Iddo
Iddo, the son of Abinadab, was an official in Mahanaim during King Solomon's reign.
Biography
Iddo son of Abinadab was one of twelve regional officials appointed by King Solomon to provision the royal household, each responsible for supplying food for one month of the year (1 Kings 4:14). His assigned district was Mahanaim, the town on the east bank of the Jordan River in Gilead historically associated with Jacob's encounter with the angels (Genesis 32:2) and later David's refuge during Absalom's rebellion. The role of district governor required both administrative competence and loyal submission to the crown. Iddo is identified by his father's name, Abinadab, which may connect him to the broader network of Solomonic officials drawn from established families of influence.
Significance
Iddo's appointment as district governor at Mahanaim illustrates the administrative genius of Solomon's reign, which transformed a tribal confederation into a centralized state capable of sustaining a sophisticated royal court and the building of the temple. His role, though logistical in nature, was essential to Israel's national flourishing during its golden age. Theologically, Solomon's era represents the partial fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham, a people, a land, and an ordered society. Officials like Iddo were instruments of that fulfillment. His placement at Mahanaim also connects his story to pivotal moments in Israel's earlier history, weaving together the threads of divine providence.
Verse Appearances (1)
1Kgs
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]