1 Kings 9:15-24 Meaning: Who Built Solomon's Empire?
15This is the reason of the forced labor which King Solomon conscripted: to build Yahweh’s house, his own house, Millo, Jerusalem’s wall, Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.
16Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up, taken Gezer, burned it with fire, killed the Canaanites who lived in the city, and given it for a wedding gift to his daughter, Solomon’s wife.
17Solomon built in the land Gezer, Beth Horon the lower,
18Baalath, Tamar in the wilderness,
19all the storage cities that Solomon had, the cities for his chariots, the cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build for his pleasure in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
20As for all the people who were left of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of the children of Israel—
21their children who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel were not able utterly to destroy—of them Solomon raised a levy of bondservants to this day.
22But of the children of Israel Solomon made no bondservants; but they were the men of war, his servants, his princes, his captains, and rulers of his chariots and of his horsemen.
23These were the five hundred fifty chief officers who were over Solomon’s work, who ruled over the people who labored in the work.
24But Pharaoh’s daughter came up out of David’s city to her house which Solomon had built for her. Then he built Millo.
15And this is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised; for to build the house of the Lord, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.
16For Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up, and taken Gezer, and burnt it with fire, and slain the Canaanites that dwelt in the city, and given it for a present unto his daughter, Solomon’s wife.
17And Solomon built Gezer, and Beth–horon the nether,
18And Baalath, and Tadmor in the wilderness, in the land,
19And all the cities of store that Solomon had, and cities for his chariots, and cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
20And all the people that were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which were not of the children of Israel,
21Their 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.
22But 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.
23These were the chief of the officers that were over Solomon’s work, five hundred and fifty, which bare rule over the people that wrought in the work.
24But Pharaoh’s daughter came up out of the city of David unto her house which Solomon had built for her: then did he build Millo.
15And this is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised, to build the house of Jehovah, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.
16Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up, and taken Gezer, and burnt it with fire, and slain the Canaanites that dwelt in the city, and given it for a portion unto his daughter, Solomon’s wife.
17And Solomon built Gezer, and Beth-horon the nether,
18and Baalath, and Tamar in the wilderness, in the land,
19and all the store-cities that Solomon had, and the cities for his chariots, and the cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build for his pleasure in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
20As for all the people that were left of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of the children of Israel;
21their children that were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel were not able utterly to destroy, of them did Solomon raise a levy of bondservants unto this day.
22But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondservants; but they were the men of war, and his servants, and his princes, and his captains, and rulers of his chariots and of his horsemen.
23These were the chief officers that were over Solomon’s work, five hundred and fifty, who bare rule over the people that wrought in the work.
24But Pharaoh’s daughter came up out of the city of David unto her house which Solomon had built for her: then did he build Millo.
15And this is the matter of the tribute that king Solomon hath lifted up, to build the house of Jehovah, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer,
16(Pharaoh king of Egypt hath gone up and doth capture Gezer, and doth burn it with fire, and the Canaanite who is dwelling in the city he hath slain, and giveth it with presents to his daughter, wife of Solomon.)
17And Solomon buildeth Gezer, and Beth-Horon the lower,
18and Baalath, and Tadmor in the wilderness, in the land;
19and all the cities of stores that king Solomon hath, and the cities of the chariots, and the cities of the horsemen, and the desire of Solomon that he desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
20The whole of the people that is left of the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, who are not of the sons of Israel--
21their sons who are left behind them in the land, whom the sons of Israel have not been able to devote--he hath even lifted up on them a tribute of service unto this day.
22And out of the sons of Israel Solomon hath not appointed a servant, for they are the men of war, and his servants, and his heads, and his captains, and the heads of his chariots, and his horsemen.
23These are the heads of the officers who are over the work of Solomon, fifty and five hundred, those ruling among the people who are labouring in the work.
24Only, the daughter of Pharaoh went up out of the city of David unto her house that Solomon built for her; then he built Millo.
15And this is the account of the levy which king Solomon raised, to build the house of Jehovah, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.
16— Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up and taken Gezer, and burned it with fire, and slain the Canaanites that dwelt in the city, and given it as a dowry to his daughter, Solomon's wife.
17— And Solomon built Gezer, and lower Beth-horon,
18and Baalath, and Tadmor in the wilderness, in the land,
19and all the store-cities that Solomon had, and cities for chariots, and cities for the horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and on Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
20All the people that were left of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of the children of Israel,
21their children that were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel were not able utterly to destroy, upon them did Solomon impose a tribute of bondservice until this day.
22But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondmen; but they were men of war, and his servants, and his chiefs, and his captains, and captains of his chariots, and his horsemen.
23These were the chief superintendents that were over Solomon's work, five hundred and fifty, that ruled over the people that wrought in the work.
24But Pharaoh's daughter came up out of the city of David to her house which he had built for her: then he built Millo.
Meaning in one sentence
Solomon's building projects relied on forced labor from Canaanites, not Israelites, but the burden sowed seeds of future division in the kingdom.
