Poole on 1 Kings 4:29-34: Solomon's Wisdom Attainments

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Verse 29:[1]  And (1 Kings 3:12; Ecclus. 47:14-17[2]) God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.

[Wisdom]  This has regard to the understanding of things, just as prudence has regard to the administration (Sanchez).

[And prudence (thus Vatablus, Mariana)]  In Hebrew, it is understanding,[3] as in 1 Kings 3:12.[4]  See Deuteronomy 1:13[5] (Grotius).

[And breadth of heart (thus Pagnine, Montanus, Septuagint, Piscator)]  That is, of soul or mind, that is, a mind capable of many things (Vatablus), a most capacious mind (Piscator, thus Menochius).  ‎וְרֹ֣חַב לֵ֔ב, and dilation of heart (Jonathan), a capacious heart (Strigelius), greatness of soul (Junius and Tremellius), capacity of mind (Syriac).  He understands magnanimity, whereby what wisdom was suggesting to him, he was venturing immediately to put into action, with no fear, no scruple hindering.  Without which gift prudence would be in vain; for, to what good is this, if one dares not to make use of it? (Tirinus out of Sanchez).  He gave to him magnificence and magnanimity, or a royal heart, equal to such burdens and works (Lapide).  Breadth of heart is sometimes taken in a negative sense, and denotes pride, as in Proverbs 21:4;[6] sometimes in a good sense, and signifies, besides consummate wisdom, also the fortitude and daring to undertake and accomplish the things (Dutch).

Largeness of heart, that is, either, first, Magnanimity, or generosity, and greatness of spirit, whereby he was disposed and emboldened to undertake great things.  But this seems not so well to suit with the following resemblance.  Or rather, secondly, Vastness of understanding; a most comprehensive knowledge of all things, both Divine and human; for this wisdom is the thing for which he is here commended, both in the foregoing and following words.

[As the sand, etc., וגו״ ‎כַּחוֹל]  According to the sand, etc. (Montanus), that is to say, grasping nearly infinite things (Menochius).  According to the extent of sand (Junius and Tremellius).  As ample a mind as the ample place the sand which is by the side occupies (Vatablus).  So manifold was the knowledge of this in him, that it was exceeding the number of the sand of the sea.  Or, as the sand of the sea is not able to be measured, so neither was the wisdom of Solomon (Munster).  He was gifted with immense and unsearchable wisdom (Osiander).  [Our Most Illustrious Bacon,[7] in his On the Advancement of the Sciences,[8] in the beginning of the work, παραφράζει/paraphrases this passage in this way:  as the sand of the sea; although the mass of it is enormous, yet its parts are most minute; To the rude this is completely marvelous; although it embraces all the greatest things, yet it grasps the smallest, and does not let them escape:  even though it seems exceedingly difficult, or rather impossible, in nature, for the same Instrument to handle aptly both great Works and minute particulars.  Thus Bacon.]

Even as the sand that is on the seashore; which cannot be numbered or measured; and which, though it be so vast and comprehensive, yet consists of the smallest parts:  and so it may note that Solomon’s wisdom was both vast, reaching to all things; and most accurate, searching and discerning every small thing.

Verse 30:[9]  And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children (Gen. 25:6) of the east country, and all (see Acts 7:22) the wisdom of Egypt.

[The wisdom of the Easterners]  That is, of the Arabs (Grotius, Malvenda); who were to the East of Judah.  See on Matthew 2:1, who already of old were distinguished in every branch of philosophy (Grotius).  And also of the Chaldeans, the Persians, the Indians, etc., who at that time were generally flourishing in philosophy, mathematics, astrology, and magic.  See Diogenes Lærtius in the Preface to his Lives of the Philosophers[10] (Malvenda, similarly Vatablus).  The Men of the East were the wisest in the first age.  They were the first to observe the course of all the stars.  Among those were Job and his friends, the Gymnosophists,[11] and the Brahmins.[12]  To such men Pythagoras,[13] Democritus,[14] and Apollonius of Tyana[15] (Martyr).

The children of the east country; the Chaldeans, Persians, and Arabians, who all lay eastward from Canaan, and who were famous in ancient times for their wisdom and learning, as appears both from sacred and profane writers.

