Bible Strands
1 Kings 4:21
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator states Solomon’s territorial control and the political status of neighboring realms immediately after describing Judah and Israel’s population growth and immediately before detailing the king’s daily food supplies.
The words — מוֹשֵׁל (mo.Shel) means ruling, and הַנָּהָר (ha./na.Har) literally means the River, functioning as the northern boundary marker.
The thread — The geographic extent mirrors the covenant boundary in Genesis 15:18 and the conquest territory in Joshua 1:4, while the tributary payments align with the foreign gifts brought to Jerusalem in Psalms 68:29.
Why it lands — The passage records a concrete claim of imperial dominion and forced submission, establishing the administrative reality that precedes the narrative’s next focus on royal provisioning.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.
Cross-references
- Genesis 15:18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land—from the river of Egypt to the great River Euphrates—
- Joshua 1:4 Your territory shall extend from the wilderness and Lebanon to the great River Euphrates—all the land of the Hittites—and west as far as the Great Sea.
- Psalms 68:29 Because of Your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring You gifts.
- Exodus 23:31 And I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the Euphrates. For I will deliver the inhabitants into your hand, and you will drive them out before you.
- 1 Kings 4:24 For Solomon had dominion over everything west of the Euphrates—over all the kingdoms from Tiphsah to Gaza—and he had peace on all sides.
- 2 Chronicles 9:26 He reigned over all the kings from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt.
- Deuteronomy 11:24 Every place where the sole of your foot treads will be yours. Your territory will extend from the wilderness to Lebanon, and from the Euphrates River to the Western Sea.
- 2 Chronicles 17:5 So the LORD established the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah brought him tribute, so that he had an abundance of riches and honor.
- 2 Chronicles 32:23 Many brought offerings to Jerusalem for the LORD and valuable gifts for Hezekiah king of Judah, and from then on he was exalted in the eyes of all nations.
- Ezra 4:20 And mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem and exercised authority over the whole region west of the Euphrates; and tribute, duty, and toll were paid to them.