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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>1 Kings 5:13 Then King Solomon conscripted a labor force of 30,000 men from all Israel.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/1_kings/5-13.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/20/11_1Ki_05_13.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="1 Kings 5:13 - Solomon's Workmen and Laborers" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Then King Solomon conscripted a labor force of 30,000 men from all Israel." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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and the levy was thirty thousand men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/1_kings/5.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Then King Solomon raised up a labor force out of all Israel; and the labor force was thirty thousand men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/1_kings/5.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now King Solomon conscripted forced laborers from all Israel; and the forced laborers <i>numbered</i> thirty thousand men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/1_kings/5.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Now King Solomon levied forced laborers from all Israel; and the forced laborers numbered 30,000 men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/1_kings/5.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Now King Solomon levied forced laborers from all Israel; and the forced laborers numbered 30,000 men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/1_kings/5.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And King Solomon raised up forced laborers from all Israel; and the forced laborers numbered 30,000 men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/1_kings/5.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />King Solomon levied forced laborers from all Israel; and the forced laborers numbered 30,000 men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/1_kings/5.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then King Solomon drafted forced laborers from all Israel; the labor force numbered thirty thousand men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/1_kings/5.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then King Solomon drafted forced laborers from all Israel; the labor force numbered 30,000 men. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/1_kings/5.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/1_kings/5.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Solomon ordered 30,000 people from all over Israel to cut logs for the temple, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/1_kings/5.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/1_kings/5.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />King Solomon forced 30,000 men from all over Israel to work for him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/1_kings/5.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />King Solomon drafted 30,000 men as forced labor from all over Israel, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/1_kings/5.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />King Solomon conscripted laborers from throughout Israel. The work force numbered 30,000 men. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/1_kings/5.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then King Solomon conscripted a labor force of 30,000 men from all Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/1_kings/5.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />King Solomon conscripted work crews from throughout Israel, 30,000 men in all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/1_kings/5.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />King Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/1_kings/5.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/1_kings/5.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />King Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/1_kings/5.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And King Solomon lifts up a tribute out of all Israel, and the tribute is thirty thousand men,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/1_kings/5.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And king Solomon lifteth up a tribute out of all Israel, and the tribute is thirty thousand men,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/1_kings/5.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And king Solomon will bring up a tribute from all Israel; and the tribute will be thirty thousand men.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/1_kings/5.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And king Solomon chose workmen cut of all Israel, and the levy was of thirty thousand men. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/1_kings/5.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And king Solomon chose workers from all of Israel, and the conscription was of thirty thousand men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/1_kings/5.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />King Solomon raised thirty thousand forced laborers from all Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/1_kings/5.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />King Solomon conscripted forced labor out of all Israel; the levy numbered thirty thousand men.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/1_kings/5.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And King Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/1_kings/5.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And King Solomon raised up taxes from all Israel, and the taxes were thirty thousand men.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/1_kings/5.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/1_kings/5.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And the king raised a levy out of all Israel, and the levy was thirty thousand men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/1_kings/5-13.