Requiring a portion of produce from subjects, in addition to monetary payments, is a common practice for Eastern monarchs. This was the practice in…

Provided victuals for the king and his household. —This denotes the collection of revenue—mostly, no doubt, in kind—for t…

And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel
Not with respect to the twelve tribes of Israel, for it does not app…

In the choice of the chief officials of Solomon's court, his wisdom undoubtedly appeared. Several of them were the same individuals who had served …