Question 1

What does 1 Kings 9:20 mean?

Accepted Answer

1 Kings 9:20 lists the groups of people who remained in the land after Israel took possession of it—specifically, the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—who were not descendants of Israel. The verse sets up a distinction between these non-Israelite peoples and the children of Israel. This verse is part of a passage where the writer explains what happened to the original inhabitants of Canaan after Solomon became king. The context is Solomon’s building projects and the labor force he used. By naming these groups, the verse highlights who was left in the land and prepares the reader for the next verses, which describe how Solomon used these people for forced labor.

Question 2

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 9:20

Accepted Answer

The word for "people" is עָם (ʿam), often used for a group or nation. Here, it refers to the remaining non-Israelite populations. "Left" is יָתַר (yāṯar), meaning those who survived or remained after Israel’s conquest. This word emphasizes that these groups were not entirely driven out. The names אֱמֹרִי (ʾĕmōrî, Amorites), חִתִּי (ḥittî, Hittites), פְּרִזִּי (pərizzî, Perizzites), חִוִּי (ḥiwwî, Hivites), and יְבוּסִי (yəḇūsî, Jebusites) are all specific Canaanite peoples mentioned throughout the Old Testament as original inhabitants of the land. "Children" is בֵּן (bēn), meaning "sons" or "descendants," and "Israel" is יִשְׂרָאֵל (yiśrāʾēl), the nation descended from Jacob. The phrase "not of the children of Israel" stresses the ethnic and covenantal distinction.

Question 3

Why 1 Kings 9:20 matters

Accepted Answer

This verse clarifies that not all the original Canaanite peoples were removed from the land during Israel’s conquest; some remained and became subject to Israelite rule. By listing these specific groups, the verse connects back to earlier biblical promises and commands about the land and its inhabitants, showing the ongoing presence of these peoples in Israel’s history. The verse sets up the explanation in the following verses about how Solomon organized labor for his building projects, distinguishing between Israelites and non-Israelites in their roles.

1 Kings 9:20 (KJV)