מלכים א, פרק ט׳, פסוק כ״ב

During the massive construction of the Temple and the royal cities, King Solomon established a clear distinction between the local Canaanite nations and the Israelites. Although the responsibility to build the Temple and the walls of Jerusalem naturally belonged to the Israelites, the king chose not to subject his own people to physical labor on these projects [אברבנאל].

True servitude involves forcing an individual into subjugating manual labor [מצודת דוד]. Therefore, even though Solomon drafted thirty thousand Israelites to cut timber in Lebanon, this arrangement was not considered slavery. The workers operated in fair shifts, spending one month in Lebanon followed by two months resting at home [מלבי״ם].

Rather than performing manual labor, the Israelites were elevated to roles of leadership, administration, and defense. They acted as the king's personal attendants and agents [אברבנאל, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. They also served as his distinguished advisors, heroes, and military commanders [מצודת ציון, אברבנאל, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. From within their ranks, upper-level officers were chosen to oversee and manage the vast multitudes of physical laborers [רלב״ג].

Furthermore, the Israelites were appointed as warriors and commanders of the chariot and cavalry units. This heavy military focus might seem surprising, given that Solomon's era was famous for its widespread peace. To explain this, some suggest that the king maintained a standing army, fully trained and ready for any future conflict even if no active battles were taking place [אברבנאל]. Conversely, others note that while the era was generally peaceful, Solomon did engage in a few specific, localized military campaigns, such as the conquests of Hamath-zobah, Ezion-geber, and Eloth. These targeted operations required a highly skilled and active military force [רד״ק].