Geber the son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan. And there was one governor who was over the land.
Geber's name closes the list of officers who kept Solomon's table supplied. His district is named after two kings Israel had beaten long before, and he held it alone. So why does Scripture pause over a supply officer, and why does it label his ground by its old owners?
Names worth reading
The names in verses 8 to 19 look like an administrative record, and many readers skip them. One writer treats the list as an invitation rather than filler.
Leslie M. GrantThe names of the 12 governors are told us in verses 8-19 and the areas over which they ruled. There is surely profitable instruction and blessing in such scripture for those who seek and receive discernment from God to search it out.
Read that way, the list turns out to reward men whose families had stood by David and the ark in harder days.
H. L. RossierAmong Solomon's twelve stewards (vv. 7-19) we find two who had married daughters of the king. That rare honour went to the son of the same Abinadab who had received the ark and guarded it for twenty years in his house on the hill. To belong to the family that had faithfully watched over the ark of the Lord was a mark of nobility in the king's eyes.
What Geber's post was
Geber and the other officers were supply men for the king's table. This verse also notes one governor over the land.
Leslie M. GrantSolomon did have 12 governors over Israel, each in a different area. It does not say that these men were benefactors of the people. It says that each one in turn provided food for Solomon and his household, one month each year (v.7). This pictures how Israel will respond to the Lord Jesus in a coming day. They will give Him full allegiance. We may be sure these governors also cared for the needs of the people. Those who give the Lord first place will not fail to show kindness to others.
The ground east of the Jordan
Gilead and Bashan lie east of the Jordan River. By naming Sihon and Og, the verse marks Geber's district as land Israel had taken before it ever crossed into Canaan. One writer shows that God had planned this ground for Israel from the start.
C E StuartThe Amorite land east of the Jordan was to be part of Israel's inheritance. God told Moses so… So they took the country of Sihon, and that of Og as well (Num. 21:24, 35; Deut. 3:12). Israel's inheritance lay on both sides of the Jordan, just as God had planned beforehand. Yet it does not appear that He meant any of them to live east of that river. The tribes who asked for their portion there did get it. But they soon found the drawback of it (Joshua 22:24-28). In time all the tribes will be settled west of the Jordan (Ezek. 47:15-20; 48). Even so, they will hold the land east of it as well, feeding in Bashan and Gilead as in the days of old (Jer. 50:19; Micah 7:14; Zech. 10:10).
So Geber gathered food from ground God had promised, Israel had taken, and Israel will hold again.
Order, but not yet perfect order
The chapter shows a kingdom in good order. Yet one writer counts the chief men listed in verses 2 to 6 and finds one missing.
H. L. RossierAll Israel was gathered under his rule (v. 1), so forming one peaceful whole. His father's reign had never known this… Now everything is in order and worthy of this glorious reign, yet we find only eleven princes (vv. 2-6). The number twelve stands for perfect order in government on earth. That order had not yet come, and it would not come until One greater than Solomon appeared.
Why the picture does not last
Solomon's kingdom did not stay this way. One writer explains why, and where hope finally rests.
W. W. FeredaySolomon held the blessing of God on terms of responsibility, and so he forfeited everything. When could God ever trust human nature! Solomon failed, and so has everyone else God has trusted with great things. That only makes it clear that Christ is the only hope. In His day He will take up all that men have handled and lost, and He will carry through to perfection every desire and purpose of God.
Summary
- Ground — Gilead and Bashan, once ruled by Sihon and Og, were always meant to be Israel's. Israel will hold them again.
- Men — the list is not filler. These posts went to men whose families had guarded the ark of the Lord.
- Supply — each officer fed the king for one month. It pictures Israel giving the Lord Jesus full allegiance in a coming day.
- Order — the kingdom ran well, yet only eleven princes are listed. Full order in government waits for One greater than Solomon.
- King — Solomon held it all on terms of responsibility, and lost it. What men have handled and lost, Christ will take up and perfect.