[And of the Egyptians]  Among whom the Priests were taking extraordinary pains in the knowledge of the stars, the Mathematical arts, and the knowledge of natural things (Grotius).  He surpassed their magi and enchanters (Munster).  They were especially Geometers; and they were praised as wise by Aristotle, Metaphysics 1.  Moses is commended for excelling in their learning.[16]  The Greeks (and especially Plato) do not at all deny that they derived their learning from the Egyptians (Martyr).

The wisdom of Egypt, that is, the Egyptians, whose fame was then great for their skill in the arts and sciences, which made them despise the Grecians as children in knowledge.  See Acts 7:22.

Verse 31:[17]  For he was (1 Kings 3:12) wiser than all men; (1 Chron. 15:19; Ps. 89 title) than Ethan the Ezrahite, (see 1 Chron. 2:6; 6:33; 15:19; Ps. 88 title) and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol:  and his fame was in all nations round about.

[Wiser than all men]  Of his time (Martyr, Lyra); and of his nation (Munster).

Wiser than all men; either of his nation, or of his time, or of all times and nations, whether of the east or any other country, excepting only the first and Second Adam.

[Ethan]  Who was an eminent poet and musician, 1 Chronicles 15:19; Psalm 89 (Tirinus out of Sanchez, thus Lapide, Martyr), and so the rest following appear to have been such (Menochius).  They also appear to have been Levites (Martyr, thus Menochius out of Lyra); and, since they were Singers, they had profound experience with divine things (Martyr).

[Heman]  It is thought to be he, to whom Psalm 88 is inscribed.  Objection:  But in that place ‎אֶזְרָחִי/Ezrahite has the א; but not so in this place.[18]  Response:  Among the Hebrews it is no new thing for an א to lie hidden, or to quiesce (Martyr, thus Menochius).  He is numbered among the chief of the singers, 1 Chronicles 15:19; 25:4, 5.  Of the rest that are here related Scripture makes no mention elsewhere (Menochius).  Those that are here mentioned as Philosophers were the sons of Zerah, the grandsons of Judah, as it appears from 1 Chronicles 2:6 (Grotius after Malvenda and Junius).  Whence it is plausible that ‎מָחוֹל/Mahol is the name of a woman; and that in Chronicles דַּרְדַּע/Darda is to be read,[19] as it is here (Grotius).  Mahol, that is, ‎זֶרַח/Zerah, or, as others write it, אֶזְרָח/Ezrah:  for he had two names (Vatablus).  Some maintain that all these were brothers; and that the Ezrahite is the same as Mahol, which they also maintain to be a cognomen of the Ezrahite, not a proper name, from מָחוֹל, a dance, because he educated his filias/daughters [it appears that filios/sons is to be read] in Music, poetry and dance.  Thus Rabbi Levi Ben Gershon (Martyr).

Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman; Israelites of eminent wisdom, probably the same mentioned 1 Chronicles 2:6; 15:19; 25:4; Psalm 88 title; Psalm 89 title.  Chalcol and Darda of whom see 1 Chronicles 2:6.  The sons of Mahol.  Objection:  All these four were the sons of Zerah, 1 Chronicles 2:6, or of Ezrah, as others call him.  Answer:  Either the same man had two names, Zerah and Mahol, which was common amongst the Jews; and he might be called Mahol from his office or employment; for that signifies a dance, or a pipe; and he was expert in musical instruments, and so were his sons, 1 Chronicles 15:17-19, who possibly may here be called, by a vulgar Hebraism, sons of the musical instrument, from their dexterity in handling it, as upon another account we read of the daughters of music, Ecclesiastes 12:4.

Verse 32:[20]  And (Prov. 1:1; Eccles. 12:9) he spake three thousand proverbs:  and his (Cant. 1:1) songs were a thousand and five.

[And he spoke, ‎וַיְדַבֵּר]  And he said; that is, he composed (Vatablus).  He is not said to have written, but to have spoken.  And these, and the rest of the works of Solomon, appear not so much to have been written by him, as spoken; which others received from his mouth, and either put to familiar use, or rendered in writing; which those did in Proverbs 25:1 (Sanchez, similarly Martyr).

