel,">1Kings 9:20-22</a>, that at this time they were a dominant race, relieved from all burden of labour, and ruling over the subject races, now reduced to complete subjection and serfship. (That it was otherwise hereafter is clear from the complaints to Rehoboam in <a href="/1_kings/12-4.htm" title="Your father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make you the grievous service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, lighter, and we will serve you.">1Kings 12:4</a>.) Now, for the first time, did Israel enter on full possession of the territory promised in the days of the Conquest (<a href="/joshua/1-4.htm" title="From the wilderness and this Lebanon even to the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.">Joshua 1:4</a>), and so into the complete fulfilment of the promise to Abraham, alluded to in the words, "many as the sand which is by the sea in multitude" (<a href="/genesis/22-17.htm" title="That in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is on the sea shore; and your seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;">Genesis 22:17</a>).<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/1_kings/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 20.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude</span> [a reminiscence of <a href="/genesis/13-16.htm">Genesis 13:16</a>; <a href="/genesis/22-17.htm">Genesis 22:17</a>; <a href="/genesis/32-12.htm">Genesis 32:12</a> (cf. ch. 3:8). In the reign of Solomon these promises had their fulfilment], <span class="cmt_word">eating and drinking, and making merry</span>. [Cf. <a href="/1_samuel/30-16.htm">1 Samuel 30:16</a>. The Hebrew here begins a new chapter. The LXX. omits vers. 20, 21, 25, 26, and places vers. 27, 28, "and those officers," etc., after the list of prefects, ver. 19.] <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/1_kings/4-20.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Judah</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוּדָ֤ה</span> <span class="translit">(yə·hū·ḏāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3063.htm">Strong's 3063: </a> </span><span class="str2">Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and Israel</span><br /><span class="heb">וְיִשְׂרָאֵל֙</span> <span class="translit">(wə·yiś·rā·’êl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3478.htm">Strong's 3478: </a> </span><span class="str2">Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[became] as numerous</span><br /><span class="heb">לָרֹ֑ב</span> <span class="translit">(lā·rōḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7230.htm">Strong's 7230: </a> </span><span class="str2">Multitude, abundance, greatness</span><br /><br /><span class="word">as the sand</span><br /><span class="heb">כַּח֥וֹל</span> <span class="translit">(ka·ḥō·wl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2344.htm">Strong's 2344: </a> </span><span class="str2">Sand</span><br /><br /><span class="word">by</span><br /><span class="heb">עַל־</span> <span class="translit">(‘al-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> </span><span class="str2">Above, over, upon, against</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the sea,</span><br /><span class="heb">הַיָּ֖ם</span> <span class="translit">(hay·yām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3220.htm">Strong's 3220: </a> </span><span class="str2">A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin</span><br /><br /><span class="word">eating</span><br /><span class="heb">אֹכְלִ֥ים</span> <span class="translit">(’ō·ḵə·lîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_398.htm">Strong's 398: </a> </span><span class="str2">To eat</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and drinking</span><br /><span class="heb">וְשֹׁתִ֖ים</span> <span class="translit">(wə·šō·ṯîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8354.htm">Strong's 8354: </a> </span><span class="str2">To imbibe</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and rejoicing.</span><br /><span class="heb">וּשְׂמֵחִֽים׃</span> <span class="translit">(ū·śə·mê·ḥîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8056.htm">Strong's 8056: </a> </span><span class="str2">Glad, joyful, merry</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/1_kings/4-20.htm">1 Kings 4:20 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/1_kings/4-20.htm">1 Kings 4:20 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/1_kings/4-20.htm">1 Kings 4:20 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/1_kings/4-20.htm">1 Kings 4:20 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/1_kings/4-20.htm">1 Kings 4:20 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/1_kings/4-20.htm">1 Kings 4:20 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/1_kings/4-20.htm">1 Kings 4:20 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/1_kings/4-20.htm">1 Kings 4:20 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/1_kings/4-20.htm">1 Kings 4:20 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/1_kings/4-20.htm">1 Kings 4:20 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/1_kings/4-20.htm">OT History: 1 Kings 4:20 Judah and Israel were many as (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/1_kings/4-19.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Kings 4:19"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Kings 4:19" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/1_kings/4-21.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Kings 4:21"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Kings 4:21" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>