1 Kings 9:20-22

20 All the people who were left of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of the people of Israel--
21 1their descendants who were left after them in the land, 2whom the people of Israel were unable to devote to destruction[a]--3these Solomon drafted to be 4slaves, and so they are to this day.
22 But 5of the people of Israel Solomon made no slaves. They were the soldiers, they were his officials, his commanders, his captains, his chariot commanders and his horsemen.

1 Kings 9:20-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 9

This chapter relates a second vision Solomon had at Gibeon, in which he received an answer to his prayer in the preceding chapter, 1Ki 9:1-9 that passed between him and Hiram king of Tyre, 1Ki 9:10-14, the places that Solomon built or repaired, 1Ki 9:15-19, the Canaanitish people that became bondmen to him, and the officers he had among the children of Israel, 1Ki 9:20-23 the removal of Pharaoh's daughter to the house built for her, 1Ki 9:24. Solomon's attention to religious services, 1Ki 9:25 and the navy of ships he employed, which brought him in great riches, 1Ki 9:26-28.

Cross References 5

  • 1. [Judg. 1:21, 27, 29; Judges 3:1]
  • 2. [Joshua 15:63; Joshua 17:12]
  • 3. Judges 1:28
  • 4. Ezra 2:55-58; Nehemiah 7:57-60; Nehemiah 11:3
  • 5. Leviticus 25:39

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. That is, set apart (devote) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction)
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.