1 Kings 4:11

1Ki 4:11 The son of Abinadab, in all the region of Dor; which had Taphath the daughter of Solomon to wife:

Ver. 11. Which had Taphath the daughter of Solomon to wife.] He was, therefore, a man of worth: for Solomon, likely, was of Cato’s mind; who, being to bestow a daughter, said, Malo virum pecunia, quam pecuniam viro indigentem, I had rather have to my son-in-law a man wanting money, than money wanting a man. Our Henry VIII was more happy in his one son and two daughters than Solomon. Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, was both a fool and unfortunate; his daughters but obscure, and both of them subjects. But Henry was more happy in Edward his son, another Josiah, and his sisters both sovereigns of an imperial crown: howbeit he gave them, when he died, but ten thousand pounds apiece.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

1Ki 4:11-13. The region of Dor — In Manasseh, where also were Taanach, Megiddo, and Beth-shean. Who had the daughter of Solomon to wife — Solomon had no daughters marriageable when these officers were appointed; but in process of time, this man and Ahimaaz, mentioned 1Ki 4:15, had behaved themselves so well in their offices, that Solomon did them the honour to give them two of his daughters to wife. In Ramoth-Gilead — That is, Ramoth in the land of Gilead, Deu 4:43; so called, to distinguish it from Ramoth in Issachar, 1Ch 6:73. The towns of Jair — In Manasseh beyond Jordan, Num 32:41. With walls and brazen bars — This is added by way of distinction from those towns of Jair mentioned before. For, being beyond Jordan, they were liable to the attempts of their enemies.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

(11) The fourth division, “all the region of Dor,” still lies along the coast, but to the north of the preceding districts, close under Mount Carmel, in the territory assigned to Manasseh. Dor is named in Jos_11:2, as forming a part of the confederacy of the north under Jabin, and as subsequently conquered (1Ki_12:23), and given to Manasseh (1Ki_17:11).

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

11. the son of Abinadab] Read Ben-Abinadab. Abinadab was a very common Jewish name. We have no further mention of this man.

in all the region of Dor] Hebrew Naphath Dor. Dor was an ancient city of the Canaanites, lying on the sea-coast under the side of Mount Carmel. It was in the tribe of Manasseh. It is first mentioned, and its king, in Jos_11:1-2; Jos_12:23. From the cognates of Naphath, the word should imply elevation. Hence the R.V. renders ‘the height of Dor,’ and its vicinity to the mountain gives support to that rendering. Being close to the north of the fertile plain of Sharon the country about Dor was doubtless well suited for supplying Solomon’s household.

Taphath the daughter of Solomon] Only mentioned here.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Baana the son of Ahilud, to him pertained Taanach and Megiddo, and all Bethshean,.... All which were places in the tribe of Manasseh, Jos 17:11;

which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel; so described, to distinguish it, as is thought, from Zaretan in Jos 3:16; and the country this officer presided over reached also

from Bethshean to Abelmeholah, even unto the place that is beyond Jokneam; the two first of these were in the tribe of Manasseh, and the last in the tribe of Zebulun, Jos 19:11.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Dor - See Jos 11:2 note. It has always been a practice among Oriental potentates to attach to themselves the more important of their officers by giving them for wives princesses of the royal house. Hence, the union here between Ben-Abinadab (probably Solomon’s first cousin, compare 1Sa 16:8) and Taphath. Compare 1Ki 4:15.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

To wife. Not at the beginning of his reign, ver. 15. (Menochius) --- This chapter gives a general idea of the officers who lived under Solomon. (Calmet)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

The region of Dor, in Manasseh within Jordan, where also were Taanach, Megiddo, and Beth-shean, 1Ki 4:12.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

11. All the region of Dor — This was on the coast of the Mediterranean near Mount Carmel. See on Jos_11:2.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The son of Abinadab Ben Abinadab. Possibly the Abinadab, 1Sa_16:8 1Sa_17:13. If so, this officer, who married Solomon"s daughter, was also his cousin in Heb. omits all the region hpn height; the term is only used in connection with Dor of Dor. Jos_11:2 Jos_12:23 Jos_17:11. Dor, now represented by the miserable village of Tantura, lies on the strand of the Mediterranean, north of Caesarea. A "spur of Mount Camel, steep and partially wooded, runs parallel to the coastline, at the distance of about a mile and a half" (Porter) This is the "height of Dor." Thenius supposes this fourth district embraced the plain of Sharon. Josephus (8. 2. 3.) limits this prefecture to the sea coast, which may well include Sharon. Indeed, without it, this district would have been destitute of cornlands which had Taphath, the daughter of Solomon, to wife. "It has always been a practice amongst Oriental potentates to attach to themselves the more important of their officers by giving them for wives princesses of the royal house.... The practice of polygamy has generally enabled them to carry out this system to a very wide extent" (Rawlinson).

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Connecting Statement:

The list of Solomon's officials continues, and the list of the areas of which they were in charge begins.

Ben-Abinadab ... Ben-Geber ... Jair ... Manasseh ... Ahinadab ... Iddo

men's names (See: How to Translate Names)

in all Naphoth Dor ... in Taanach ... in Ramoth Gilead ... in Mahanaim

"who was the officer in charge of all Naphoth Dor ... who was the officer in charge of Taanach ... who was the officer in charge of Ramoth Gilead ... who was the officer in charge of Mahanaim"

Taphath

woman's name (See: How to Translate Names)

Dor ... Beth Shan ... Zarethan ... Jezreel ... Beth Shan to Abel Meholah ... Jokmeam ... Ramoth Gilead ... Argob ... Bashan ... Mahanaim

place names (See: How to Translate Names)

translationWords

Solomon

Jezreel

Gilead

Manasseh

Bashan

bronze

gate

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

Nofas-dor. [Targum Yonoson rendered,] the district [פלך] of Dor.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.