2 Chronicles 2:17Solomon numbered all the foreigners who were in the land of Israel, after the numbering with which David his father had numbered them; and they were found one hundred fifty-three thousand six hundred.
The setting
Jerusalem, ~966 BC. Solomon surveys the massive workforce his father David assembled. These are descendants of Canaanites who remained in Israel after conquest, now organized for the greatest construction project in history.
The emotion here: methodical chronicler documenting the magnitude of Solomon's undertaking
The original word
ger (גֵּר) — foreign residents living permanently in Israel, not slaves but non-Israelites
Why it matters
This workforce of 153,600 was larger than many ancient armies
Read with care
What most readers miss in 2 Chronicles 2:17
These weren't slaves but resident foreigners who had rights and protections under Israelite law
Common misconceptionMost assume these were enslaved people, but they were actually foreign residents with legal status who were conscripted for national service, similar to modern civic duty.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 2 Chronicles 2:17
Bible Genome reading
2 Chronicles 2:17 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
2 Chronicles 2:17 comes from the book of 2 Chronicles, 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 30% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include workforce organization, following precedent. Notable phrases: numbered all the foreigners; David his father had numbered.
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 2 Chronicles 2:17 mean to you, today?
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