Melachim Alef 9:23

23 These were the chief of the officials that were over the melakhah (work) of Sh’lomo five hundred and fifty, harodim (the ones supervising) the people that wrought in the melakhah.

Melachim Alef 9:23 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 9:23

These were the chief of the officers over Solomon's work
In building the above houses and cities:

five hundred and fifty which bore rule over the people that wrought
in the work;
in ( 2 Chronicles 8:10 ) they are said to be but two hundred and fifty; now it may be observed, as is by the Jewish writers, that there were three sorts of those rulers; the lowest rank and order of them consisted of 3300, the next of three hundred which were over the 3300, and being numbered with them made 3600, ( 2 Chronicles 2:18 ) and the highest rank of them were two hundred and fifty, and the middlemost and highest being joined together, as they are here, made five hundred and fifty. Abarbinel reconciles the places thus, the two hundred and fifty were only over those that wrought in the temple; and the five hundred and fifty here were those that were over such that were employed in the various parts of the kingdom.

Melachim Alef 9:23 In-Context

21 Their banim that were left after them in HaAretz, whom the Bnei Yisroel also were not able utterly to destroy, upon those did Sh’lomo conscript mas of oved (bondservice) unto this day.

22 But of the Bnei Yisroel did Sh’lomo make no eved; but they were anshei hamilchamah, and his avadim, and his sarim, and his shalishim (captains), and commanders of his merkavot, and his parashim.

23 These were the chief of the officials that were over the melakhah (work) of Sh’lomo five hundred and fifty, harodim (the ones supervising) the people that wrought in the melakhah.

24 But Bat Pharaoh came up out of the Ir Dovid unto her Bais (Palace) which Sh’lomo had built for her; then did he build the Millo.

25 And three times in shanah did Sh’lomo offer olot and shelamim upon the Mizbe’ach which he built unto Hashem and he burned ketoret upon the Mizbe’ach that was before Hashem. So he completed the Beis.