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xx9A0AxPaoQ?start=1889" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/1_kings/5.htm">Solomon's Workmen and Laborers</a></span><br> <span class="reftext">13</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/4428.htm" title="4428: ham·me·leḵ (Art:: N-ms) -- King. From malak; a king.">Then King</a> <a href="/hebrew/8010.htm" title="8010: šə·lō·mōh (N-proper-ms) -- David's son and successor to his throne. From shalowm; peaceful; Shelomah, David's successor.">Solomon</a> <a href="/hebrew/5927.htm" title="5927: way·ya·‘al (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to ascend, intransitively or actively; used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative.">conscripted</a> <a href="/hebrew/4522.htm" title="4522: mas (N-ms) -- Or mic; from macac; properly, a burden, i.e. A tax in the form of forced labor.">a labor force</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: way·hî (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass."></a> <a href="/hebrew/4522.htm" title="4522: ham·mas (Art:: N-ms) -- Or mic; from macac; properly, a burden, i.e. A tax in the form of forced labor."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7970.htm" title="7970: šə·lō·šîm (Number-cp) -- Thirty. Or shloshiym; multiple of shalowsh; thirty; or thirtieth.">of 30,000</a> <a href="/hebrew/505.htm" title="505: ’e·lep̄ (Number-ms) -- A thousand. Prop, the same as 'eleph; hence a thousand."></a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: ’îš (N-ms) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term.">men</a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: mik·kāl (Prep-m:: N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">from all</a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: yiś·rā·’êl (N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity.">Israel.</a> </span><span class="reftext">14</span>He sent them to Lebanon in monthly shifts of 10,000 men, so that they would spend one month in Lebanon and two months at home. And Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/9-15.htm">1 Kings 9:15-22</a></span><br />This is the account of the forced labor that King Solomon imposed to build the house of the LORD, his own palace, the supporting terraces, and the wall of Jerusalem, as well as Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer. / Pharaoh king of Egypt had attacked and captured Gezer. He had set it on fire, killed the Canaanites who lived in the city, and given it as a dowry to his daughter, Solomon’s wife. / So Solomon rebuilt Gezer, Lower Beth-horon, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/2-17.htm">2 Chronicles 2:17-18</a></span><br />Solomon numbered all the foreign men in the land of Israel following the census his father David had conducted, and there were found to be 153,600 in all. / Solomon made 70,000 of them porters, 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains, and 3,600 supervisors.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/1-11.htm">Exodus 1:11</a></span><br />So the Egyptians appointed taskmasters over the Israelites to oppress them with forced labor. As a result, they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/5-11.htm">2 Samuel 5:11</a></span><br />Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/4-6.htm">1 Kings 4:6</a></span><br />Ahishar was in charge of the palace; and Adoniram son of Abda was in charge of the forced labor.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/12-4.htm">1 Kings 12:4</a></span><br />“Your father put a heavy yoke on us. But now you must lighten the burden of your father’s service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/12-18.htm">1 Kings 12:18</a></span><br />Then King Rehoboam sent out Adoram, who was in charge of the forced labor, but all Israel stoned him to death. And King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste and escaped to Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/10-4.htm">2 Chronicles 10:4</a></span><br />“Your father put a heavy yoke on us. But now you must lighten the burden of your father’s service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/10-18.htm">2 Chronicles 10:18</a></span><br />Then King Rehoboam sent out Hadoram, who was in charge of the forced labor, but the Israelites stoned him to death. And King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste and escaped to Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/8-11.htm">1 Samuel 8:11-17</a></span><br />He said, “This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them to serve his own chariots and horses, and to run in front of his chariots. / He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. / And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/6-38.htm">1 Kings 6:38</a></span><br />In the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, the eighth month, the temple was finished in every detail and according to every specification. So he built the temple in seven years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/7-13.htm">1 Kings 7:13-14</a></span><br />Now King Solomon sent to bring Huram from Tyre. / He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a craftsman in bronze. Huram had great skill, understanding, and knowledge for every kind of bronze work. So he came to King Solomon and carried out all his work.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/8-7.htm">2 Chronicles 8:7-10</a></span><br />As for all the people who remained of the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (these people were not Israelites)— / their descendants who remained in the land, those whom the Israelites had not destroyed—Solomon conscripted these people to be forced laborers, as they are to this day. / But Solomon did not consign any of the Israelites to slave labor, because they were his men of war, the leaders of his captains, and the commanders of his chariots and cavalry. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/9-23.htm">1 Kings 9:23</a></span><br />They were also the chief officers over Solomon’s projects: 550 supervisors over the people who did the work.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/11-28.htm">1 Kings 11:28</a></span><br />Now Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor. So when Solomon noticed that the young man was industrious, he put him in charge of the whole labor force of the house of Joseph.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.</p><p class="hdg">levy [heb] tribute of men</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_kings/4-6.htm">1 Kings 4:6</a></b></br> And Ahishar <i>was</i> over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda <i>was</i> over the tribute.</p><p class="hdg">the levy</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_kings/9-15.htm">1 Kings 9:15</a></b></br> And this <i>is</i> 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.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/2_chronicles/8-8.htm">Conscripted</a> <a href="/1_kings/4-6.htm">Forced</a> <a href="/1_kings/4-25.