Home People Elihoreph Elihoreph was one of King Solomon's scribes (secretaries) who served in his administration. He was the son of Shisha and brother to Ahijah, and the two brothers served together as scribes at the court. His role illustrates the well-developed bureaucratic structure of Solomon's kingdom.
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Key events Elihoreph is mentioned as one of King Solomon's highest officials, where he, together with his brother Ahijah, served as a scribe at the royal court.
3 Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, secretaries; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud, the record keeper; Heb אֱלִיחֹ֧רֶף וַאֲחִיָּ֛ה בְּנֵ֥י שִׁישָׁ֖א סֹפְרִ֑ים יְהוֹשָׁפָ֥ט בֶּן־אֲחִיל֖וּד הַמַּזְכִּֽיר׃
Elihoreph was part of the extensive administrative apparatus that Solomon built up to govern his large kingdom effectively.
1 So King Solomon ruled over all Israel. Heb וַֽיְהִי֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה מֶ֖לֶךְ עַל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ ס
2 These were his high officials: Azariah son of Zadok, the priest; Heb וְאֵ֥לֶּה הַשָּׂרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁר־ל֑וֹ עֲזַרְיָ֥הוּ בֶן־צָד֖וֹק הַכֹּהֵֽן׃ ס
3 Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, secretaries; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud, the record keeper; Heb אֱלִיחֹ֧רֶף וַאֲחִיָּ֛ה בְּנֵ֥י שִׁישָׁ֖א סֹפְרִ֑ים יְהוֹשָׁפָ֥ט בֶּן־אֲחִיל֖וּד הַמַּזְכִּֽיר׃
4 Benaiah son of Jehoiada, commander of the army; Zadok and Abiathar, priests; Heb וּבְנָיָ֥הוּ בֶן־יְהוֹיָדָ֖ע עַל־הַצָּבָ֑א וְצָד֥וֹק וְאֶבְיָתָ֖ר כֹּהֲנִֽים׃ ס
5 Azariah son of Nathan, in charge of the district governors; Zabud son of Nathan, priest and friend of the king; Heb וַעֲזַרְיָ֥הוּ בֶן־נָתָ֖ן עַל־הַנִּצָּבִ֑ים וְזָב֧וּד בֶּן־נָתָ֛ן כֹּהֵ֖ן רֵעֶ֥ה הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
6 Ahishar, in charge of the palace; and Adoniram son of Abda, in charge of the forced labor. Heb וַאֲחִישָׁ֖ר עַל־הַבָּ֑יִת וַאֲדֹנִירָ֥ם בֶּן־עַבְדָּ֖א עַל־הַמַּֽס׃ ס
During Solomon's reign, Israel experienced a period of great prosperity and peace, and Elihoreph served as an important part of this administration.
20 The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore; they ate and drank and rejoiced. Heb יְהוּדָ֤ה וְיִשְׂרָאֵל֙ רַבִּ֔ים כַּח֥וֹל אֲשֶׁר־עַל־הַיָּ֖ם לָרֹ֑ב אֹכְלִ֥ים וְשֹׁתִ֖ים וּשְׂמֵחִֽים׃
Solomon's wisdom was expressed not only in his judgments but also in his ability to organize the kingdom with skilled officials like Elihoreph.
12 I now do as you have asked. I give you a heart so wise and discerning that no one like you has ever lived before you, and no one like you will arise after you. Heb הִנֵּ֥ה עָשִׂ֖יתִי כִּדְבָרֶ֑יךָ הִנֵּ֣ה ׀ נָתַ֣תִּי לְךָ֗ לֵ֚ב חָכָ֣ם וְנָב֔וֹן אֲשֶׁ֤ר כָּמ֙וֹךָ֙ לֹא־הָיָ֣ה לְפָנֶ֔יךָ וְאַחֲרֶ֖יךָ לֹא־יָק֥וּם כָּמֽוֹךָ׃
28 When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they stood in awe of him, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice. Heb וַיִּשְׁמְע֣וּ כָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֶת־הַמִּשְׁפָּט֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁפַ֣ט הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיִּֽרְא֖וּ מִפְּנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ כִּ֣י רָא֔וּ כִּֽי־חָכְמַ֧ת אֱלֹהִ֛ים בְּקִרְבּ֖וֹ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת מִשְׁפָּֽט׃ ס
Mentioned in the Bible (1)