And Ahishar was over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute.
Ahishar was in charge of the royal household, and Adoniram, the son of Abda, was in charge of collecting taxes and managing forced labor.
This verse lists two key officials in King Solomon's government - one who managed the palace and another who collected taxes and supervised public work projects.
📚 Historical Context
This verse is part of a list describing Solomon's royal cabinet and administrative system during Israel's golden age around 970-930 BC. Solomon organized his kingdom with specific officials overseeing different areas of government, similar to how modern governments have cabinet positions. The mention of 'tribute' refers both to taxes collected from the people and the forced labor system Solomon used for his massive building projects, including the temple and his palace.
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