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1 Kings 9:21

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Kings 9:21 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “their 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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

their 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.
1 Kings 9:21 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Kings 9

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Their children that were left after them in the land, etc.] The posterity of those left unsubdued in the times of Joshua: whom the children of Israel also were not able utterly to destroy; in later times, though now it is thought by some it was not for want of power, but because they had made a covenant with them, as the Gibeonites did, and therefore they could not, because it would have been a breach of covenant to have destroyed them; (see <140808>2 Chronicles 8:8), upon these did Solomon levy a tribute of bond service unto this day; not a tribute of money, which being poor they were not able to pay, but of service, and which being once laid on was continued, and even to the time of the…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“See 1 Kings 5:15 note. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Those - He used them as bondmen, and imposed bodily labours upon them. But why did not Solomon destroy them as God had commanded, when now it was fully in his power to do so? The command of destroying them, Deu 7:2, did chiefly, if not only, concern that generation of Canaanites, who lived in, or, near the time of the Israelites entering into Canaan. And that command seems not to be absolute, but conditional, and with some exception for those who should submit and embrace the true religion, as may be gathered both from Jos 11:19, and from the history of the Gibeonites. For if God's command had been absolute, the oaths of Joshua, and of the princes, could not have obliged them, nor dispensed…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“9:21 completely destroyed: See “Complete Destruction” Theme Note.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“left: Jdg 1:21, Jdg 1:27-35, Jdg 2:20-23, Jdg 3:1-4; Psa 106:34-36 not: Jos 15:63, Jos 17:12, Jos 17:16-18 levy: Kg1 9:15, Kg1 5:13; Jdg 1:28, Jdg 1:35 tribute: He made them do the most laborious parts of the public works, the Israelites being exempt from all but the more honourable employments. bondservice: Gen 9:25, Gen 9:26; Ezr 2:55-58; Neh 7:57, Neh 11:3 3 Kings (1 Kings) 9:22”
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Sources and verification