Context
This passage comes right after God’s second appearance to Solomon, a solemn warning about obedience. The temple and palace are finished, and Solomon now turns to fortifying his kingdom. He rebuilds Hazor, Megiddo, Gezer, and other strategic cities, storage depots, chariot bases, even pleasure gardens. The work is massive. To fund it, Solomon imposes a levy: forced laborers drawn from the descendants of the original Canaanite peoples Joshua never fully drove out. The Israelites themselves serve as officials, soldiers, and officers, not as slaves. Yet the sheer scale of the projects, and the burden on the land, creates a quiet resentment. The chapter ends with Pharaoh’s daughter moving into her own house; the kingdom looks prosperous, but the seeds of its later division are already being sown.
Key Words
The Hebrew word for 'forced labor' here is mass (H4522). It describes a conscripted workforce, people pressed into service for heavy construction, not volunteer work but a demand from the crown. The word carries the weight of obligation without choice. The term appears earlier in Joshua 16:10, where Canaanites become forced laborers among the Israelites. Solomon simply formalizes what was already happening.
The word for 'bondman' or 'slave' is eved (H5650). The text is careful: Solomon made no Israelites into eved. That distinction mattered under the law. But earlier, in 1 Kings 5:13-14, we learn that thirty thousand Israelites served in a rotating levy, one month in Lebanon, two months home. So while they weren't permanent slaves, the burden was real.
The verb 'he raised' he'elah (from alah, H5927) literally means 'caused to go up,' the same root used for bringing offerings to the altar. Here it points to imposing a tribute of people. It reminds us that even glorious projects have a human cost.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have noted the careful distinction in this passage: the law forbade making fellow Israelites slaves, so Solomon conscripted Canaanite descendants instead. Some commentators see this as a consequence of incomplete conquest under Joshua, these people remained in the land and now served the king. Others observe that although Israelites were not enslaved, the rotational conscription described in 1 Kings 5 still placed a heavy burden on them. Many historic Christian readings note that this economic pressure contributed to the grievance that split the kingdom after Solomon’s death (1 Kings 12). The passage is often used to reflect on how earthly power, even when exercised by a wise king, can create injustice. It reminds believers in any age that how we treat the vulnerable matters more than the size of our projects.
A common misunderstanding
Some read verse 22, 'Solomon made no bondmen' of Israel, and assume Israelites did no forced labor at all. In fact, 1 Kings 5:13-14 describes a levy of thirty thousand Israelites who served one month on, two months off in Lebanon. The distinction is not about exemption from work but about permanent enslavement. The Canaanites became lifelong bondservants; the Israelites served rotational conscription. Both groups felt the weight of the crown, but the legal difference was real.
Living This Out
This passage invites you to consider your own building projects. What are you constructing with your time and energy, a career, a home, a reputation? Is it costing others in ways you haven't noticed? Maybe a work deadline that pressures your team, or a lifestyle that depends on underpaid labour. Solomon's grand cities were impressive, but they rested on a foundation of people with no choice. This week, look for the invisible hands that support your daily life. Let gratitude replace entitlement. And if you feel like one of the conscripted, pressed into service by someone else’s vision, bring that weight to God. He sees the labourers, not just the monuments. He hears the ones who carry the load.
Main takeaway: God sees not only the glorious buildings but also the burdened builders, and He calls for justice.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
King Solomon built big, beautiful buildings. But he made some people work very hard without paying them fairly. God wants us to be kind to everyone who helps us, even the people we do not see.
For ages 9, 12
This passage shows that even a wise king like Solomon did things that hurt people. He made the descendants of the Canaanites do the hardest labour while the Israelites served as soldiers and leaders. That was not fair. The heavy work caused anger, and later the kingdom split in two. God cares deeply about how we treat every person, especially those who do the jobs nobody notices. Jesus came to serve, not to force people to work for Him. We can follow His example.
Questions People Ask
Why did Solomon use forced labor?
Solomon needed workers and funds to build the temple, his palace, and many fortified cities across Israel. When Hiram king of Tyre was not satisfied with the cities Solomon gave him, Solomon had to raise a levy, both money and laborers, to pay his debt and continue his building projects. The forced labor was a practical measure to meet enormous construction demands.
Did Solomon enslave Israelites?
No. Verse 22 specifically says Solomon made no Israelites into bondmen, meaning permanent slaves. However, earlier in 1 Kings 5, we learn that he conscripted thirty thousand Israelites for rotational labor: one month working in Lebanon, then two months at home. So while they were not enslaved as the Canaanites were, they still performed compulsory service under the crown.
What is Millo in 1 Kings 9?
Millo was a part of the fortifications of Jerusalem, likely a terraced structure or a citadel on the eastern ridge. It is first mentioned in 2 Samuel 5:9 when David built up the city. Solomon continued working on Millo, strengthening the defenses of his capital.
How did Solomon's forced labor contribute to the kingdom's division?
The heavy demands of Solomon’s projects, both the forced labor of non-Israelites and the heavy taxes and conscription on Israelites, created widespread resentment, especially among the northern tribes. After Solomon’s death, the people asked his son Rehoboam to lighten the load. When he refused, the kingdom split (1 Kings 12). This passage shows the seeds of that unrest being planted.
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