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21 These were descendants of the nations whom the people of Israel had not completely destroyed.[a] So Solomon conscripted them as slaves, and they serve as forced laborers to this day. 22 But Solomon did not conscript any of the Israelites for forced labor. Instead, he assigned them to serve as fighting men, government officials, officers and captains in his army, commanders of his chariots, and charioteers. 23 Solomon appointed 550 of them to supervise the people working on his various projects.

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Footnotes

  1. 9:21 The Hebrew term used here refers to the complete consecration of things or people to the Lord, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.

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.