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.

Where else these words appear

“Adoniram” Hebrew H141 · used in 2 verses

  • 1 Kings 4:6 And Ahishar was over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute.

“courses” Hebrew H2487 · used in 11 verses

  • Genesis 45:22 To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment.
  • Judges 14:19 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father's house.
  • 2 Kings 5:23 And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.

“levy” Hebrew H4522 · used in 22 verses

  • Genesis 49:15 And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.
  • Judges 1:33 Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Bethshemesh, nor the inhabitants of Bethanath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Bethshemesh and of Bethanath became tributaries unto them.
  • 1 Kings 12:18 Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.

“Lebanon” Hebrew H3844 · used in 64 verses

  • Deuteronomy 1:7 Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates.
  • 2 Chronicles 2:16 And we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as thou shalt need: and we will bring it to thee in floats by sea to Joppa; and thou shalt carry it up to Jerusalem.
  • Isaiah 33:9 The earth mourneth and languisheth: Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down: Sharon is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits.