1 Kings 9:22

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.)

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 (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).

24 And the daughter of Pharaoh went up from the city of David into her house, which house Solomon had builded to her (which house Solomon had built for her); then he builded (the) Millo.