But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no servants for his work; but they were men of war, and chief of his captains, and captains of his chariots and horsemen.
But Solomon did not make any of the Israelites into slaves for his building projects. Instead, they served as soldiers, military commanders, chariot commanders, and cavalry officers.
This verse shows that Solomon honored his own people by not enslaving them, instead giving them positions of military leadership and honor.
📚 Historical Context
During Solomon's reign, he undertook massive construction projects including the temple, his palace, and various cities. While he used foreign peoples as forced laborers, he treated the Israelites with dignity by placing them in positions of military and governmental authority. This reflects the covenant relationship between God and Israel, where they were to be a people set apart rather than enslaved.
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