[Three thousand parables]  Of parables, that is, of obscure sentences (Vatablus, similarly Menochius).  Γνώμας/ maxims (sentences [Grotius]). Incredibly beautiful sayings concerning things either to be desired or shunned in the life of men:  or concerning the nature of God and His will (Martyr).  These books perished in the captivities (Hebrews in Munster, Vatablus); but by the providence of God many of his monuments were preserved, and those especially that were of the greatest use:  Let us learn to use these well, and with thanksgiving (Martyr).  We have selections of these (sentences) in the book of ‎מִשְׁלֵי/Proverbs, concerning the use of which term we spoke on Matthew 13:3, and in the Prolegomena to the sayings of the Poets in Stobæus.[21]  We shall say in the proper place, that not all those γνώμας/maxims had Solomon as their author; but they were gathered out of the writings of Historians and Poets (Grotius).  We have a portion of these in Proverbs (Lapide), where there are nine hundred and fifteen verses (Munster).  The parables begin in Proverbs 10; and they extend through six hundred and fifty-eight verses to the end of the book, which contain about as many parables (Lapide).

Proverbs, that is, short, and deep, and useful sentences, whereof a great and the best part are contained in the Books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.

[His songs]  Understand them to be like those of Horace; or Idylls like those of Theocritus.[22]  One of which remains, which the Greeks would have called ὀαριστὴν, an intimate conversation, the Hebrews call ‎שִׁיר הַשִּׁירִים, the Song of Songs (Grotius).  The Book of Odes which he had published was including one thousand and five Odes (Vatablus, Lapide).  He was not only a Philosopher, but also an outstanding Poet (Grotius).  There are those that say, that of the Canticles and Proverbs of Solomon only the more useful were preserved by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and those were gathered into books that survive to the present day, and are judged as fragments (Munster).

Of his songs the chief and most divine are in the Canticles.

Verse 33:[23]  And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall:  he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.

Of trees, that is, of all plants, of their nature and qualities; all which discourses are lost, without any impeachment of the perfection of the Holy Scriptures; which were not inspired and written to teach men philosophy or physic, but only to make men wise to salvation.  See John 20:31; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17.

[From the cedar…unto the hyssop that goes forth from the wall,‎ מִן־הָאֶ֙רֶז֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּלְּבָנ֔וֹן וְעַד֙ הָאֵז֔וֹב אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֹצֵ֖א בַּקִּ֑יר]  From the cedar (which thrives in abundance in Lebanon [Vatablus]) unto the hyssop that goes forth from, or out of, the wall (Munster, Pagnine, Tigurinus), or, in the wall (Syriac, Arabic, Montanus), or through the wall (Septuagint).  Question:  What is this אֵזוֹב here?  [Concerning this see what things we noted at length on Exodus 12:22.[24]  Therefore, I will treat it more sparingly here, and concerning those things that more particularly regard this passage.]  Houseleek[25] (Syriac), rosemary (Piscator), oregano (Kimchi in Sanchez).  But this herb is not quite so humble, neither does it commonly sprout in a wall.  Levinus Lemnius[26] and Pineda maintain that it is maidenhair fern; because this herb also has great use in medicine, and sprouts in walls, and in wells, etc. (Sanchez).  Understand here Hyssop of the wall (Lapide).  That אֵזוֹב is hyssop, many things urge [which seek in the annotations on Exodus 12].  But this they object, that neither hyssop nor related herbs sprout in walls.  Response 1:  That בַּקִּיר, in the wall, is to be taken in a different sense.  Since this was written at Jerusalem, he was able to understand the קִיר/wall as the fortifications of the city.  For, קִיר/wall signifies, not only private walls, but also the fortifications of cities, as in Numbers 35:4;[27] Joshua 2:15.[28]  Moreover, an extra-mural herb is able to be said to grow in the wall, even if it does not grow out of the wall itself.  In such a way that בַּקִּיר is at or near the wall, as ‎בְּגִבְעוֹן, in Gibeon, Joshua 10:10, is near Gibeon; and‎בְּקִרְיַ֥ת יְעָרִ֖ים, in Kirjath-jearim, Judges 18:10, that is, near it; and in the ark, Hebrews 9:4, that is, near it.  Moreover, Isaac Ben-Omran [an Arabian writer[29]] and αὐτόπτης/eyewitness, speaking of dry hyssop, says, The herb is springing forth on the mountains of Jerusalem, etc., namely, on those mountains on which that city was built, and with which it was surrounded, Psalm 87:1; 125:2.  Response 2:  With it granted, not conceded, that a plant truly of a wall is treated, this only follows, that the אֵזוֹב applies more broadly than ὕσσωπον/hyssop.  Which we freely grant, since the Hebrews number four species of it.  Thus Maimonides;[30] among which is כּוֺחֲלִי אֵזוֺב, Cochalian hyssop,[31] in the place of which I would readily write כּוֺתְלִי, that is, of the wall, or extra-mural, from כּוֺתֶל, wall or fortification.  Certainly the letters ת/t and ח/ch are readily interchanged.  See 2 Samuel 21:19[32] (Bochart’s A Sacred Catalogue of Animals 1:2:50:590).  The cedar is named among the loftiest trees; the hyssop among the lowliest herbs.  And so, while he was discussing the greatest and the least, it is fitting, that he was also discoursing concerning those in between (Martyr).  It is not strange that hyssop is joined with the cedar, although many others are more lowly and humble; 1.  because they were conjoined in purification, Leviticus 14:4, 6, etc.:  2.  because there was great use of each in medicine, and so it was not unprofitable to Solomon, either to know for himself, or to relate to others, what he grasped concerning each (Sanchez).  The sense of the passage:  He discoursed concerning the nature of plants (Vatablus).  He treated the history of Plants, and, which now follows, of Animals, the distinguished parts of nature (Grotius).

