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THE MESSAGE

1 Kings 9:23

This verse is not available in the MSG!

Bible Study Resources

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Egypt;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Chief;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Alliance;   Israel;   Solomon;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Hiram ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Millo;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Jerusalem;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
These were the deputies who were over Solomon’s work: 550 who supervised the people doing the work.
Hebrew Names Version
These were the chief officers who were over Shlomo's work, five hundred fifty, who bore rule over the people who labored in the work.
King James Version
These 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.
English Standard Version
These were the chief officers who were over Solomon's work: 550 who had charge of the people who carried on the work.
New Century Version
These were his most important officers over the work. There were five hundred fifty supervisors over the people who did the work on Solomon's projects.
New English Translation
These men were also in charge of Solomon's work projects; there were a total of 550 men who supervised the workers.
Amplified Bible
These were the chief officers who were over Solomon's work, five hundred and fifty, who ruled over the people doing the work.
New American Standard Bible
These were the chief officers who were in charge of Solomon's work, 550, who ruled over the people doing the work.
Geneva Bible (1587)
These were the princes of the officers, that were ouer Salomons worke: euen fiue hundreth and fiftie, and they ruled the people that wrought in the worke.
Legacy Standard Bible
These were the chief deputies who were over Solomon's work, 550, who had dominion over the people doing the work.
Contemporary English Version
Solomon appointed five hundred fifty officers to be in charge of his workers and to watch over his building projects.
Complete Jewish Bible
There were 550 chief officers over Shlomo's work, in charge of the workers.
Darby Translation
These were the chief superintendents that were over Solomon's work, five hundred and fifty, that ruled over the people that wrought in the work.
Easy-to-Read Version
There were 550 supervisors over Solomon's projects. They supervised the men who did the work.
George Lamsa Translation
These were the superintendents who were over Solomons work, five hundred and fifty, who had charge of the people and who supervised the work.
Good News Translation
There were 550 officials in charge of the forced labor working on Solomon's various building projects.
Lexham English Bible
These were the commanders of the overseers who were over the work for Solomon, five hundred and fifty, ruling over the people doing the work.
Literal Translation
These were the commanders of the officers who were over the work of Solomon: five hundred and fifty, those ruling among the people who were working in the work.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And the officers which were ouer Salomons busynesse, were fyue hundreth and fyftye, which ruled the people, and perfourmed the worke.
American Standard Version
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.
Bible in Basic English
These were the chiefs of the overseers of Solomon's work, five hundred and fifty, in authority over the people who did the work.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And these were the lordes that were set ouer Solomons worke [euen] fiue hundred were they and fiftie, and they ruled the people that wrought ye worke.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
These were the chief officers that were over Solomon's work, five hundred and fifty, who bore rule over the people that wrought in the work.
King James Version (1611)
These were the chiefe of the officers that were ouer Solomons worke, fiue hundred and fiftie, which bare rule ouer the people that wrought in the worke.
English Revised Version
These were the chief officers that were over Solomon’s work, five hundred and fifty, which bare rule over the people that wrought in the work.
Berean Standard Bible
They were also the chief officers over Solomon's projects: 550 supervisors over the people who did the work.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Sotheli fyue hundrid and fifti `souereynes weren princes ouer alle the werkis of Salomon, whiche princes hadden the puple suget, and comaundiden to werkis ordeyned.
Young's Literal Translation
These [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.
Update Bible Version
These were the chief officers that were over Solomon's work, five hundred and fifty, who bore rule over the people that wrought in the work.
Webster's Bible Translation
These [were] the chief of the officers that [were] over Solomon's work, five hundred and fifty, who bore rule over the people that wrought in the work.
World English Bible
These were the chief officers who were over Solomon's work, five hundred fifty, who bore rule over the people who labored in the work.
New King James Version
Others were chiefs of the officials who were over Solomon's work: five hundred and fifty, who ruled over the people who did the work.
New Living Translation
Solomon appointed 550 of them to supervise the people working on his various projects.
New Life Bible
These were the heads of the captains over Solomon's work. There were 550 of them who ruled over the people doing the work.
New Revised Standard
These were the chief officers who were over Solomon's work: five hundred fifty, who had charge of the people who carried on the work.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
These, were the chiefs of the officers, who were over the work, for Solomon, five hundred and fifty, - who ruled over the people that wrought in the work.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And there were five hundred and fifty chief officers set over all the works of Solomon, and they had people under them, and had charge over the appointed works.
Revised Standard Version
These were the chief officers who were over Solomon's work: five hundred and fifty, who had charge of the people who carried on the work.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
These were the chief officers who were over Solomon's work, five hundred and fifty, who ruled over the people doing the work.