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/1_kings/4-6.htm">Labor</a> <a href="/numbers/31-28.htm">Levy</a> <a href="/1_kings/4-32.htm">Numbered</a> <a href="/2_samuel/23-18.htm">Raised</a> <a href="/1_kings/5-12.htm">Solomon</a> <a href="/1_kings/4-22.htm">Thirty</a> <a href="/1_kings/5-11.htm">Thousand</a> <a href="/1_kings/5-12.htm">Together</a> <a href="/1_kings/4-21.htm">Tribute</a> <a href="/2_samuel/20-24.htm">Work</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_kings/9-15.htm">Conscripted</a> <a href="/1_kings/5-14.htm">Forced</a> <a href="/1_kings/6-1.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/1_kings/9-21.htm">Labor</a> <a href="/1_kings/9-15.htm">Levy</a> <a href="/1_kings/7-20.htm">Numbered</a> <a href="/1_kings/9-15.htm">Raised</a> <a href="/1_kings/5-15.htm">Solomon</a> <a href="/1_kings/6-2.htm">Thirty</a> <a href="/1_kings/5-14.htm">Thousand</a> <a href="/1_kings/7-24.htm">Together</a> <a href="/1_kings/5-14.htm">Tribute</a> <a href="/1_kings/5-15.htm">Work</a><div class="vheading2">1 Kings 5</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/5-1.htm">Hiram, sending to congratulate Solomon, is desired to furnish him with timber</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/5-7.htm">Hiram, blessing God for Solomon, furnishes him with trees.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/5-13.htm">The number of Solomon's workmen and laborers</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_kings/5.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_kings/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/1_kings/5.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Then King Solomon</b><br>King Solomon, the son of David and Bathsheba, was the third king of Israel. Known for his wisdom, Solomon's reign is often seen as a time of peace and prosperity for Israel. His rule is marked by significant building projects, including the construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem. Solomon's leadership style and decisions, such as conscripting labor, reflect the centralized power and administrative organization of his kingdom.<p><b>conscripted a labor force</b><br>The conscription of labor was a common practice in ancient Near Eastern monarchies for large-scale building projects. This labor force was not a standing army but rather a group of workers drafted for specific tasks. The use of conscripted labor highlights the demands of Solomon's ambitious building plans and the centralized authority he wielded. It also foreshadows the later discontent among the Israelites, which contributed to the division of the kingdom after Solomon's death.<p><b>of 30,000 men</b><br>The number 30,000 indicates the large scale of the workforce required for Solomon's projects, particularly the construction of the Temple. This figure underscores the magnitude of the task and the resources Solomon had at his disposal. It also reflects the organizational capabilities of his administration in mobilizing such a significant number of workers.<p><b>from all Israel</b><br>The phrase "from all Israel" suggests that the labor force was drawn from the entire nation, indicating a sense of national involvement in the building of the Temple. This inclusivity may have been intended to foster a sense of unity and shared purpose among the tribes. However, it also implies the burden placed on the people, which later became a point of contention leading to the kingdom's division. The involvement of all Israel in the Temple's construction can be seen as a type of the unity and collective worship that the Temple was meant to symbolize.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/k/king_solomon.htm">King Solomon</a></b><br>The son of King David and Bathsheba, Solomon is known for his wisdom, wealth, and building projects, including the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israel.htm">Israel</a></b><br>The united kingdom under Solomon's rule, consisting of the twelve tribes of Israel. This period is marked by peace and prosperity.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/l/labor_force.htm">Labor Force</a></b><br>Thirty thousand men conscripted from all Israel to work on Solomon's building projects, particularly the Temple. This conscription reflects the organizational and administrative skills of Solomon's reign.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/l/leadership_and_responsibility.htm">Leadership and Responsibility</a></b><br>Solomon's conscription of labor highlights the responsibility of leaders to manage resources wisely and justly. Leaders today can learn from Solomon's example to balance ambition with the welfare of their people.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/purposeful_work.htm">Purposeful Work</a></b><br>The labor force was conscripted for a divine purpose—the building of the Temple. This reminds us that our work should have a higher purpose and align with God's will.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/community_involvement.htm">Community Involvement</a></b><br>The involvement of all Israel in the labor force underscores the importance of community participation in achieving significant goals. It encourages believers to contribute to their communities and churches.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/historical_context.htm">Historical Context</a></b><br>Understanding the historical and cultural context of Solomon's reign helps us appreciate the complexities of leadership and governance in biblical times.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_legacy.htm">Spiritual Legacy</a></b><br>Solomon's building projects, especially the Temple, left a lasting spiritual legacy. Believers are encouraged to consider the spiritual impact of their actions and decisions.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_1_kings_5.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 1 Kings 5</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_1_kings_5_13-16's_labor_force_plausible.htm">How plausible is the vast conscripted labor force of tens of thousands in 1 Kings 5:13–16, given population estimates of the time? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_2_chronicles_2_2_workforce_feasible.htm">In 2 Chronicles 2:2, is the workforce of 70,000 laborers and 80,000 stonecutters feasible given ancient population estimates? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_was_the_tax_collectors'_role_in_the_bible.htm">What role did tax collectors have in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_is_rehoboam's_reply_only_harsh.htm">Why does 1 Kings 12:14 present Rehoboam’s answer as solely harsh, despite other biblical accounts that sometimes provide a balancing perspective? