Bible Strands
1 Kings 4:6
Ahishar was in charge of the palace; and Adoniram son of Abda was in charge of the forced labor.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The biblical narrator records Solomon’s administrative appointments during his reign, listing officials who manage royal operations before detailing the twelve provincial governors.
The words — הַ/מַּֽס (ha./Mas) translates literally as "the forced labor," and עַל\־ ('al-) functions as "over" or "in charge of," indicating administrative authority.
The thread — This administrative role recurs in 2 Samuel 20:24 with Adoram overseeing labor, 1 Kings 9:15 which outlines the forced labor for Solomon’s building projects, and 1 Kings 12:18 where the labor overseer is dispatched to the northern tribes.
Why it lands — It demands recognition of the bureaucratic structure that sustained royal construction and the administrative continuity across Solomon’s reign and the subsequent division of the kingdom.
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 Ahishar was over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute.
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 20:24 Adoram was in charge of the forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;
- 1 Kings 9:15 This is the account of the forced labor that King Solomon imposed to build the house of the LORD, his own palace, the supporting terraces, and the wall of Jerusalem, as well as Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.
- 1 Kings 12:18 Then King Rehoboam sent out Adoram, who was in charge of the forced labor, but all Israel stoned him to death. And King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste and escaped to Jerusalem.
- 1 Kings 5:13 Then King Solomon conscripted a labor force of 30,000 men from all Israel.