· Translation: KJV

1 Kings 4:12Baana the son of Ahilud, in Taanach and Megiddo, and all Beth Shean which is beside Zarethan, beneath Jezreel, from Beth Shean to Abel Meholah, as far as beyond Jokmeam;

The setting

Israel, ~950 BC. Solomon's administrative headquarters. Scribes recording the vast bureaucracy that governed a kingdom stretching from Egypt to the Euphrates River, modern-day Israel/Palestine through Syria.

The emotion here: meticulous pride in recording unprecedented prosperity

The original word

pachah (פחה) — district governor with military and civil authority

Why it matters

Megiddo was a strategic fortress controlling the vital trade route between Egypt and Mesopotamia

Read with care

What most readers miss in 1 Kings 4:12

This isn't just a list — it's proof Solomon controlled the ancient world's most valuable real estate

Common misconceptionPeople skip these verses as 'boring lists,' but they're actually documenting the most prosperous administration in ancient history — this was Israel at its absolute peak.

Bible Genome reading

1 Kings 4:12 — Bible Genome reading

SpeakerNarrator
EraUnited Kingdom
Primary emotionresting
Literary typenarrative

Emotional genome

Comfort power20%
Quotability20%
Memorability20%
Crisis relevance20%
Standalone20%
Themes:organizationgeography

In context

No verse stands alone.

Read the conversation around it.

Open 1 Kings 4

1 Kings 4:12 comes from the book of 1 Kings, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is resting, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include organization, geography. Notable phrases: Baana; Taanach and Megiddo; Beth Shean.

Your reflection

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