1 Kings 9:21

21 the sons of these heathen men, that dwelled in the land, that is, which the sons of Israel might not destroy. (the sons of these heathen, who continued to live in the land, that is, they whom the Israelites did not destroy.)

1 Kings 9:21 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 9:21

Their children that were left after them in the land
The posterity of those left unsubdued in the times of Joshua:

whom the children of Israel also were not able utterly to destroy;
in later times, though now it is thought by some it was not for want of power, but because they had made a covenant with them, as the Gibeonites did, and therefore they could not, because it would have been a breach of covenant to have destroyed them; see ( 2 Chronicles 8:8 ) ,

upon these did Solomon levy a tribute of bond service unto this day;
not a tribute of money, which being poor they were not able to pay, but of service, and which being once laid on was continued, and even to the time of the writing of this book.

1 Kings 9:21 In-Context

19 and he made strong all the towns, that pertained to him, and were without (a) wall, and the cities of chariots, and the cities of knights, and whatever thing (it) pleased him to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his power.

20 (And) Solomon made tributaries unto this day (of) all the people, that (were) left of the Amorites, Hittites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites, which be not of the sons of Israel,

21 the sons of these heathen men, that dwelled in the land, that is, which the sons of Israel might not destroy. (the sons of these heathen, who continued to live in the land, that is, they whom the Israelites did not destroy.)

22 Soothly king Solomon ordained not any man of the sons of Israel to serve, that is, in vile works, and of the fields, but they were men of war, and servants of him, and princes, and dukes, and masters of his chariots and horses. (And King Solomon did not let any man of the Israelites serve in slavery, or in the fields, but they all were warriors, and his servants, and the leaders, and the masters, of his chariots and of his horsemen.)

23 And five hundred and fifty princes were sovereigns over all the works of Solomon, the which princes had the people subject to them, and commanded to [the] works ordained (and were in charge of the ordained works).