1 Kings 9:21 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

Their children that were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel also were not able utterly to destroy, upon those did Solomon levy a tribute of bondservice unto this day.

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

The descendants of these people who remained in the land - those whom the Israelites had not been able to completely drive out - Solomon forced them to work as slaves, and this continued until the time this was written.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

This verse explains that Solomon made the remaining non-Israelite peoples in the land work as forced laborers for his building projects.

📚 Historical Context

This refers to the Canaanite peoples (Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites) who were not completely driven out when Israel conquered the Promised Land under Joshua. Solomon needed massive labor forces for his ambitious building projects, including the temple, his palace, and various fortifications throughout his kingdom.

Explore Similar Verses

2 Chronicles 8:8

But their descendants who remained in the land, whom the Israelites had not completely destroyed, Solomon made them pay taxes and serve as laborers, and this continued until the time this was written.

Exodus 32:10

Now leave me alone so that my anger can burn hot against them, and I can completely destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation instead.

Numbers 13:33

There we saw giants - the descendants of Anak, who were part of a giant race. Compared to them, we felt like tiny grasshoppers, and that's exactly how they saw us too.

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