1 Kings 5 14

1 Kings 5:14 kjv

And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses: a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home: and Adoniram was over the levy.

1 Kings 5:14 nkjv

And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month in shifts: they were one month in Lebanon and two months at home; Adoniram was in charge of the labor force.

1 Kings 5:14 niv

He sent them off to Lebanon in shifts of ten thousand a month, so that they spent one month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor.

1 Kings 5:14 esv

And he sent them to Lebanon, 10,000 a month in shifts. They would be a month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of the draft.

1 Kings 5:14 nlt

He sent them to Lebanon in shifts, 10,000 every month, so that each man would be one month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of this labor force.

1 Kings 5 verses

1 Kings 5 14 Meaning

1 Kings 5:14 describes a massive forced labor system organized by King Solomon for his building projects, specifically the Temple in Jerusalem. Ten thousand Israelite men were conscripted into labor in Lebanon each month on a rotational basis, working one month away and returning home for two months. This large-scale levy was supervised by Adoniram, highlighting the intense resource management required for Solomon's ambitious construction.

1 Kings 5 14 Context

1 Kings chapter 5 details Solomon's preparations for building the Temple. Following the peaceful transfer of power from David, Solomon establishes a pact with King Hiram of Tyre, a key ally who provides cedar and cypress timbers, skilled craftsmen, and laborers from Lebanon in exchange for Israelite foodstuffs. Verse 13 explicitly states that Solomon conscripted forced labor from all Israel, amounting to thirty thousand men. Verse 14 then elaborates on the precise management of this Israelite labor, distinguishing it from the enslaved foreign labor mentioned later in 1 Kings 9:20-22. This verse highlights the monumental scale of the Temple project, the detailed administration involved, and the shared burden, albeit with rotation, placed upon the Israelites. This organizational prowess and resource mobilization were considered part of Solomon's renowned wisdom and the prosperity of his reign.

1 Kings 5 14 Word analysis

• And he sent them: וַיִּשְׁלָחֵם (vayyishlaḥem). From the root שָׁלַח (shalach), meaning "to send," "to stretch out," or "to dispatch." Here, it signifies Solomon actively dispatching the conscripted men for specific duty. The subject "he" refers to King Solomon from the previous verses.
• to Lebanon: אֲרֶז לְבָנוֹן (Ləvanon). The famous cedar and fir-covered mountain range north of Israel. Lebanon was known throughout the ancient Near East for its prized timber, particularly the "cedar of Lebanon" (אֶרֶז הַלְּבָנוֹן, erez ha-l’vanon), essential for major construction projects.
• 10,000: עֲשֶׂרֶת אֲלָפִים (ʿăśereṯ ʾălāfîm). A precise and substantial number. This numerical detail emphasizes the immense scale of the undertaking and the organizational effort involved.
• a month in shifts: חֹדֶשׁ בַּלְּבָנוֹן (ḥōḏeš ba-ləḇānōn) — "a month in Lebanon." The repeated word for month (not in this verse but implied from the following part: חֹדֶשׁ חֹדֶשׁ in 1 Kgs 5:13), often signifies "month by month," implying a continuous, regulated system. "In shifts" captures the logistical aspect of this monthly rotation.
• he would be a month in Lebanon and two months at home: The verse clearly details the rotational system (a third of the workforce was deployed each month). This specific structure (1 month on, 2 months off) indicates a planned, rather than arbitrary, conscription. It aimed to provide necessary labor while also allowing the men time for their own livelihoods and families, making it distinct from outright enslavement. This mitigated the hardship for the Israelites, though it was still a compulsory service.
• Adoniram: אֲדֹנִירָם (ʾăḏōnîrām). This name means "my lord is exalted" or "Adon (the Lord) is high." He is explicitly identified here and elsewhere as the chief official in charge of forced labor or tribute (מַס, mas). His significant and continuing role, even into Rehoboam's reign (1 Kgs 12:18, where he is stoned to death), underscores the vital and often controversial nature of this government office.
• was in charge of the forced labor: עַל־הַמַּס (ʿal-ha-mas). Literally "over the forced labor" or "over the levy." The Hebrew term מַס (mas) denotes a compulsory labor or tribute levied by the king for state purposes. This was distinct from chattel slavery and typically applied to conquered peoples or, in this case, a proportion of Israelite citizens. This 'mas' was a central administrative tool for building projects and military efforts in ancient monarchies.

Words-group analysis:

• "And he sent them to Lebanon, 10,000 a month in shifts": This phrase highlights the systematic deployment of manpower. It emphasizes not just the total number but the rate and location of their service. The "shifts" reveal a high level of administrative organization, indicative of Solomon's wise (or perhaps demanding) reign.
• "he would be a month in Lebanon and two months at home": This detail establishes the specific rotation, emphasizing that while compulsory, the service was structured to allow recovery and attention to personal affairs. It reflects a regulated corvée system, not perpetual bondage, offering a balance (from the administration's perspective) between royal need and national well-being.
• "Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor": This definitively assigns the direct administrative responsibility for this enormous human undertaking. Adoniram's prominence implies the complexity and critical nature of this "mas" system to Solomon's kingdom, directly connecting the monarch's grand ambitions with the human resource required.

1 Kings 5 14 Bonus section

The Hebrew word "mas" (מַס) used for "forced labor" or "tribute" carries significant historical weight. While it implied compulsory service, for the Israelites, it was seen as a duty to the king for national projects, often related to sacred purposes like the Temple, unlike the harsh slavery endured in Egypt. This distinguishes Solomon's levy from tyrannical enslavement. The very scale of the labor force described here (30,000 Israelites, plus 70,000 carriers, 80,000 stonecutters, and 3,300 overseers in 1 Kgs 5:15-16, and even more in 2 Chronicles 2:2, 18), paints a vivid picture of the grandeur and complexity of Solomon's kingdom. It also serves as a prelude to the seeds of discontent that would later contribute to the division of the kingdom under Rehoboam.

1 Kings 5 14 Commentary

1 Kings 5:14 is a precise logistical description of how Solomon managed his vast labor force for the Temple and other building projects. The number 30,000 Israelites (as seen in 1 Kgs 5:13) was divided into three rotating groups of 10,000. Each group worked one month in Lebanon extracting timber and then returned home for two months, a rotational system ensuring efficiency while somewhat mitigating the burden on individuals and their families. This method of 'corvée' labor (Hebrew: mas) was a common feature of ancient Near Eastern kingdoms, signifying a strong centralized authority. While Israelites were levied for this service, it is explicitly noted elsewhere (1 Kgs 9:22; 2 Chr 8:9) that they were not made slaves or bondservants, unlike the conquered foreign peoples. This distinction is crucial, underscoring the unique status of the Israelites, even under royal mandate. The role of Adoniram (or Adoram), as the supervisor of this labor, was critical and became highly sensitive, eventually leading to his death in the national revolt against Rehoboam (1 Kgs 12:18), indicating that while systematic, the labor levy eventually bred resentment among the people due to its perceived burden.