From the cedar tree unto the hyssop, that is, from the greatest to the least.

Verse 34:[33]  And (1 Kings 10:1; 2 Chron. 9:1, 23) there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.

[And they were coming]  Understanding, to Jerusalem (Vatablus).

[Of all peoples]  Namely, the neighboring (Martyr).

[By all the Kings of the earth]  Understanding, sent (Vatablus).  Those did not come themselves, but sent their legates to him (Martyr).

From all kings of the earth, to wit, from all the neighbouring kings; universal particles being frequently understood in a restrained sense; and such restriction is grounded upon the following words, where this is limited to such as heard of Solomon’s wisdom.

[Who were hearing, etc., ‎אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁמְע֖וּ אֶת־חָכְמָתֽוֹ׃]  Who had heard something of his consummate wisdom; or, so that they might hear, etc. (Vatablus).  Similarly to behold Titus Livius certain nobles from the territories of Hispania and Gaul came to Rome (Sanchez).

[1] Hebrew:  ‎וַיִּתֵּן֩ אֱלֹהִ֙ים חָכְמָ֧ה לִשְׁלֹמֹ֛ה וּתְבוּנָ֖ה הַרְבֵּ֣ה מְאֹ֑ד וְרֹ֣חַב לֵ֔ב כַּח֕וֹל אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־שְׂפַ֥ת הַיָּֽם׃

[2] Ecclesiasticus 47:14-17:  “How wise wast thou in thy youth and, as a flood, filled with understanding!  Thy soul covered the whole earth, and thou filledst it with dark parables.  Thy name went far unto the islands; and for thy peace thou wast beloved.  The countries marvelled at thee for thy songs, and proverbs, and parables, and interpretations.”

[3] Hebrew:  ‎וּתְבוּנָה.

[4] 1 Kings 3:12:  “Behold, I have done according to thy words:  lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart (‎לֵ֚ב חָכָ֣ם וְנָב֔וֹן); so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.”

[5] Deuteronomy 1:13:  “Take you wise men, and understanding (‎אֲנָשִׁ֙ים חֲכָמִ֧ים וּנְבֹנִ֛ים), and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you.”

[6] Proverbs 21:4:  “An high look, and a proud heart (‎וּרְחַב־לֵב), and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.”

[7] Francis Bacon, Lord Verulam and First Viscount of Saint Alban (1561-1626), was an English lawyer, statesman, and philosopher, remembered for his advocacy of inductive reasoning and the scientific method.

[8] De Dignitate et Augmentis Scientiarum.

[9] Hebrew:  ‎וַתֵּ֙רֶב֙ חָכְמַ֣ת שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה מֵֽחָכְמַ֖ת כָּל־בְּנֵי־קֶ֑דֶם וּמִכֹּ֖ל חָכְמַ֥ת מִצְרָֽיִם׃

[10] Diogenes Lærtius was a biographer of Greek philosophers, writing his Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers probably sometime during the third century AD.

[11] The Gymnosophists were an ancient Indian, ascetic sect.  They believed that food and clothing were hindrances to the contemplative life.

[12] The Brahmins were the priestly and scholarly caste of ancient India.

[13] Pythagoras (582-507 BC) was a Greek philosopher and mathematician.

