1 Kings 5:14He 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 men subject to forced labor.
The setting
Lebanon mountains, ~960 BC. Thousands of Israelites cutting cedar trees in rotation shifts for Solomon's temple. Modern-day Lebanon.
The emotion here: recording uncomfortable reality about Israel's golden age
The original word
mas (מַס) — forced labor, corvée system of unpaid service to the state
Why it matters
This rotation system meant families were separated 4 months per year for temple construction
Read with care
What most readers miss in 1 Kings 5:14
Solomon used the SAME forced labor system that once oppressed Israel in Egypt
Common misconceptionPeople think Solomon's reign was purely glorious, but he used forced labor and heavy taxation that eventually split the kingdom.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 1 Kings 5:14
Bible Genome reading
1 Kings 5:14 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
1 Kings 5:14 comes from the book of 1 Kings, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include organization, work life balance. Notable phrases: ten thousand a month; two months at home.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same deciding
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7
“"You shall not murder.”
— Exodus 20:13
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:12
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
“But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"”
— Acts 3:6
Your reflection
What does 1 Kings 5:14 mean to you, today?
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