Deker דֶּ֫קֶר
Son of Abinadab, one of Solomon's twelve officers
Who is Deker in the Bible?
Deker, also known as Ben-Deker, was one of Solomon's twelve officers appointed to provision the king and his household, as recorded in 1 Kings 4:9. He was the son of Abinadab and held responsibility for supplying food for the royal court during one month of each year. His assigned territory included Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth-shemesh, and Elon-beth-hanan, regions likely situated within the tribe of Dan in western Israel. Deker's appointment exemplified Solomon's sophisticated administrative system, which distributed the burden of maintaining the royal court among multiple officers to ensure efficient resource management throughout the kingdom.
Biography
Deker, also known as Ben-Deker (meaning "son of Deker"), is mentioned in 1Ki.4.9 as one of the twelve officers appointed by King Solomon to oversee the provision of food for the king and his household. Each officer was responsible for supplying provisions for one month out of the year.
The passage lists the territories assigned to each officer, with Ben-Deker being responsible for Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth-shemesh, and Elon-beth-hanan. These locations were likely within the tribe of Dan, situated in the western part of Israel.
The appointment of these twelve officers was part of Solomon's administrative structure, which aimed to ensure the efficient management of resources and the well-being of the royal court. By dividing the responsibility among twelve officers, Solomon could ensure a consistent supply of provisions throughout the year.
Apart from this brief mention in the context of Solomon's administration, no other details are provided about Deker or his personal life. His role as one of the twelve officers highlights the organizational structure and the prosperity of Solomon's kingdom during his reign.
Family
In Scripture
1 biblical book1 Kings 1 verse
- 1 Kings 4:9
"Ben-deker in Makaz, in Shaalbim, in Beth-shemesh, and in Elon-beth-hanan;"
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | דֶּ֫קֶר |