1 Kings 4:23ten head of fat cattle, and twenty head of cattle out of the pastures, and one hundred sheep, besides harts, and gazelles, and roebucks, and fattened fowl.
The setting
Jerusalem palace, ~950 BC. Daily menu: 30 cattle (15 grain-fed, 15 pasture-raised), 100 sheep, plus wild game including deer, gazelles, and exotic fattened birds. This fed Solomon's household, officials, and countless daily visitors.
The emotion here: documenting with reverence for God's unprecedented blessing
The original word
bakar (בָּקָר) — cattle, representing wealth and abundance in agricultural society
Why it matters
This daily meat consumption equals what a modern city of 50,000 people would eat
Read with care
What most readers miss in 1 Kings 4:23
The variety shows international trade - gazelles from Arabia, fattened fowl likely from Egypt, showing Solomon's global connections
Common misconceptionPeople think this shows gluttony, but ancient hospitality required kings to feed anyone who came to their court - this was public welfare and diplomacy, not personal excess.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 1 Kings 4:23
Bible Genome reading
1 Kings 4:23 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
1 Kings 4:23 comes from the book of 1 Kings, written during the United Kingdom period. The setting is a royal palace. These words are attributed to Narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is grateful, with a comfort power of 30% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include abundance, provision, luxury. Notable phrases: ten head of fat cattle; one hundred sheep; harts and gazelles.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same grateful
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
— John 3:16
“I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith.”
— 2 Timothy 4:7
“It will be, that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.'”
— Acts 2:21
“for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,”
— Ephesians 2:8
“So now it wasn't you who sent me here, but God, and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land o…”
— Genesis 45:8
Your reflection
What does 1 Kings 4:23 mean to you, today?
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