Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Chronicles 8:7-10

"As for all the people that were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, that were not of Israel; of their children that were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel consumed not, of them did Solomon raise a levy [of bondservants] unto this day. But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no servants for his work; but they were men of war, and chief of his captains, and rulers of his chariots and of his horsemen. And these were the chief officers of king Solomon, even two hundred and fifty, that bare rule over the people." — 2 Chronicles 8:7-10 (ASV)

(b) THE FORCED LABOUR OF THE CANAANITES
(2 Chronicles 8:7–10)

Compare this section with 1 Kings 9:20–23 and the Notes there. In Kings, it stands in more obvious connection with what precedes, for there the account of Solomon’s buildings is headed by the words, And this is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised, for to build the house of the Lord, etc. (1 Kings 9:15).

As for all the people that were left.—The verse agrees with 1 Kings 9:20.

But.—Omit. The of is also missing in 1 Kings 9:21. So Syriac, but not Septuagint and Vulgate.

Consumed not.—1 Samuel 15:18. Kings has, were not able to exterminate. The Chronicler’s reading is probably due to the fading of letters in his manuscript authority.

Solomon made them pay tribute.—On them did Solomon levy a tribute. Kings has the fuller expression, mas ‘ôbçd, “tribute of labourers.” “Solomon en fit de levées pour la corvée” (Reuss).

But of the children of Israel.—See 1 Kings 9:22. The Hebrew text has the relative (‘asher) after “children of Israel.” But a few manuscripts, and the ancient versions, omit it. It is, perhaps, an accidental repetition from the beginning of 2 Chronicles 8:8.

According to Diod. Sic. 1.56, Sesostris (Rameses II), the great Egyptian monarch, used to inscribe over the temples he built, “No native has laboured on this.”

After men of war, Kings adds, and his servants, which is omitted here as unsuitable after the preceding statement. It means, however, courtiers and officers.

Chief of his captains.—Hebrew, captains of his knights; which appears to be incorrect. Read, “his captains and his knights,” or “aides-de-camp,” as in Kings. Septuagint, καὶ ἄρχοντες καὶ δυνατοὶ.

The chief of king Solomon’s officers.—“Captains of the overseers,” or “prefects,” i.e., chief overseers, or inspectors of works (Compare 1 Chronicles 18:13 and 2 Chronicles 17:2 for the word n’çîbîm, prefects). The Hebrew margin suggests niççabîm, the word used in Kings.

King Solomon’s.—Literally, Who were to king Solomon. Kings, who were over the work for Solomon. Clearly the latter has been corrupted into the form presented by our text through a confusion of mĕlâkâh, “work,” with mèlek, “king.”

Two hundred and fifty.—See 2 Chronicles 2:17 and 1 Kings 9:23. In the latter place 550 is the number. The number here is an error of transcription, דנ, i.e., 550, having been mistaken for ונ, i.e., 250 (Kennicott).

Ruled.—They were taskmasters. (Compare Syriac, “who made the people work who were working at the works.”)

The people—i.e., the Canaanite remnant (2 Chronicles 8:7). Kings adds, who were labouring at the work. (See Syriac.)