1 Kings 9:22

1Ki 9:22 But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondmen: but they [were] men of war, and his servants, and his princes, and his captains, and rulers of his chariots, and his horsemen.

Ver. 22. Did Solomon make no bondmen.] Yet were they discontented at his government: and ten whole tribes at once cast off his son and successor, choosing Jeroboam for their king.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

1Ki 9:22-23. Of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bond-men — He spared them, and did not employ them in any servile labours about his public works, but put them into nobler offices, as it here follows. They were men of war — Which was accounted an honourable employment. And his servants — Officers in his court. And his princes — Governors of provinces. And his captains, &c. — Commanders of his guards. Five hundred and fifty — In 2Ch 8:10, they are said to be but two hundred and fifty. But perhaps the meaning there is, that there were two hundred and fifty set over those that wrought in the temple; the rest probably being employed in overseeing his public works in other places. And it must be observed also, that there were far greater numbers employed when the temple work was carried on with great speed.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

(22) No bondmen.—This exemption, however it may have continued in theory, must virtually have been set aside in the later days of Solomon. (See 1Ki_12:4.) They are here described as occupying the position of a dominant race—as warriors, servants about the person of the king, princes, and officers in the array—like the free vassals under a feudal monarchy. But as the absolute power of the king increased, and with it, perhaps, the wealth and arrogance of his favourites and greater officers, the condition of the Israelites at large might be removed from serfship more in name than in reality. Even the subject races might be played of against them, as against the Macedonians in the later years of Alexander the Great, when his royalty passed into something like a true Oriental despotism. Certainly, in later times we find, both from the history and the prophetical books, that there was such a thing as serf ship of the poor to the princes. (Jer_34:8-11; Neh_5:11.)

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

22. But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondman] This must be read in the light of chap. 1Ki_5:13. There we are told of Solomon’s levy upon all Israel. But the 30,000 men there spoken of had duty forced on them only for a month at a time. Ten thousand served for one month, and were two months at home before their turn for service came round again. Moreover, when the work for which they were enrolled came to an end they were free. It may also be that in the course of 20 years Solomon changed his system, especially if he saw that his people were beginning to find his yoke heavy. But the Canaanite levy was continuous ‘unto this day.’

his servants] i.e. His officers. The position of the word between ‘men of war’ and ‘princes’ shews that the service here spoken of was a service of dignity. They were such ‘servants’ as are spoken of in 2Sa_8:7 “And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer.’

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

But Pharaoh's daughter came up out of the city of David,.... Where he placed her when he first married her, until he had finished his buildings, Kg1 3:1, which being done he brought her from thence unto her house, which Solomon had built for her; the reason of which is given, not only because it was the house of David, but because it was holy by the ark being there for some time; and therefore he did not judge it proper that his wife, an Egyptian woman, and sometimes in her impurity, should dwell there; see Ch2 8:11,

then did he build Millo: this being particularly repeated from Kg1 9:15, and following upon what is said of Pharaoh's daughter, has led many Jewish writers to conclude her house was built at Millo; and indeed, without supposing this, it is hard to conceive why it should be observed here; the Targum on Ch2 8:11 calls her name Bithiah.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Comparing this with 1Ki 5:13-14, it would seem that a modified service of forced labor for one-third of each year was not regarded as reducing those who were subject to it to the condition of bondmen.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Bondmen. Paralipomenon, To serve in the king’s works; for they were warriors, &c. The natural subjects performed the more honourable offices. (Haydock) --- Strangers pay tribute, Matthew xvii. 24. Sesostris, king of Egypt, caused many temples to be erected after his expeditions, with this inscription: "No native laboured on them." (Diodorus i.)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

22. His servants — Holding positions of honourable trust in the court or in the royal service, and so distinguished from bondslaves.

Captains — Shalishim. See note on 2Sa_23:8.

Rulers of his chariots, and his horsemen — The word horsemen here, as in 1Ki_9:19, should be rendered steeds, or cavalry, and the rulers of the chariots and cavalry were the chief officers in these departments of the army.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondmen see however 1Ki_5:13, 1Ki_5:18. This service, though compulsory, was not servile. Bondage was forbidden; Lev_25:39. The levy were treated as hired servants and had wages but they were men of war, and his servants cf. 1Ki_1:9. Not only "officials of the war department" (Bahr) but officers of every kind, and his princes these were the heads both of the military and civil services, and his captains Heb. wyv; liv; LXX trwtatai. Exo_14:7 Exo_15:4; 2Sa_23:8; 2Ki_9:25 2Ki_10:25, etc. These third men were really "a noble rank of soldiers who fought from chariots" (Gesen.) each of which would seem to have held three men, one of whom drove, while two fought: thence used of the bodyguard of kings. That they formed a corps, and were not literally "captains," is clear from 1Sa_23:8, etc. and rulers of his chariots, and his horsemen.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Solomon made no forced laborers of the people of Israel

"Solomon did not force the people of Israel to labor"

translationWords

Solomon

servant

commander

chariot

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.