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21 that is, their descendants who remained in the land (for the Israelites had not been able to wipe them out) were conscripted by Solomon to serve as slave labor, as is still true today.

22 Solomon did not reduce the Israelites to slavery. They were his fighting men, his officials, his princes, his captains, the commanders of his chariots, and his charioteers. 23 They were also the chief officials who were in charge of Solomon’s work projects. There were five hundred and fifty of them, and they supervised the men who did the work.

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21 Solomon conscripted the descendants(A) of all these peoples remaining in the land—whom the Israelites could not exterminate[a](B)—to serve as slave labor,(C) as it is to this day. 22 But Solomon did not make slaves(D) of any of the Israelites; they were his fighting men, his government officials, his officers, his captains, and the commanders of his chariots and charioteers. 23 They were also the chief officials(E) in charge of Solomon’s projects—550 officials supervising those who did the work.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 9:21 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.