Question 1

What does 1 Kings 4:17 mean?

Accepted Answer

1 Kings 4:17 records that Jehoshaphat, the son of Paruah, was appointed as an official over the territory of Issachar. This verse is part of a list describing the leaders King Solomon placed in charge of different regions of Israel. The verse comes from a section where the writer details Solomon’s administrative organization. Each official, including Jehoshaphat, was responsible for providing supplies for the king and his household from their assigned district. Issachar was one of the tribes of Israel, and this brief mention shows how Solomon’s kingdom was structured and governed.

Question 2

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 4:17

Accepted Answer

יְהוֹשָׁפָט (Yehoshafat, “Jehoshaphat”): This name means “Yahweh has judged,” and it was a common name in ancient Israel. Here, it identifies the specific official responsible for Issachar. בֵּן (ben, “son”): This word simply means “son of,” showing the family connection and helping to distinguish Jehoshaphat from others with the same name. פָּרוּחַ (Paruach, “Paruah”): This is the name of Jehoshaphat’s father. Including the father’s name was a standard way to clarify identity in official records. יִשָּׂשכָר (Yissachar, “Issachar”): This refers to the territory belonging to the tribe of Issachar, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. It marks the specific region under Jehoshaphat’s oversight.

Question 3

Why 1 Kings 4:17 matters

Accepted Answer

This verse helps clarify how Solomon’s administration worked by showing that each region had a specific official responsible for its management and contributions to the royal household. Listing both the official’s name and his father’s name shows the importance of family lineage and precise identification in Israel’s records. By naming Issachar, the verse connects the administrative structure to the tribal divisions of Israel, highlighting how ancient Israel’s society was organized around both geography and family heritage.

1 Kings 4:17 (KJV)