In 1 Kings 4:30, wise teachings were recorded throughout the ANE, often in the name of a ruler. Wise sayings in the OT reflect other ANE wisdom texts (Prov 22:17–23:11 = Instruction of Amenemope). Wise men were part of the royal court and served as the king’s advisers (Gen 41:8).

In 1 Kings 10:19, the MT refers to the round top of the throne. But, the LXX suggests the top of the throne had a carving of a bull’s head. The LXX is more original, since this calf imagery would have been seen as related to idolatry (Exod 32), and the MT was later altered.

In 1 Kings 12:28, people in the ANE associated bovine imagery and iconography with chief male deities, including Horus (Egypt), Gugalanna (Mesopotamia), El and Baal (Canaan), and the Hittite storm god. Even Yahweh is referred to as a bull (Num 23:22; Isa 10:13).

In 2 Kings 1:3, the Angel of Yahweh often appears with messages to individuals such as Moses (Exod 3:2), Balaam (Num 22:22–23), or Hagar (Gen 16:7–13). At times, the Angel of Yahweh seems to be a form of Yahweh himself (Judg 2:1–5), and also distinct from Yahweh (Exod 23:20–23).

I've had to heavily reorganize my Sentinel Google Drive folders (the original Sentinel Resources link hasn't changed), but within my Robert's Studies folder, I've had to generate new folders (thereby generating new links). So, here's the commentary folder: drive.google.com/drive/folders/…