1 Kings 9:22

22 Solomon did not make slaves of Israelites; they served as his soldiers, officers, commanders, chariot captains, and cavalry.

1 Kings 9:22 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 9:22

But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondmen,
&c.] For that was contrary to the law; they might be hired servants, but not bond servants, ( Leviticus 25:39 Leviticus 25:40 )

but they were men of war;
which he kept in pay, a standing army, maintained even in time of peace, in case of necessity, should an enemy attempt to invade or surprise them:

and his servants;
in his family and court, who had offices and employments there:

and his princes;
ministers of state, counsellors, governors of cities, &c.

and his captains;
officers in his army:

and rulers of his chariots and his horsemen;
war chariots and troopers; see ( 1 Kings 9:19 ) .

1 Kings 9:22 In-Context

20 For his forced labor Solomon used the descendants of the people of Canaan whom the Israelites had not killed when they took possession of their land. These included Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, whose descendants continue to be slaves down to the present time.

22 Solomon did not make slaves of Israelites; they served as his soldiers, officers, commanders, chariot captains, and cavalry.

23 There were 550 officials in charge of the forced labor working on Solomon's various building projects.

24 Solomon filled in the land on the east side of the city, after his wife, the daughter of the king of Egypt, had moved from David's City to the palace Solomon built for her.