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/1_kings/5.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(13) <span class= "bld">Levy out of all Israel.</span>--This, though far from being onerous, appears to have been at this time exceptional. For in <a href="/1_kings/9-22.htm" title="But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no slaves: but they were men of war, and his servants, and his princes, and his captains, and rulers of his chariots, and his horsemen.">1Kings 9:22</a> we read that "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." Thus exceptionally introduced at first for the special service of God, it may have been the beginning of what was hereafter an oppressive despotism over the Israelites themselves. Probably even now the Israelite labourers were (under the chief officers) put in authority over the great mass of 150,000 bondmen, evidently drawn from the native races. (See <a href="/2_chronicles/2-17.htm" title="And Solomon numbered all the strangers that were in the land of Israel, after the numbering with which David his father had numbered them; and they were found an hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand and six hundred.">2Chronicles 2:17</a>.) But the whole description suggests to us--what the history of Exodus, the monuments of Egypt, and the description by Herodotus of the building of the Pyramids confirm--the vast sacrifice of human labour and life, at which (in the absence of machinery to spare labour) the great monuments of ancient splendour were reared.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/1_kings/5.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 13.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And King Solomon raised a levy</span> [Marg., <span class="accented">tribute of men, i.e.</span>, conscription] out of all Israel [<span class="accented">i.e.</span>, the people, not the land - Ewald] and the levy was thirty thousand men. [That is, if we may trust the figures of the census given in <a href="/2_samuel/24-9.htm">2 Samuel 24:9</a> (which do not agree, however, with those of <a href="/1_chronicles/21-5.htm">1 Chronicles 21:5</a>), the conscription only affected one in <span class="accented">forty</span> of the male population. But even the lower estimate of Samuel is regarded with some suspicion. Such a levy was predicted (<a href="/1_samuel/8-16.htm">1 Samuel 8:16</a>). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/1_kings/5-13.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Then King</span><br /><span class="heb">הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ</span> <span class="translit">(ham·me·leḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4428.htm">Strong's 4428: </a> </span><span class="str2">A king</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Solomon</span><br /><span class="heb">שְׁלֹמֹ֛ה</span> <span class="translit">(šə·lō·mōh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8010.htm">Strong's 8010: </a> </span><span class="str2">Solomon -- David's son and successor to his throne</span><br /><br /><span class="word">conscripted</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיַּ֨עַל</span> <span class="translit">(way·ya·‘al)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5927.htm">Strong's 5927: </a> </span><span class="str2">To ascend, in, actively</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a labor force</span><br /><span class="heb">מַ֖ס</span> <span class="translit">(mas)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4522.htm">Strong's 4522: </a> </span><span class="str2">Body of forced laborers, forced service, taskworkers, taskwork, serfdom</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of thirty</span><br /><span class="heb">שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים</span> <span class="translit">(šə·lō·šîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7970.htm">Strong's 7970: </a> </span><span class="str2">Thirty, thirtieth</span><br /><br /><span class="word">thousand</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶ֖לֶף</span> <span class="translit">(’e·lep̄)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_505.htm">Strong's 505: </a> </span><span class="str2">A thousand</span><br /><br /><span class="word">men</span><br /><span class="heb">אִֽישׁ׃</span> <span class="translit">(’îš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> </span><span class="str2">A man as an individual, a male person</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from all</span><br /><span class="heb">מִכָּל־</span> <span class="translit">(mik·kāl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> </span><span class="str2">The whole, all, any, every</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Israel.</span><br /><span class="heb">יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל</span> <span class="translit">(yiś·rā·’êl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3478.htm">Strong's 3478: </a> </span><span class="str2">Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/1_kings/5-13.htm">1 Kings 5:13 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/1_kings/5-13.htm">1 Kings 5:13 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/1_kings/5-13.htm">1 Kings 5:13 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/1_kings/5-13.htm">1 Kings 5:13 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/1_kings/5-13.htm">1 Kings 5:13 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/1_kings/5-13.htm">1 Kings 5:13 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/1_kings/5-13.htm">1 Kings 5:13 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/1_kings/5-13.htm">1 Kings 5:13 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/1_kings/5-13.htm">1 Kings 5:13 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/1_kings/5-13.htm">1 Kings 5:13 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/1_kings/5-13.htm">OT History: 1 Kings 5:13 King Solomon raised a levy out (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/1_kings/5-12.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Kings 5:12"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Kings 5:12" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/1_kings/5-14.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Kings 5:14"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Kings 5:14" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>