1 Kings 9:23
These were the chief of the officers that were over Solomon’s work, five hundred and fifty, which bare rule over the people that wrought in the work. These were the chief of the officers that were over Solomon’s work, five hundred and fifty, which bare rule over the people that wrought in the work.
1 Kings 9:23 belongs to the account of Solomon's reign in the undivided kingdom, including the construction and dedication of the temple. It records 550 chief officers who supervised Solomon's building projects and ruled over the people who performed the work.
The officers illustrate a hierarchy of authority over labor, reflecting the distinction in which Israelites served as officials and were not made bondmen, while the remaining peoples of the land were subjected to bond-service. The compulsory tribute in the surrounding account is compared to the bondage that debt and interest can bring.