Despite 1 Kings 9:22, didn’t Solomon impose forced labor on Israelite citizens?
In light of 1 Kings 9:22 it appears as if God treated them (the Israelite citizens) as free men, as citizens of honorable standing. Yet earlier, in 1 Kings 5:13, it is stated that “King Solomon levied forced laborers (literally, ‘raised a levy of forced labor’) from all Israel; and the forced laborers [hammas] numbered 30,000 men” (NASB). It is a fair assumption also that the thirty thousand Israelites who participated in the felling and processing of building materials for the temple were specially selected for their experience and skill along these lines, and that they considered it a privilege to have a part in this work for God. Hence there is no real contradiction between the two statements (5:13 and 9:22).
