Purveyor
Purveyor This word is not found in the A. V., although it would perhaps represent the meaning of the Heb. נַצָּב, nitstsdb', in 1Ki 4:5,7, rather than the word καθεσταμένοι, or the similar "officers" of our version. The Hebrew word, however, is the Niphal (passive) participle of the word נָצִב, natsctb', to put or station, and is literally translated by the Greek, which has the same meaning, the appointed. Solomon divided his kingdom into twelve parts, and these men were placed, one over each province, to procure provisions for the king's household. Thus he was enabled to entertain foreigners, and to support a vast number of wives, servants, and attendants (Patrick, Comment. ad loc.). The number twelve refers, not to the tribes, but the months of the year, each being required to furnish the provisions of a month. These collections probably corresponded to tax- gathering among the moderns. Patrick thinks the officers were merely purchasers; but Kitto regards this as an error (Kitto. Pict. Bible, ad loc.). Rosenmuller calls these officers head collectors of taxes (Alt. u. n. Morgenland, 3, 166), and Ewald thinks they were stewards of the royal domains; but Thenius (Exeq. Handb. ad loc.) holds that they were officers of higher rank, of whose duties the supply of the royal table formed only a part. Josephus calls them ἡγεμόνες (Alt. 8:2, 4). SEE PALESTINE; SEE SOLOMON.
