In the context of the Bible, the term "aliens" refers to foreigners or sojourners—individuals who were not native Israelites but lived among them. During the reigns of King David and King Solomon, the presence of aliens in Israel was significant, reflecting the political, economic, and social dynamics of the time.

David's Census of Aliens

King David, known for his military conquests and the establishment of Jerusalem as the political and spiritual center of Israel, recognized the importance of the alien population. In 1 Chronicles 22:2 , it is recorded, "So David gave orders to gather the foreigners residing in Israel, and from among them he appointed stonecutters to prepare finished stones for building the house of God." This verse highlights David's strategic use of the alien workforce for the preparation of materials for the Temple, demonstrating their integration into the national projects of Israel.

Solomon's Reign and the Role of Aliens

Under King Solomon, the son of David, the presence of aliens continued to be significant. Solomon's era was marked by unprecedented peace and prosperity, allowing for extensive building projects, including the construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem. In 2 Chronicles 2:17-18 , it is noted, "Solomon numbered all the foreigners in the land of Israel, following the census his father David had conducted, and there were found to be 153,600 in all. He made 70,000 of them porters, 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains, and 3,600 supervisors."

This passage illustrates the substantial number of aliens and their roles in the labor force, particularly in the monumental task of building the Temple. The organization and employment of these foreigners reflect Solomon's administrative acumen and the economic integration of non-Israelites into the kingdom's infrastructure.

Legal and Social Status of Aliens

The Mosaic Law provided specific guidelines regarding the treatment of aliens. Exodus 22:21 commands, "You must not exploit or oppress a foreign resident, for you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt." This directive underscores the ethical treatment of aliens, rooted in Israel's own history of sojourning in Egypt. Leviticus 19:34 further instructs, "You must treat the foreigner living among you as native-born and love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God."

These laws ensured that aliens were afforded certain protections and were to be treated with fairness and compassion. They were allowed to participate in religious observances and were subject to the same legal standards as native Israelites, as seen in Numbers 15:15-16 : "The assembly is to have the same statute for both you and the foreign resident; it is a permanent statute for the generations to come. You and the foreigner shall be the same before the LORD."

Economic Contributions and Cultural Exchange

The presence of aliens during the times of David and Solomon also facilitated cultural exchange and economic contributions. As skilled laborers, traders, and artisans, aliens played a crucial role in the economic development of Israel. Their diverse backgrounds and skills enriched the cultural tapestry of the nation, contributing to its prosperity and the successful completion of large-scale projects.

In summary, the numerous aliens during the reigns of David and Solomon were integral to the social, economic, and religious life of Israel. Their presence and contributions were acknowledged and regulated by the laws of the land, reflecting a society that, while distinct in its covenant identity, was open to the inclusion and participation of foreigners in its midst.2 Samuel 22:45,46
Strangers shall submit themselves to me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient to me.
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2 Chronicles 2:17
And Solomon numbered all the strangers that were in the land of Israel, after the numbering with which David his father had numbered them; and they were found an hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand and six hundred.
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2 Chronicles 15:9
And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.
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Books of the Hebrew Canon.
... Omissions are more numerous, and sometimes extend over several consecutive verses
of ... Times, Aug ... only for Greek-speaking Jews, but also for aliens." The version ...
/.../chapter ii books of the.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst ... revival, like the former
greatness of David and Solomon ... in 2 Samuel 17:28; numerous fragments dating ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

Of the True Church. Duty of Cultivating Unity with Her, as the ...
... this view, it pleased him in ancient times that sacred ... churches, although they are
in fact aliens from the ... though it may otherwise teem with numerous faults. ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 1 of the true.htm

An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ...
... Truly the light is good (saith Solomon) and a pleasant thing it is for the ... show how
dreadful and bloody the suffering of the church is at some certain times. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exposition on the first.htm

Bunsen's Biblical Researches.
... flight the armies of the aliens; and it ... favour of irrational supernaturalism; whereas
numerous discoveries have ... our Lord's declaration, that the times hath the ...
/.../essays and reviews the education of the world/bunsens biblical researches.htm

Doctrinal and Moral Treatises. Index of Subjects.
... Faustus, [439]356; tended at times toward Academics ... nominal, described, [807]311;
more numerous than Jews ... Economy, some, used toward aliens without lying, [1113 ...
/.../on care to be had for the dead /doctrinal and moral treatises index.htm

The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem:
... but of a sort, but also many times is neither ... and answereth to Jerusalem in the days
of Solomon; her second ... To show us how great and numerous a people will ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the holy city or the.htm

Nature of Covenanting.
... as well as the fuller revelations of succeeding times. ... they who are without Christ,
are aliens from the ... to his undivided sovereignty over the numerous hosts of ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter i nature of covenanting.htm

The Pharisee and the Publican
... was pertinent, for that the publicans were of the Jews, and not of the aliens. ... How
many times have I heard ancient men, and ancient women at it with themselves ...
/.../bunyan/the pharisee and publican/the pharisee and the publican.htm

A Discourse Upon the Pharisee and the Publican
... yea, did not that man deserve hanging ten times over, that should, being a ... declared
that those who supported them by such cruelties were aliens and enemies to ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a discourse upon the pharisee.htm

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