Contextual Overview

15 This is the work record of the labor force that King Solomon raised to build The Temple of God , his palace, the defense complex (the Millo), the Jerusalem wall, and the fortified cities of Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer. 16Pharaoh king of Egypt had come up and captured Gezer, torched it, and killed all the Canaanites who lived there. He gave it as a wedding present to his daughter, Solomon's wife. So Solomon rebuilt Gezer. He also built Lower Beth Horon, Baalath, and Tamar in the desert, back-country storehouse villages, and villages for chariots and horses. Solomon built widely and extravagantly in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and wherever he fancied. The remnants from the original inhabitants of the land (Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—all non-Israelites), survivors of the holy wars, were rounded up by Solomon for his gangs of slave labor, a policy still in effect. But true Israelites were not treated this way; they were used in his army and administration—government leaders and commanders of his chariots and charioteers. They were also the project managers responsible for Solomon's building operations—550 of them in charge of the workforce. It was after Pharaoh's daughter ceremonially ascended from the City of David and took up residence in the house built especially for her that Solomon built the defense complex (the Millo). Three times a year Solomon worshiped at the Altar of God , sacrificing Whole-Burnt-Offerings and Peace-Offerings, and burning incense in the presence of God . Everything that had to do with The Temple he did generously and well; he didn't skimp. And ships! King Solomon also built ships at Ezion Geber, located near Elath in Edom on the Red Sea. Hiram sent seaworthy sailors to assist Solomon's men with the fleet. They embarked for Ophir, brought back sixteen tons of gold, and presented it to King Solomon. 18 After Solomon had completed building The Temple of God and his own palace, all the projects he had set his heart on doing, God appeared to Solomon again, just as he had appeared to him at Gibeon. And God said to him, "I've listened to and received all your prayers, your ever-so-passionate prayers. I've sanctified this Temple that you have built: My Name is stamped on it forever; my eyes are on it and my heart in it always. As for you, if you live in my presence as your father David lived, pure in heart and action, living the life I've set out for you, attentively obedient to my guidance and judgments, then I'll back your kingly rule over Israel, make it a sure thing on a solid foundation. The same guarantee I gave David your father I'm giving you: ‘You can count on always having a descendant on Israel's throne.' "But if you or your sons betray me, ignoring my guidance and judgments, taking up with alien gods by serving and worshiping them, then the guarantee is off: I'll wipe Israel right off the map and repudiate this Temple I've just sanctified to honor my Name. And Israel will become nothing but a bad joke among the peoples of the world. And this Temple, splendid as it now is, will become an object of contempt; visitors will shake their heads, saying, ‘Whatever happened here? What's the story behind these ruins?' Then they'll be told, ‘The people who used to live here betrayed their God , the very God who rescued their ancestors from Egypt; they took up with alien gods, worshiping and serving them. That's what's behind this God -visited devastation.'" At the end of twenty years, having built the two buildings, The Temple of God and his personal palace, Solomon rewarded Hiram king of Tyre with a gift of twenty villages in the district of Galilee. Hiram had provided him with all the cedar and cypress and gold that he had wanted. But when Hiram left Tyre to look over the villages that Solomon had given him, he didn't like what he saw. He said, "What kind of reward is this, my friend? Twenty backwoods hick towns!" People still refer to them that way. This is all Hiram got from Solomon in exchange for four and a half tons of gold! This is the work record of the labor force that King Solomon raised to build The Temple of God , his palace, the defense complex (the Millo), the Jerusalem wall, and the fortified cities of Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer. Pharaoh king of Egypt had come up and captured Gezer, torched it, and killed all the Canaanites who lived there. He gave it as a wedding present to his daughter, Solomon's wife. So Solomon rebuilt Gezer. He also built Lower Beth Horon, Baalath, and Tamar in the desert, back-country storehouse villages, and villages for chariots and horses. Solomon built widely and extravagantly in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and wherever he fancied. The remnants from the original inhabitants of the land (Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—all non-Israelites), survivors of the holy wars, were rounded up by Solomon for his gangs of slave labor, a policy still in effect. But true Israelites were not treated this way; they were used in his army and administration—government leaders and commanders of his chariots and charioteers. They were also the project managers responsible for Solomon's building operations—550 of them in charge of the workforce. It was after Pharaoh's daughter ceremonially ascended from the City of David and took up residence in the house built especially for her that Solomon built the defense complex (the Millo). Three times a year Solomon worshiped at the Altar of God , sacrificing Whole-Burnt-Offerings and Peace-Offerings, and burning incense in the presence of God . Everything that had to do with The Temple he did generously and well; he didn't skimp. And ships! King Solomon also built ships at Ezion Geber, located near Elath in Edom on the Red Sea. Hiram sent seaworthy sailors to assist Solomon's men with the fleet. They embarked for Ophir, brought back sixteen tons of gold, and presented it to King Solomon. 19 After Solomon had completed building The Temple of God and his own palace, all the projects he had set his heart on doing, God appeared to Solomon again, just as he had appeared to him at Gibeon. And God said to him, "I've listened to and received all your prayers, your ever-so-passionate prayers. I've sanctified this Temple that you have built: My Name is stamped on it forever; my eyes are on it and my heart in it always. As for you, if you live in my presence as your father David lived, pure in heart and action, living the life I've set out for you, attentively obedient to my guidance and judgments, then I'll back your kingly rule over Israel, make it a sure thing on a solid foundation. The same guarantee I gave David your father I'm giving you: ‘You can count on always having a descendant on Israel's throne.' "But if you or your sons betray me, ignoring my guidance and judgments, taking up with alien gods by serving and worshiping them, then the guarantee is off: I'll wipe Israel right off the map and repudiate this Temple I've just sanctified to honor my Name. And Israel will become nothing but a bad joke among the peoples of the world. And this Temple, splendid as it now is, will become an object of contempt; visitors will shake their heads, saying, ‘Whatever happened here? What's the story behind these ruins?' Then they'll be told, ‘The people who used to live here betrayed their God , the very God who rescued their ancestors from Egypt; they took up with alien gods, worshiping and serving them. That's what's behind this God -visited devastation.'" At the end of twenty years, having built the two buildings, The Temple of God and his personal palace, Solomon rewarded Hiram king of Tyre with a gift of twenty villages in the district of Galilee. Hiram had provided him with all the cedar and cypress and gold that he had wanted. But when Hiram left Tyre to look over the villages that Solomon had given him, he didn't like what he saw. He said, "What kind of reward is this, my friend? Twenty backwoods hick towns!" People still refer to them that way. This is all Hiram got from Solomon in exchange for four and a half tons of gold! This is the work record of the labor force that King Solomon raised to build The Temple of God , his palace, the defense complex (the Millo), the Jerusalem wall, and the fortified cities of Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer. Pharaoh king of Egypt had come up and captured Gezer, torched it, and killed all the Canaanites who lived there. He gave it as a wedding present to his daughter, Solomon's wife. So Solomon rebuilt Gezer. He also built Lower Beth Horon, Baalath, and Tamar in the desert, back-country storehouse villages, and villages for chariots and horses. Solomon built widely and extravagantly in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and wherever he fancied. 20The remnants from the original inhabitants of the land (Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—all non-Israelites), survivors of the holy wars, were rounded up by Solomon for his gangs of slave labor, a policy still in effect. But true Israelites were not treated this way; they were used in his army and administration—government leaders and commanders of his chariots and charioteers. They were also the project managers responsible for Solomon's building operations—550 of them in charge of the workforce. 24 It was after Pharaoh's daughter ceremonially ascended from the City of David and took up residence in the house built especially for her that Solomon built the defense complex (the Millo). 25 Three times a year Solomon worshiped at the Altar of God , sacrificing Whole-Burnt-Offerings and Peace-Offerings, and burning incense in the presence of God . Everything that had to do with The Temple he did generously and well; he didn't skimp. 26And ships! King Solomon also built ships at Ezion Geber, located near Elath in Edom on the Red Sea. Hiram sent seaworthy sailors to assist Solomon's men with the fleet. They embarked for Ophir, brought back sixteen tons of gold, and presented it to King Solomon.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

