דברי הימים ב, פרק ח׳, פסוק ט׳

King Solomon’s vast building enterprises required a massive workforce, leading to a distinct social and national division within his kingdom. A clear line was drawn between the roles assigned to the Israelites and those given to the foreign residents of the land. While the foreign populations were drafted into physical forced labor, the Israelites were elevated to senior administrative, military, and command positions, standing in sharp contrast to the other nations [מצודת דוד]. Solomon specifically ensured that his own people were not reduced to slavery for the grueling physical construction of his projects [רש״י]. Interestingly, he possessed the legal royal authority to draft the Israelites into forced labor, a power outlined in the laws of kingship, yet he deliberately chose not to exercise it [רלב״ג].

Instead of manual labor, the Israelites filled the ranks of the military. They served as warriors, chariot commanders, cavalrymen, and elite officers, making up the core of the kingdom's mighty men [מצודת ציון] and top army commanders [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Solomon was highly cautious about national security and made a point never to entrust sensitive defense positions to foreigners. Consequently, the foreign residents were assigned the roles of simple laborers and burden-bearers [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Even with this clear separation, the Israelites were not entirely removed from the kingdom's construction efforts. Though they were never subjected to slave labor, many were sent to Lebanon to take on management and supervisory roles. Tens of thousands of Israelites spent time in Lebanon, not to chop down trees or perform the exhausting physical work themselves, but to serve as appointed officers. Their responsibility was solely to oversee and direct the foreign laborers who carried out the manual tasks [מלבי״ם].