Ahishar was in charge of the palace; and Adoniram the son of Abda was in charge of the forced labor.
Two names close Solomon's list of chief officers: one man ran the palace, the other ran the forced labour. Both jobs sound plain beside priests and scribes, yet commentators find in them a picture of ordered service — and a hint of the split that later tore the kingdom apart. (Older translations call the two posts "over the household" and "over the tribute," and the quotes below use that wording.)
Last in the List, Not Least in the Work
One writer traces the list from the priest at the top down to the labour force at the bottom, and draws a lesson about wanting to be noticed.
Leslie M. GrantIt is good to see the priest mentioned first, then the scribes and the recorder before the officers of the army, and then again the two priests, Zadok and Abiathar (v.4). This shows that the kingdom's relationship to the Lord came first. Yet the armed forces were necessary, as is true in Christianity if we are to "fight the good fight of the faith." The household is not to be neglected either, as is true in "the house of God" today (Eph. 2:19). Though mentioned last, the labour force is very necessary in its place. It does not hold the prominent place that priesthood does. But we should be content to work for the Lord without drawing attention to ourselves, for the Lord will reward all work done for Him in a coming day.
The Names Themselves
One writer gives the officers' names with their meanings, and reads them as matching the kind of reign this was:
Arno Clemens GaebeleinThe list of the princes and the twelve officers comes first. Their names fit perfectly with the character of the kingdom, foreshadowing the coming and better kingdom of our Lord. Here are the names of the princes with their meaning. Azariah, "Jehovah is help"... Ahishar, "Brother of ability"; Adoniram, "Lord of Heights."
Material Work, Spiritual Qualifications
Both men handled supplies, buildings and labour. One writer reads such work as the work of a deacon — and says our low view of it is our mistake, not the Lord's.
Michael VogelsangThe work of these men was to deal with the outward, material side of the king's palace. In the New Testament, that kind of service in the spiritual house of God is what we may call "deacon service." We might be tempted to value such practical service less, since it deals with material things in the work of the Lord. But the Lord's verdict is quite different. When men were first chosen in Christianity to "serve tables," they had to be "of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom" (Acts 6:2, 3). In 1 Timothy 3 Paul describes the qualifications of a deacon. Study them, and you see that spiritual qualifications are needed even for practical service for the Lord.
Adoniram: One Office, a Violent End
The man over the forced labour reappears twice more in Scripture, and his career may span three reigns:
Morrish Bible DictionaryHe was chief over the tribute in the days of Solomon (1 Kings 4:6; 1 Kings 5:14). In David's time ADORAM was over the tribute (2 Sam. 20:24), and in the days of Rehoboam a man of this name was also over the tribute (1 Kings 12:18)... All Israel stoned him to death at the revolt of the ten tribes. If Adoniram held office from David to Rehoboam, that would cover a long time; still, it may be the same man throughout, or father and son.
The same office carried on into Rehoboam's reign, and the man who held it was stoned when the ten tribes revolted.
Where the Picture Falls Short
Solomon's peace pictures the thousand-year reign of Christ, yet the picture has gaps. One writer counts the princes and finds the list one short:
Leslie M. GrantNow Solomon was undisputed king over all Israel, and the unity of peace prevailed. This is a picture of the millennial reign of the Lord Jesus. However, Solomon's reign was not itself millennial, so he had only eleven princes (vs.2-6), not twelve, which is the number of governmental completeness.
The shortfall shows up in the department of this verse. The cost fell on the people:
W. W. FeredayBut all this meant heavy taxation. In time the people groaned under the burden, while Solomon groaned with disappointment of heart. The load of taxation was probably what made the people ask Rehoboam to make their service easier and their yoke lighter (1 Kings 12:4). Men will not complain like this when the Lord reigns in Zion. His glory will far exceed Solomon's, but it will be as true then as now, "My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (Matt. 11:30).
Summary
- Order — The list runs from priest down to labour. The kingdom's link to the Lord comes first, yet the workforce, named last, is still needed.
- Names — "Brother of ability" and "Lord of Heights" match a reign that points to Christ's better kingdom.
- Task — Ahishar handled buildings and supplies. Such practical duty answers to deacon service, and Scripture asks spiritual qualifications for it.
- Burden — Adoniram ran the forced labour, perhaps from David's reign to Rehoboam's. At the revolt of the ten tribes, all Israel stoned him to death.
- Contrast — Solomon had eleven princes, not twelve, and taxes that made his people groan. The King he pictures reigns in full, and His yoke is easy.