chief: 1 Kings 5:16, 2 Chronicles 2:18, 2 Chronicles 8:10

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 8:11 - He will take 1 Kings 12:4 - our yoke

Cross-References

Exodus 20:12
Honor your father and mother so that you'll live a long time in the land that God, your God, is giving you.
Leviticus 19:32
"Show respect to the aged; honor the presence of an elder; fear your God. I am God .
Galatians 6:1
Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day's out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ's law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.
1 Timothy 5:1
Don't be harsh or impatient with an older man. Talk to him as you would your own father, and to the younger men as your brothers. Reverently honor an older woman as you would your mother, and the younger women as sisters.
1 Timothy 5:17
Give a bonus to leaders who do a good job, especially the ones who work hard at preaching and teaching. Scripture tells us, "Don't muzzle a working ox" and "A worker deserves his pay."
1 Timothy 5:19
Don't listen to a complaint against a leader that isn't backed up by two or three responsible witnesses.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

These were the chief of the officers over Solomon's work,.... In building the above houses and cities:

five hundred and fifty which bore rule over the people that wrought in the work; in 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, 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. Abarbinel reconciles the places thus, the two hundred and fifty were only over those that wrought in the temple; and the five hundred and fifty here were those that were over such that were employed in the various parts of the kingdom.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Five hundred and fifty - See 1 Kings 5:16 note.


 
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