2 Chronicles 8:9
But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no servants for his work; but they were men of war, and chief of his captains, and captains of his chariots and horsemen. But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no servants for his work; but they were men of war, and chief of his captains, and captains of his chariots and horsemen.
2 Chronicles 8:9 stands in chapters 1 to 9 of Second Chronicles, which give in chronological order the history of the glorious undivided kingdom under Solomon and cover the same events as 1 Kings 1 to 11. Those chapters are written with a religious purpose to show God's care for His people and His purpose to save them, where divine favor depends on the faithfulness of rulers and people to the covenant and divine punishment results from unfaithfulness. In that history six chapters are given to the building of the temple and its services and only three to other matters of Solomon's reign, with the building and furniture of the temple, the dedication prayer and sacrifices, and the divine answer to Solomon's prayer especially noted. In its immediate setting the verse belongs to the account of Solomon's buildings and his treatment of the Canaanites who remained in the land. It means Solomon did not make Israelites servants for his labor, but they served instead as warriors and as officers, including captains over his chariots and horsemen.