The Provider of Aruboth
Ben-Hesed (meaning “Son of Mercy” or “Son of Kindness”) is a figure briefly mentioned in the historical accounts of King Solomon’s prosperous reign. While the Bible does not dedicate a lengthy narrative to him, his role was critical in the colossal governmental structure that supported Solomon’s court and building projects.
The Role of Solomon’s Commissaries
To manage the vast resources needed to sustain his kingdom, Solomon appointed twelve key officers, known as commissaries or provisioners. Their duty was to ensure that the king’s household and the capital, Jerusalem, were supplied with food and provisions for one month of the year, rotating this immense responsibility among them. The demands were staggering: the daily provision for Solomon’s table alone included “thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal, Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallowdeer, and fatted fowl.” (1 Kings 4:22-23, KJV).
These men were not merely quartermasters; they were regional governors, each presiding over a distinct district of Israel (1 Kings 4:7, KJV).
Ben-Hesed’s Commission
The scripture identifies Ben-Hesed and his district specifically in 1 Kings 4:10:
“The son of Hesed, in Aruboth; to him pertained Sochoh, and all the land of Hepher:” (1 Kings 4:10, KJV)
Ben-Hesed’s territory encompassed Aruboth, along with the areas of Sochoh and the land of Hepher. While the exact geographical boundaries are debated by scholars, this region was generally located in the southern part of the tribal territory of Judah or possibly a portion of Manasseh/Ephraim. The fact that this area was assigned to Ben-Hesed suggests it was a particularly fruitful region capable of supplying the necessary provisions for a month.
A Lesson in Faithful Stewardship
Although Ben-Hesed himself is a minor character, his inclusion in the Bible serves a greater purpose. The list of commissaries illustrates the meticulous organization and unparalleled prosperity of the Kingdom of Israel under Solomon. It shows how the promise of peace and blessing was realized: “And Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry” (1 Kings 4:20, KJV).
Ben-Hesed represents the countless individuals who served the Lord and His anointed king by performing their duties with diligence and order. His name, “Son of Kindness,” subtly suggests that perhaps his administration of the region was characterized by mercy and good governance, ensuring the resources were collected fairly and efficiently to serve the greater good of the kingdom. His life is a quiet testament to the biblical principle that faithful stewardship in an assigned sphere, no matter how seemingly bureaucratic, is vital to the stability and blessing of God’s people.