Ezra 2:55 - Exposition

Solomon's servants . Solomon formed the remnant of the Canaanitish population which survived at his day into a separate servile class, which he employed in forced labours ( 1 Kings 9:20 , 1 Kings 9:21 ). It would seem that the descendants of these persons, having been carried into captivity by the Chaldaeans, continued to form a distinct class, and had become attached to the sacerdotal order, as a body of hieroduli inferior even to the Nethinims. We may account for their special mention at this time by the importance of their services, when such a work as that of rebuilding the temple was about to be taken in hand.