Resource > Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable) >
1 Kings >
Exposition >
I. THE REIGN OF SOLOMON chs. 1--11 >
D. The Fruits of Solomon's Reign chs. 9-11 >
2. Further evidences of God's blessing 9:10-28 >
Solomon's forced labor 9:20-23
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Solomon put the defeated native Canaanites to work on government projects (cf. Gen. 9:25-26). Nevertheless this plan proved to be a source of major dissatisfaction in Israel (cf. 12:4).
There was a distinction in Solomon's day between Israelites whom the king conscripted for temporary service and non-Israelites who were permanent slave laborers. The former served as military supervisors over civil forced labor gangs, for example. The latter were the native Canaanites who enjoyed no rights as free persons.101
