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1 Kings 9:23

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Kings 9:23 say?

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

The verse

These 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.
1 Kings 9:23 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Kings 9

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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.
25And three times a year did Solomon offer burnt-offerings and peace-offerings upon the altar which he built unto Jehovah, burning incense therewith, [upon the altar] that was before Jehovah. So he finished the house.
26And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Ezion-geber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom.
← 1 Kings 9:221 Kings 9:24 →
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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
“These were the chief of the officers over Solomon’s work, etc.] In building the above houses and cities: five hundred and fifty which bore rule over the people that wrought in the work; in (<140810>2 Chronicles 8:10) they are said to be but two hundred and fifty; now it may be observed, as is by the Jewish writers, that there were three sorts of those rulers; the lowest rank and order of them consisted of 3300, the next of three hundred which were over the 3300, and being numbered with them made 3600, (<140218>2 Chronicles 2:18) and the highest rank of them were two hundred and fifty, and the middlemost and highest being joined together, as they are here, made five hundred and fifty.…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“These were the chief of the officers--(See on Ch2 8:10).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Five hundred and fifty - See 1 Kings 5:16 note. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“chief: Kg1 5:16; Ch2 2:18, Ch2 8:10 3 Kings (1 Kings) 9:24”
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Related study paths

Read 1 Kings 9 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification