Overview
During King Solomon's reign, purveyors were administrators responsible for supplying provisions to the royal court and its officials. These twelve officers oversaw different districts of Israel, each tasked with gathering and delivering food for one month annually. This system demonstrates organized stewardship and the delegation of responsibility in managing a kingdom's resources.
Key Scriptures
"Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household; each man had to make provision for one month in the year" (1 Kings 4:7, ESV).
"These are their names: ... and the son of Geber in Ramoth-gilead" (1 Kings 4:13, 19, ESV) lists specific purveyors appointed to their regions.
"And Solomon's provision for one day was thirty cors of fine flour, and sixty cors of meal, ten fat oxen, and twenty pasture-fed cattle, a hundred sheep" (1 Kings 4:22-23, ESV) shows the magnitude of resources managed.
Application
Consider how God calls us to be faithful stewards of resources entrusted to us, managing them with integrity and diligence for His glory.