Melachim Alef 9:21

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.

Melachim Alef 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.

Melachim Alef 9:21 In-Context

19 And all the storage cities that Sh’lomo had, and cities for his merkavot, and cities for his parashim (calvary), and that which Sh’lomo desired to build in Yerushalayim, and in Levanon, and in all the eretz of his memshalet.

20 And kol haAm that were left of HaEmori (the Amorites), HaChitti (Hittites), HaPerizzi (Perizzites), HaChivi (Hivites), and Yevusi (Jebusites), which were not of the Bnei Yisroel,

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.