1 Kings 9:15-23

15Here is the account of the forced labor King Solomon conscripted to build the LORD ’s temple, his own palace, the terraces, Or the Millo; also in verse 24 the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, Megiddo and Gezer. 16(Pharaoh king of Egypt had attacked and captured Gezer. He had set it on fire. He killed its Canaanite inhabitants and then gave it as a wedding gift to his daughter, Solomon’s wife. 17And Solomon rebuilt Gezer.) He built up Lower Beth Horon, 18Baalath, and Tadmor The Hebrew may also be read Tamar. in the desert, within his land,

19as well as all his store cities and the towns for his chariots and for his horses Or charioteers —whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon and throughout all the territory he ruled. 20There were still people left from the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites (these peoples were not Israelites). 21Solomon conscripted the descendants of all these peoples remaining in the land—whom the Israelites could not exterminate The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them. —to serve as slave labor, as it is to this day. 22But Solomon did not make slaves of any of the Israelites; they were his fighting men, his government officials, his officers, his captains, and the commanders of his chariots and charioteers.

23They were also the chief officials in charge of Solomon’s projects—550 officials supervising those who did the work.