New American Standard Bible 1995

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1 Kings

9

:

23

These were the chief officers who were over Solomon's work, five hundred and fifty, who ruled over the people doing the work.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
These these Pronoun H428 אֵ֣לֶּה el·leh
[were] the chief chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince Noun H8269 שָׂרֵ֣י sa·rei
officers to take one's stand, stand Verb H5324 הַנִּצָּבִ֗ים han·ni·tza·vim
who who, which, that Particle H834 אֲשֶׁ֤ר a·sher
[were] over upon, above, over Prepostion H5921 עַל־ al-
Solomon's David's son and successor to his throne Noun H8010 לִשְׁלֹמֹ֔ה lish·lo·moh,
work, occupation, work Noun H4399 הַמְּלָאכָה֙ ham·me·la·chah
five five Noun H2568 וַחֲמֵ֣שׁ va·cha·mesh
Analysis:

Five: Incompletion or lacking

For a person to understand the meaning of the number “five”, one must first realize that the meaning of the number ten is completion or wholeness. Since five is half of ten, the idea is that the number five represents incompletion or that which is lacking. A Scripture that expresses this idea is found in the book of John. At a place called Beit Chesed (Bethesda), there was a pool whose waters healed the sick. The reader is told that around the pool there were five porches. It is stated that on these five porches laid individuals who were not whole. Some were paralyzed and the rest of them had a variety of health problems. It is not a chance happening that these people who were lacking their health were on five porches. Another well-known passage that contains the number five is found in I Samuel 17. In the account of David and Goliath, David picks up five stones (see I Samuel 17:40). Why is the reader told the specific number and not simply that David had gathered a few stones? The answer is to assist the reader in understanding that the stone, which David hurled at Goliath, was not the source of victory. Rather, this was only the means that God used to accomplish His victory. In other words, the stone and even David, who hurled this stone at Goliath, were insufficient to bring about this victory.

One of the first places where the idea of "lacking" or "incompleteness" is seen regarding the number five is in the book of Genesis. In chapter 18, two angels are sent to Sodom to destroy the city. God tells Abraham that if 50 righteous people are found in the city, then the city will be free of this punishment (We will learn that the number 50 is related to freedom when this number is studied). This is revealed to Abraham and he responds saying, perhaps the city will lack 50 righteous people by five. It is significant that Abraham uses the number five when referring to the city lacking enough righteous people. 

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016

hundred hundred Noun H3967 מֵאֹ֑ות me·'o·vt;
and fifty, fifty Noun H2572 חֲמִשִּׁ֖ים cha·mi·shim
Analysis:

Fifty: Freedom and liberty

When a person hears the number fifty, the first thing that should enter his mind is Jubilee, for every 50 years was the Jubilee year. In the book of Leviticus the following is read,

"And you shall sanctify the fiftieth year and you shall call (that year) a year of freedom in the Land for all the ones who dwell in it, it shall be a Jubilee for you…." Leviticus 25:10 

The key word in this verse is the Hebrew word, דרור, which means freedom. When one studies the nature of this word for freedom, he will understand the relationship between freedom and the will of God. In other words, the freedom that is provided by HaShem is so that the will of God can be realized in one's life. In connection with this understanding is another occurrence of the number 50.

The Torah speaks of three special festivals which every Jewish male, 20 years and older, must go up to Jerusalem to observe. These festivals are Unleavened Bread, Weeks, and Tabernacles. The Feast of Weeks derives its name from the fact that HaShem commanded the Children of Israel to count seven weeks and the next day would be the Holy Day. However, during this time, not only were the Children of Israel commanded to count seven weeks, but also 50 days. Hence, an additional name for the Festival of Weeks is Pentecost, or the festival of fifty. Although Judaism traditionally associates this festival with the giving of the Ten Commandments, it is only in the New Covenant that this festival is clearly connected to the giving of the Holy Spirit. It is important for the reader to comprehend that only when one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit can he truly turn away from the bondage of sin and be set free to obey the will of God.

Another example from the Scripture is found in the Gospels. Here, Yeshua fed the 5,000 (100 X 50). He had the 5,000 people sit down in groups of 50. Because of this, there is obviously an emphasis on the number 50. One of the theological points which this passage teaches is that when one acts in faith, he is not bound by the things of this world. 

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016

who ruled to have dominion, rule, dominate Verb H7287 הָרֹדִ֣ים ha·ro·dim
over the people people Noun H5971 בָּעָ֔ם ba·'am,
doing do, make Verb H6213 הָעֹשִׂ֖ים ha·'o·sim
the work. occupation, work Noun H4399 בַּמְּלָאכָֽה׃ bam·me·la·chah.

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
New American Standard Bible 1995 These were the chief officers who were over Solomon's work, five hundred and fifty, who ruled over the people doing the work.
King James Bible These were the chief of the officers who that were over Solomon's work, five hundred and fifty, who ruled which bare rule over the people doing that wrought in the work.
Hebrew Greek English These were the chief officers who were over Solomon's work, five hundred and fifty, who ruled over the people doing the work.