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 5:14KJV
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1 Kings 5:14 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 5:14 mean?

1 Kings 5:14 describes how King Solomon organized a workforce by sending ten thousand men each month in shifts to Lebanon, where they worked for a month and then returned home for two months, with Adoniram in charge of overseeing this labor force. This system allowed Solomon to gather the materials needed for building projects, especially the temple, without overburdening any one group for too long.

Solomon is the king of Israel at this time, and he is arranging with King Hiram of Tyre to get cedar and other materials from Lebanon for the temple in Jerusalem. The verse explains the rotation system for the workers, showing both the scale of the project and the care taken to manage the people's workload. Adoniram, mentioned here, is the official responsible for organizing and supervising this labor.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 5:14

  • לְבָנוֹן (Levanon, "Lebanon"): This word refers to the mountainous region famous for its cedar trees, which were highly valued for building. The use of "Lebanon" highlights the international cooperation and the importance of these resources.
  • חֹדֶשׁ (chodesh, "month"): The word for "month" appears several times, emphasizing the careful scheduling and rotation of labor, which helped prevent exhaustion and allowed workers to spend most of their time at home.
  • מַס (mas, "levy"): This term means a forced labor or conscripted workforce. It shows that these workers were not volunteers but were drafted for state service, a common practice for large royal projects in the ancient world.

Why 1 Kings 5:14 matters

  • This verse shows that Solomon’s building projects were massive and required careful organization, not just in materials but also in managing people.
  • The rotation system described here suggests a concern for the welfare of the workers, as they were not kept away from home for long periods.
  • The mention of Adoniram as overseer connects this verse to other parts of the Bible where he appears, showing continuity and the importance of administration in Solomon’s reign.