[14] Democritus (c. 460-c. 370 BC) was a pre-Socractic philosopher, remembered for his atomic theory of the universe, and as a natural philosopher.  He is said to have traveled extensively and studied in the East.

[15] Apollonius of Tyana (first century AD) was a Greek Neo-Pythagorean philosopher from Tyana, in the province of Cappadocia.  He is said to have traveled extensively in the East, and to have studied with the Brahmins in India.  Apollonius was known for practicing divination, alchemy, and magic, and working miracles.

[16] Acts 7:22.

[17] Hebrew:  ‎וַיֶּחְכַּם֘ מִכָּל־הָֽאָדָם֒ מֵאֵיתָ֣ן הָאֶזְרָחִ֗י וְהֵימָ֧ן וְכַלְכֹּ֛ל וְדַרְדַּ֖ע בְּנֵ֣י מָח֑וֹל וַיְהִֽי־שְׁמ֥וֹ בְכָֽל־הַגּוֹיִ֖ם סָבִֽיב׃

[18] 1 Chronicles 2:6:  “And the sons of Zerah (‎זֶרַח); Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara:  five of them in all.”

[19] 1 Chronicles 2:6:  “And the sons of Zerah; Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara (‎וָדָרַע):  five of them in all.”

[20] Hebrew:  ‎ויְדַבֵּ֕ר שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֖ים מָשָׁ֑ל וַיְהִ֥י שִׁיר֖וֹ חֲמִשָּׁ֥ה וָאָֽלֶף׃

[21] Joannes Stobæus was a late-fifth century compiler of Greek antiquities.  He preserved a vast collection of quotes in his Anthology.  Grotius wrote a Preface to the “Florilegium” portion of Stobæus’ Anthology.

[22] Theocritus was a Greek poet, who labored during the third century BC.

[23] Hebrew:  ‎וַיְדַבֵּר֘ עַל־הָֽעֵצִים֒ מִן־הָאֶ֙רֶז֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּלְּבָנ֔וֹן וְעַד֙ הָאֵז֔וֹב אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֹצֵ֖א בַּקִּ֑יר וַיְדַבֵּר֙ עַל־הַבְּהֵמָ֣ה וְעַל־הָע֔וֹף וְעַל־הָרֶ֖מֶשׂ וְעַל־הַדָּגִֽים׃

[24] Exodus 12:22:  “And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop (‎אֵזוֹב), and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.”

[25] A rose-shaped, hardy, ever-green succulent, known for its ability to survive in harsh conditions.

[26] Levinus Lemnius (1505-1568) was born in the Netherlands, and trained in both theology and medicine.  He practiced medicine, but retired as Canon of St. Lievin.  He wrote Herbarum atque Arborum quae in Bibliis passim Obviae Sunt.

[27] Numbers 35:4:  “And the suburbs of the cities, which ye shall give unto the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the city (‎מִקִּ֤יר הָעִיר֙) and outward a thousand cubits round about.”

[28] Joshua 2:15:  “Then she let them down by a cord through the window:  for her house was upon the town wall (‎בְּקִ֣יר הַֽחוֹמָ֔ה, on the wall of the wall), and upon the wall (‎וּבַחוֹמָה) she dwelt.”

[29] Ishaq ibn Imran (died c. 903) was a physician of the Islamic Golden Age.  He was born in Baghdad, but worked in Kairouan (modern Tunisia) under the Aghlabid and early Fatimid dynasties.

[30] Moses Maimonides, or Rambam (1135-1204), is reckoned by many to be the greatest Jewish scholar of his age.  In the Hebrew Scriptures, Rabbinic tradition, natural science, and Aristotelian philosophy, Maimonides demonstrates great command and almost equal facility.

[31] Although the exact location of Cochali is not known, it appears to be in Roman Palestine.

[32] 2 Samuel 21:19:  “And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, a Beth-lehemite, slew (‎אֵת) Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.”  1 Chronicles 20:5:  “And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother (‎אֲחִי) of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff was like a weaver’s beam.”

[33] Hebrew:  ‎וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ מִכָּל־הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים לִשְׁמֹ֕עַ אֵ֖ת חָכְמַ֣ת שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה מֵאֵת֙ כָּל־מַלְכֵ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁמְע֖וּ אֶת־חָכְמָתֽוֹ׃ ס